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[:: Inloading Data-Packet; Lord Commissar Bulgraff :: ]
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Truly, Bulgraff in his time among the stars had seen what rural worlds had to offer, but the realm he now found himself within, was shaping up to be the strangest yet.
With their departure from the storehouse, the stark silver of the bright moonlight bore down upon the Commissar not unlike that of standing before the sun. Cast in radiant silver light, the clearing laid before the storehouse was abuzz with these slight moving rabbit abhuman figures.
Hither and yonder they raced, moving heavy casks and crates of material and food from several of the structures that surrounded the fairly considerable courtyard. The fairly plainly garbed abhumans hauled forth archaic tools and rusting parts to the newly arrived form of the ridge runner, of which now sat propped up on heavy blocks of dull grey.
Jutting out from beneath the nearest wheel well, was the unmistakable size and girth of Pikes rotund stomach as the squirmed and kicked out, working beneath the vehicle as several of the abhumans stood by with tools and parts at the ready. All the while within the ridge runners cabin, the freshly bandaged face of Droog would be rocking back and forth as once more the jury rigged vox speakers would blare an up tempo beat, with several of the abhumans bobbing along with him and his eclectic tastes in music.
Bulgraff passes on by the scene, casting a flatly unamused look of disbelief to Reisen, who merely responds with meek scratch upon her cheek.
“E-Eh, we didn’t really see any point in keeping them locked up, they seem pretty clueless about the whole situation.”
“Imagine my surprise.”
The duo pass the busy clutch of abhumans, moving within the confines of the sizable bulk of the cloistered estate. The interior was no less bustling, though to a more tame and controlled measure. The few rabbits that moved about within the halls seemed to move with a careful reverence to the place and it's enigmatic masters, giving Bulgraff a wide berth as he followed along in Reisens path.
The lunar rabbit idly gestures aside as they pass by several store rooms, stacked tall and high with tightly wound and bound soft body crates, her voice breaking the uneering silence of the corridor as the two move past the ajar sliding paper doors of the manors corridors.
“To provide you some clue as to what sort of work goes on in this remote estate, my Master actually is an extremely talented healer. She acts as one of, if not the only, master of the medicinal field in the entirety of Gensokyo. There isn’t a single ailment I dare say that she couldn’t resolve. She is, however, currently with a patient. I’ll remain with you till she finishes her meeting in one of our guest rooms.”
Bulgraff keeps a neutral expression, taking stock of the vast supply in the half parted door, as they pass on their way to one of the side rooms. He clears his throat as they enter, his gaze watching Reisen warily, whilst being led to a small squat table. The room is fairly spartan and plain compared to the rest of the estate with thin almost paper like walls, with elegant yet simple stylized scenes of nature abound.
“Still doesn’t answer my lingering questions lass, You ain’t really given context to whom you are in context of your folks command chain or what your kind are for that matter. I mean Throne preserve us, what sort of anarchy stricken world doesn’t have a planetary governor? Y’all also picked a hell of a name unpronounceable in Low Gothic.”
Reisen offers over a seat upon the simple mat beneath the table opposite her, allowing Bulgraff to take a seat before she moves off to the sliding door once more. With a quiet nod, she would return to the table with a pair of simple wooden cups, each steaming softly as she offers the drink to the Commissar.
“I already told you, this place is called Gensokyo by the humans, the word isn’t so complex. Though I find it strange you humans do not recognize Earth, this is your home is it not? As for what I am, I am a simple moo- Erm, earth rabbit in service to my Master, I have certain talents and abilities that allow me to influence humans to be more, amicable to our dealings in their village not too far from here. My kind, the inaba, have existed since life first moved in the wild places of this world, whilst your kind still wallowed in mud huts. Naturally our lives are far longer than that of mortal humans.”
Bulgraff freezes, his hand hovering over the gently steaming cup as his gaze slowly locks onto Reisen with a frigid tinge,
“Your talking nonsense now lass, this ain’t holy Terra nor can you delude yourself into thinking that it is. I am holding my tongue ‘bout your kind, as you're clearly abhuman that have somehow evaded Imperial bio-cataloguing, but I ain’t gonna sit here and be called a damn fool. So why not just spill the ration bag here and give me some real answers, about this place.”
Reisen remains unbowed by the cold demeanor of the Commissar, would merely narrow her eyes, the room’s gravity shifting as the enigmatic lunar rabbit seems to alter something within the room, via some unnatural means, her tone plying and inquisitive as she retorts.
“I told you human, this is Earth, it has been Earth since long before you took your first step, and shall remain so long after you cease such steps. What about you, Commissar was it? You said your home was a distant world from here? What happened there that would drive you and your kind from their homes?”
Bulgraff feels a tremendous proverbial weight strike his shoulders, the flight from his homeworld frantic, the suffering of countless billions weighing upon his back. His gaze remained focused upon those crimson eyes of Reisen, feeling something uneasy stir within him. He scowls, fighting it down with little avail as he speaks up.
“I told ya lass, Ichorous was my home, massive place of towering ferrocrete and plasteel, the entire world was wrapped in vast cities and edifices to the God-Emperor of Mankind…” He pauses, vividly seeing within his mind's eye, the gilded hive-cities peaks and artificial mountains rising above the toxic clouds of his home. The vision would not last as flames leap up to consume the image, leaving him morose. “... And in an instant it was gone, caught in the warpath of a host of hostile aliens our kind called Greenskins, or Orks. This brought ruin to my world and forced us adrift in the stars fleeing the beasts.”
Reisen would quirk her brow, nodding along as she seemed to wordlessly take in his statements, her inquiries level and even handed her a long draw from her steaming cup of tea.
“God-Emperor? I wasn’t aware Mankind had declared it had a ruler that held court over all of Mankind. Did you proclaim him Emperor, or did he do so himself?”
Bulgraff keeps his grip on the cup, feeling the weight of the world about him shifting as he keeps his gaze locked on the nonchalant crimson eyes of the lunar rabbit. Something was amiss here, he felt his blood pressure rise, his hackles rising as he felt a swelling surge of irritation almost burst within him unbidden. She had to be doing something to him, he could feel it, some wicked witchcraft or sorcery of the unnatural kind, he fought back against his rising choleric outburst, keeping his own tone even and measured.
“Careful with your words lass, the immortal Emperor’s gaze is far and timeless, even here among the muck and mire of this forsaken world, He still watches on. As an abhuman yourself, you would do well to mind your words, for he is far less than forgiving to those that slight His name. He is the eternal bastion upon which mankind has rested it's very soul upon for countless millennia. It is by His will that we make war and in His name we restore mankind to its rightful place among the stars.”
Reisen would give no reaction to his words, the strange placid air about her starkly contrasting with the wildly shifting emotions of the Commissar as she gives an unimpressed look.
“The whole of humanity you say? Strange, I’ve not seen any of the humans in the village speak of this Emperor, in any capacity. You may be surprised to find that a great many gods and deities exist within Gensokyo, each of them very real and very physical things that work to enact their will upon the realm in their own ways. Your deity sounds like some sort of distant being that you place your faith within, having never seen the work of his hand nor his labors, how can you know that he has any real power? Let alone the ability to command worship from /all/ humans.”
Bulgraff would feel his anger bleed from him in an instant, feeling the distance between him and the natural Imperial compatriots he would keep in his company. In this remote realm was there truly any hope for any of the faithful of the Throne? These thoughts rattled around in the Commissar's head as he placed his hand upon his face, feeling bolts of sweat beading at his brow.
“Your wrong abhuman, the stars beyond the confines of your tiny mote of earth and mud, are cruel and boundless in their malice to the fragility of the human soul. It is only by the Immortal Emperor’s tireless work that we can even voyage into the stars through realms of hell, it is by His will that we are even given breath and life. Your heathen ‘gods’ here are but pale imitations of true divinity, and whilst I am capable of articulating this to you, there are others of my kind that are far less tolerant of such open disregard and would react with violence.”
Reisen merely flashes a slight smile, indicating around her unconvinced, as she leans in on the table. Her form drawing ever closer with an unblinking gaze fixed with the Commissar, tall rabbit ears twitching from time to time.
“Come now Commissar, there is no need to grow testy. We are just enjoying one another's company and learning of each other and their respective homes. I simply questioned your claim about some all powerful deity. Of whom I’ve supposedly never heard of, that holds dominion over all of reality. But you say there are those among your number that are belligerent and dangerous, eh? Why don’t you tell me about them, who are they so we can best avoid them or find suitable measures to…. Dissuade their violent habits.”
The old commissar maintains a white knuckle grip on the wooden cup on his hand, his hand shaking slightly as he fights to clear his mind of countless emotions that threaten to well up and burst from him, the air about him seems so very wrong. He stared at Resien and knew full well that the abhuman was a witch of some kind. His mind raced with ways to try and regain control of his mental facilities from her unseen spell-works. He moves to turn his head away from her, aiming to cast his gaze back to the door. His view shifts as he realizes the door was no longer there, nor was the room, the four walls had fallen away into the inky black of space, countless stars hanging overhead, as the duo sat upon their mat seemingly drifting in open space as Resien plies him with ability to induce vivid images and hallucinations upon the unaware Commissar.
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“What… sort of witchcraft is this? By the Throne, I swear lass you will release me from this trance, lest you truly start to test my patience. My soul is stalwart against the Ruinous Powers, my faith is proof against such foul trickery.”
Bulgraff turns back to where Reisen was seated, only to find her absent, her voice ringing in as if she were all around him,
“I am not trying to harm you Commissar, such would be far too easy, you’re only human after all. No, this is merely insurance in the event you were sent or dragged out of your own world by one of the aforementioned deities within Gensokyo. For whilst our realm does maintain a measure of balance and tranquility, do not deceive yourself. For beneath the placid facade, a maelstrom does brew as various powers engage in long standing rivalries and power struggles for control of the realm or it's inhabitants.”
With a scowl Bulgraff rises from his seat and casts his gaze around, watching the flickering silver light of the stars dance about him, as the moon sits far overhead, beaming down upon his vulnerable and aged form.
“Damn it woman, I said I ain’t no thrall of any pagan deity here within this realm. Our kind were traversing the Immaterial sea and were dragged down by these damn massive gateways full of eyes! As for the others that might be more prone to fighting, well you would have to take that up with them, now wouldn’t ya? I got one job and that's to get my men and my charges /back/ to Imperial space.”
Resien’s voice is given pause for a moment, before it ebbs back, a curt tone now replacing the placid calm that had dominated her thus far.
“Hmmm, I am afraid Commissar, that your voyage home will have to wait as certain individuals within the realm have seen fit to bring you and your kind into ours, for their own gain. These ‘pagan’ deities, as you call them, have decided to use you and your men as pawns on their grand board, for their own ends. I choose to believe you in your sincerity that you and your kind stumbled into this world by accident, but I fear that leaving will be all but impossible now.”
Bulgraff stares out into the shimmering void, jaw working visible as he mulled over the information. His face was stoic and unreadable, but internally he felt a creeping sense of dread, as this realm stood in defiance of all he knew. Were they truly being used as pawns on the board of some petty game by beings far beyond a mortal man's comprehension?
“You're not making a very compelling case to remain here if I am being honest. Drop this whole projection, if you wanna talk face to face. I won’t say a damn thing more till I am back in the material world.”
The image around him ripples and flexes, as the stars wink out one after another, the inky black of space rolled back as the room slowly fades back into sight. Sitting quietly, unmoved and unhurried is the placid form of Reisen, still sipping her tea as she watches the Commissar slowly snap out of the daze she had entranced him into.
However, most curiously, was the presence of another figure within the room with the pair. In contrast to the youthful air and restrained energy that Reisen emitted, the new arrival was a serene lake surface, reflecting forth calm and controlled composure. The new figure stands by, merely watching Bulgraff with an inscrutable gaze as she sized him up. Her stormy grey eyes watching over him as he blearily snaps back into reality, a slender finger tapping her bottom lip as she stares on. With an idle move, she’d brush a hand across a quarter patterned dress of alternating red and blue, and move alongside the dazed Commissar, speaking up with a warm tone.
“Ah, do pardon my apprentice, she is still learning how to best navigate the more complex intricacies of human interaction. Do enlighten me human, why are you so desperate to return back to your home? It sounds like a place fraught with war and turmoil, it's clear your being offered a chance here to find some reprieve, why go back?”
Bulgraff flinches as he hears the new arrival speak up, her presence entirely absent the entire time. How could she just appear there, out of the very air itself she had materialized it seemed! He turns his gaze upon the new speaker, jaw still working, as he tried to divide reality from fiction as the world slowly resolves back to it's normal self.
“Damnation! I am too old for the ol’ appear from the shadows act! Feh, why do I want to get back? Well ain’t it obvious? If we don’t return to Imperial space, and our own realm, then the very souls of my men are at risk for predation… In addition, I am assumin’ you are this abhumans Master that she’s spoken of?”
The women would give a cordial short bow, a long braid of silver hair falling across her shoulder with the action as she gave the aging Commissar an inviting smile.
“But of course, I do beg your pardon. I am Eirin Yagokoro, chief pharmacist and medical practitioner for the vast majority of Gensokyo. You will have to excuse the introduction, as my apprentice explained, the realm itself is always prone to ‘incidents’ as the locals love to call them. Though, I will confess I don’t think anyone has tried to cause as much of a stirr as you and your kind's arrival.”
Bulgraff gives a humorless tight lipped smile and nods his head, gesturing for her to hold but a moment as he speaks up once more.
“Ah, so the Master makes herself known, damn well finally. Aye, so how about you humor me then? I am trying to get your crony here to give me some insight on how to leave this place, with my boys, so you can all get back to banging rocks together and trying to each one another.”
Eirin would lean back against the door, watching him coolly as she gives a firm shake of her head in response.
“No, as Reisen said, you won’t be leaving this place until the person that brought you here, has completed whatever task it is they aimed to accomplish with you all here. As to what that might be? I cannot be certain, though I have my suspicion that it might have to do with the lack of humans that naturally filter into our realm over time. Some entities within the realm, have a tendency to consume humans, though regulation does exist around humans that live within the village. No such protections are offered to outsiders, you truly are a gambit few could have foreseen or accounted for in the grand scheme of things.”
The Commissar grits his teeth, and exhales, grinding his teeth as he soaks in the information.
“So what you're saying is that someone decided to use us as a no strings attached means to push some sort of agenda and we just so happen to get caught in the crossfire? Alright then humor me, you wanna give me some sort of insight into who we might be able to speak with or locate that would give me a clue on what sort of plan awaits my men? Certainly as someone with underlings beneath you, you have to sympathize with my position here, I ain’t gonna leave any of my boys and girls to be snacks for some back water monsters.”
Eirin would exchange a glance with Reisen, nodding as they wordlessly speak with but the gesture, confirming one another's thoughts wordlessly.
“Mhmm, there are a few individuals within Gensokyo that have a particular talent for seeking out answers and clues when these sorts of incidents crop up. I’d wager the shrine maidens of either Moriya or Hakurei would be your best chance, as both of the maidens have experience dealing with the various inhabitants of Gensokyo. There is also a mage that lives within the Forest of Magic, she might be a solid lead if all else fails.”
Bulgraff stares blankly, raising a single finger to indicate his interjection as Eirin zeroes in and focuses on drawing up options to the problem before them, her muttering paused as he speaks up.
“Lass, that's all well and good, but I don’t know the first thing about no damn Hakurei or what a Moriya is supposed to even be. You got like a map or something that I could follow? I mean, at this point I’d take you just pointing in a general direction. I’d get about the same effect as you rattling off names that mean nothing to me.”
Eirin returns her gaze to Bulgraff and merely gives a warm smile, her hand moving down to clasp hold onto the doors edge as she responds with a mirthful tone.
“Of course! I know full well the names mean little, it was more for my own cohesion than anything. The shrines are in two very different places, the first Hakurei, is located on the eastern edge of Gensokyo, near the barrier. The shrine of Moriya, I do believe exists atop Yokai Mountain. Though that may prove quite a challenge to reach, as humans are far from welcome to the mountain itself. But as for a map, I shall provide you something far better! Instead I am going to give you a proper guide that can lead you where you need to be.”
Bulgraff raises a hand placatingly, trying to convince Eirin otherwise, as he casts uneasy glances towards the passive and gently smiling form of Reisen to his left.
“Woah, easy I don’t need any sort of aid. I ain’t sure how I am supposed to explain the presence of an abhuman to my fellow members of the command staff…”
Eirin merely beams wordlessly as she throws back the door suddenly, a small host of the rabbits had clambered together, eagerly eavesdropping on the conversation. With the opening of the door, the throng of abhumans would disperse in a frenzy in all directions as they try to avoid being volunteered for such a task. However it was clear that Eirin had a particular rabbit in mind, as she thrust her hand into the fleeing pack, hauling up the smaller white rabbit that had questioned him previously.
Tewi would dangle from Eirin’s grasp by a handful of her dresses fabric, staring up with a faux innocent expression, hands up as she tries to placate her Master.
“A-Ah! Sorry boss, look I didn’t mean to get a crowd going, I just wanted to hear what you and the new guy were talking about, did you find out anything new about their big drill?”
Bulgraff returns his gaze back to the smiling face of Eirin, a deadpan expression of disbelief etched plainly upon his grizzled countenance, he inhales slowly.
“That’s the little runt that was smacking me with those plant stalks not but twenty minutes ago. You said you were going to help me, I am fairly certain this counts as a hamstringing. I will earnestly take any errant stump that you might have laying around in the courtyard over this rabbit, I already have two stumps to deal with as my aids combined mental fortitude is tantamount to asking a tree for directions. I really don’t need a third, I might die.”
Eirin merely waves a dismissive hand, “No, No! Tewi is perfect for the job. She has managed to wander the breath of Gensokyo and is more than knowledgeable and sly of tongue when she wants to be. I would send Reisen with you, but unfortunately I fear more of your wounded compatriots will be wandering into the Bamboo Forest with each passing day, thus I need her for any sort of procedure I may be performing. Certainly as a favor to you outsider, I am willing to part with one of my associates here, as she can get you there post-haste, not to mention she is a good luck charm.”
Bulgraff frowns curtly, giving Eirin a wary look as he nods his head along with her words. It's clear, she was offering to watch over the wounded men that came in, but at what cost?
“Alright, and what are you gonna do with my boys? I’ll take your underling there, but I want to know what you get out of this? It's all fine and dandy but you are taking a loss here, treating the wounded, call me cynical, but I don’t buy the altruism.”
Eirin genuinely is given pause as she tilts her head, a earnest look written upon her face as she shakes her head in response.
“No Mr. Bulgraff, it may seem far fetched and a wild chance, but I am in the field of medicine to aid the sick and ailing. I promise I will not detain your wounded soldiers, I will treat them and send them forth to a place of your choosing with enough supplies to see them off. It may seem strange to you, but it simply is the right thing to do, I have no quarrel with you and your kin so long as you and your men respect the privacy and the autonomy of the House of Eientei. I will think of some payment at a later date once this initial chaos has cleared. Fair enough?”
Bulgraff gives Eirin a sideways look, watching her face for an iota of dishonesty, yet none would make itself known. He merely remains quiet for a few long minutes, before he nods his thanks.
“Mhmm, I am much obliged to you ma’am. I will do everything in my power to ensure that you are properly compensated for your work here, for my men and the Imperium at large.”
Tewi is promptly released to her feet, whilst brushing off her dress, she casts her glance up towards Bulgraff and gives a confident smirk.
“So you wanna sneak back into Gensokyo huh? Hopefully that drill you have hidden is ready to go, otherwise going up Tengu Mountain or getting past the horde of Yokai on the way to Hakurei is gonna be a pain in the back.”
Bulgraff merely stares down at the smaller rabbit with an unblinking expression, realizing that he not only got his map, but was going to be locked in the ridge runner with the missing devil in the humor hell that Droog and Pikes all too cheerfully provide him. He pinches the bridge of his nose and exhales tiredly, giving one last look to the smiling faces of both Reisen and Eirin.
“Thanks, I already hate it.”