Kabiliti’s perspective:
Returning to the waking world I am immediately set upon by noise. Shouting, arguing and even someone crying. Far too muffled to make anything out but there is clearly a mob of some sort making the noise. Opening my eyes I am greeted by my reflection. I’m still in the egg but…
”It’s… me. My body, I have a body again!” I exclaimed, forgetting the commotion beyond the obsidian wall “No more tendrils, no more confusing omnidirectional sight! I back classic 3 sets of 2 with one head and torso”
And what a body I made! Much like Viola in baseline appearance, as intended, but much more practical.
My arms and legs were built like a leopard while my chest supported abs that would make a gorilla proud. My modifications, specifically the numerous adapters and ports awaiting my future inventions? Cleverly hidden just below the subdermal layer of my metallic skin, with only an artistic pattern of curved lines indicating where each slot might be.
Kabiliti:” Come to think of it, it kinda looks like I have Yombe body scars…but inverted”
Viola:” Are you done”
I turned to face Viola, who I only just noticed was in the egg with me, to be met with the beautiful blue flower that was my sister.
Kabiliti: “Wow”
Before me floated Viola in a vibrant azure blue Samburu dress with black and orange diamond pattern beaded bracelets and sandals. She had even styled her dreadlocks by adding polished zinc cuffs at the end of each lock.
I have never given anywhere near that much thought into my appearance so where did she learn how to-.
Viola:” Kabiliti. Are you there?”
Kabiliti: “Yeah, yeah. Just impressed”
“Thanks. I’m going to get eyes on me for all the right reasons this time.” Viola proclaimed with an odd sense of determination. It’s a little infectious, even I want to look impressive when I get out.
Viola:” So what are you going to wear for the crowd outside?”
Grabbing my chin and wrapping myself in a set of form-fitting underwear, I contemplated what dress I should wear. Mom always said first impressions matter so….
“How about a kanga?” I asked
“Yes, and you should wear footwear too,” Viola responded sarcastically to my, admittedly vague, question “Be more specific Kabiliti!”
Kabiliti: “OK um… a blue, red and white Kanga that goes just a bit below my knees, sleeveless and exposing my back”
”Why expose your back?” Viola asked, puzzled by the specific requirement.
Kabiliti: “I’m going to add mods to it.”
Viola:” Your back or the dress?”
Kabiliti:” Yes.”
Viola stared at me for a moment, baffled, before continuing “It sounds good, I guess. What of your footwear and dreads?”
“I’ll just copy you and just go but change my cuffs to sodalite” I answered while creating the outfit on my body. My Kanga, patterned with depictions of clockwork plants and trees while my slippers.
“Alright.” Viola responded with a shrug “Your abso- Wait” Viola paused “What happened to the crowd?”
At that, I noticed that the outside had abruptly gone quiet. In fact, they’ve been quiet for a while now. Did something happen?
Viola & Kabiliti: “We need to get out of this egg”
|RELEASING THE ‘TWINS OF ALLOY’|
Viola & Kabiliti: “The what?”
Before either of us could ask about the name we were randomly bestowed, the egg just opened, significantly faster than before and with absolutely none of the previous fanfare. As if this was some kind of rush job.
Before us was a street, with a very well-armed angry mob behind 30 or so braced shona and spear welding guards flanked by rooftop archers who had notched arrows dripping a blue glowing poison, that group was behind a completely limp Beast who, judging by her eye movements, was alive and aware and apologetic looking Chuma, both of whom were being held hostage by the guard captain directly in front of them.
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Holding his hand up in the universal sign for “hold”.
Guard Captain: “Good. You're both ‘hatched’. I’ve read the report, short it may be, and I know at least one of you understands what I’m saying. So here is what is going to happen” The Guard spoke with an almost supernatural amount of authority and it felt like I couldn’t interrupt or, hell, act if I wanted to. His tone also hinted at a barely disguised disgust of us, as if we were the scum of the earth.
Guard Captain: “You are going to surrender, be detained, be asked some questions which you will answer truthfully, then you will be properly judged for any and all crimes committed against the Gawala Kingdom and his people. Do you understand”
Again, that feeling of authority overwhelmed me and I felt forced to answer his question before I even thought too.
“Yes. I understand.” Viola and I answered in an incredibly stilted tone. Viola’s ghostly voice caused the mob to quietly gasp and murmur.
”Quiet!” the Guard Captain commanded, his voice seemingly causing all creatures in the area to completely stop making noise. No…. Not seemingly... That is his voice. It’s like a spell or a skill.
Guard Captain:”*sigh* You are free from my command.”
And like that, he confirmed my suspensions, as the sounds of alley dogs, cats, and other such urban night creatures returned.
|Skill partially identified. Gained progress in skill procurement|
Wait, can I gain his skill?
Guard Captain:” Will you surrender.”
This time that skill didn’t activate. It seems he wants us to give up freely… well with our free will at least, he does still have our friends as hostages.
I slowly raised my hands and proudly declared to the crowd “I surrender” bumping Viola’s hand in the process as she was also surrendering “I also surrender”
Without another word, 2 guards approached us, rope in hand and tied both our hands while the archers stared us down just waiting for us to resist. But we didn’t. We walked quietly to the captain, bound and without any resistance. Once we were within grabbing distance of the man he simply thanked us for cooperating and told the mob to disperse
“As I said, we will investigate these Firstborn and judge them fairly for all of their crimes”
The mob started arguing and yelling as soon as he said that, cries calling us monsters, barbarians, scum, and villains rang out each with rather colourful suggestions for punishments and… what we should do to ourselves.
What did we do? Was that warehouse or the things in it really so precious and important? Before I could say a word to the mob the captain, predicting my action, grabbed both our mouths and evenly warned us “I don’t care what you have to say, I don’t need the crowd riled up any more than it already has been.” His quick glare at Chuma, who was also being silenced, gave us a clear hint to the source of the previous unruly behaviour of the mob.
With that, the guards made a perimeter around us and marched us through town to a guard station. Most of the mob dispersed during the walk, more and more trusting the guards to handle the 4 of us the closer we got, but 2 people kept following us. A man and a woman, both clearly worried. Did they know Chuma? Maybe one, or both, of them were the magic landlord? And what are the crimes we’re being charged for? The venom the people spat was far too vile for it to truly be simple property damage. It’s like if we killed someone…wait…where’s Winda?
I tried to speak to the guard captain but he wouldn’t let go of my mouth
Guard Captain:” You’ve been compliant and quiet so far, don’t break your record.”
I really didn’t want to do this but…
Guard Captain:”.....”
Guard Captain:”...You really think I’ll let go because of a childish thing like that?”
Aww, his palm tastes awful! It’s rough and sandy! Why did I do this?
Viola, telepathically: “What did you do?”
Kabiliti, telepathically: “I licked his palm thinking it would make him let go.”
Viola, telepathically: “Gross! Why?”
Kabiliti, telepathically: “I need to ask him where Winda is.”
Viola, telepathically: “She was in the crowd and was likely the reason the crowd was… angry to say the least”
Kabiliti, telepathically: “What, why would you say that”
There was a pause as we continued walking, the mystery couple was told to leave and we were being led inside the guard house and to the cells.
Viola, telepathically: “I’m certain I heard someone call us cannibals and, aside from the 2 of us, she’s the only person who knows Beast’s past.”
”Alright get in” the Guard Captain ordered before throwing the both of us, by the mouth, into a big cell. Hitting the wall with our sides we both fell to the ground with a groan.
“*groan* What the fuck, man?” I whined while sitting up and rubbing my side
“Do stupid things, earn stupid punishments” the Captain proclaimed as to shut the cell door.
“I didn’t do anything tho” Viola protested as she mirrored my actions.
“Sorry. Collateral damage.” he apologised in a tone that indicated he couldn’t care less “Now I’m going to go wash my hands and leave you there till morning. Which is when you and I are going to discuss the rather impressive list of crimes you may have committed”
Chuma: “I’m telling you, lieutenant, we didn’t do most of those crimes”
Lieutenant?
Lieutenant:” Honestly, not a good start to a plea of innocence- ”
Chuma: “That Fisidamu woman, Winda, was manipulating the truth of the situation!”
Kabiliti, telepathically: “So she did betray us.”
Viola, telepathically: “Yeah. Seems so.”
Lieutenant:” Look, it’s nearing midnight and it would be to your benefit that you rest while I put out your fires, some of which are literal.” He then pointed to me “And that freaky firstborn licked my hand. So it’s safe to say, with my current mood, I’m rather biased against you right now. Talk about this tomorrow, Clan Leader Chuma Kalejaiye of the Dumuu”
At that, Chuma shut up. Annoyed but cowed.
Both Viola and I looked at him but it was clear he absolutely wasn’t in the mood for our questions. When we looked back the Lieutenant was walking away and a set of spear-armed guards walked in. Both looked at us with derision, especially Chuma.
I got up and walked over to Beast. Who was still very much awake, but also still limp.
She was placed on the only bed in the cell, her size barely fitting.
I sat down on the floor next to her and grabbed up to her shoulder
“You ok?” I asked softly and to my surprise, she spoke back, telepathically
“My… Goddess... Did I… Do well?”