Lei-Xulla – Dread Prism Xaxon IV – Daedalus Expanse – Aurelius Branch – Level 501 – 999
It had been several Cycles since their Expedition into the Void had begun.
Through their fights with all manner of entities lurking in the unfathomable depths of space, their Party’s had seen an increase in levels and all without a single casualty. So, while Lei-Xulla sat in her quarters and thought on their numerous travails she had to admit, that although Commander Fan was a repugnant and lecherous Se’gat Slime. He had as of yet, not completely failed as the leader of the Expedition.
All too readily, she was drawn from her reluctant internal capitulations when the notification for her terminal sounded. Unfolding from her meditative seating on the bed, she went to sit in front of the terminal and expanded the message icon that awaited her:
To all Expedition Members,
Due to new orders from Amalgamation High Command, we will be plotting a new course and temporarily suspending all mana beast hunting activities. In light of operational security I am as yet unable to enlighten any of you as to the nature of our destination, so please refrain from wasting my time by requesting it from your Party Leaders!...We will be arriving at our destination in 1 hr 21 mins 51 secs. Please continue with your scheduled duties unless ordered otherwise.
Commander Fhan’Del’Gu.
Narrowing her eyes at the message Lei-Xulla put her Intelligence attribute to work as her minds thought on the reasons for keeping her, as Vice Commander, in the dark about the specific’s of the recent change of course. Coming up with no solid theories as to the what’s or why’s she growled as she rose from her seat and began to pace, while one of her minds scanned the surrounding cabins for further clues.
It turned out that the scant few off duty crew whom had already read the message were just as perplexed as to the nature of it. Some even going so far as to contact friendly Elevants on duty for nonexistent answers. Given that she assumed the two who were locked in each other’s embrace mid coitus just four rooms over, would be similarly perplexed should they have also bothered to read it, she yowled in displeasure.
Donning her uniform and leaving her quarters in frustration, she elected to spend the remaining transit time in a Pinnacle watching the wormholes mind defying intricacies with her eyes and perceptive sphere, to halt her tumultuous thought’s. After easily navigating the near empty corridors of Dread Prism Xaxon, Lei-Xulla deftly slid out of the entry hatch to the currently unoccupied Pinnacle 3.
Clearing her minds of the unnecessary musings, she let the hypnotic blur of colors, pulse and flow in their haphazard way while she lost her-selves in their chaotic jetsam and turbulent energies of the beyond. Being lost to the spectacle for a time she was startled slightly when the luminous display ceased, only to be supplanted with the blinding flash of their transition back into unaltered space.
Floating in the black backdrop of space, with its innumerable pin pricks of light as their only point of reference, a frown creased her immaculate brow:
You have entered Sarg'Aran Span, Level 501 – 999.
Given her perceptive sphere only extended so far and her eyes finding nothing in 270 degrees of their immediate vicinity. This only caused her confused frustration to multiply further. Grumbling to herself Lei-Xulla decided it was time she tried to pry some answers from their patently indiscreet commander, even if it meant that she would have to be in his immediate proximity to do so.
As she was turning to make for the Pinnacles entry point she saw flashes of transit terminations purst into a scattershot of being, resulting in the space surrounding the Xaxon being much much more crowded.
*WHOOOOOOOOP!* *WHOOOOOOOOP!* *WHOOOOOOOOP!* *WHOOOOOOOOP!* *WHOOOOOOOOP!*
Tensing as the red lights strobed and alarms blared throughout The Xaxon, she was only mildly relieved to find that she wasn’t apparently the only one startled by the impromptu light show, as the frantic voice of the usually relaxed commander Fhan, barked in concert.
“ALL EXPIDITION MEMBERS, REPORT TO YOUR PARTY LEADER’S FOR COMBAT! THIS IS NOT A DRILL! I REPEAT, THIS IS NOT A DRILL!”
After a frantic sprint through the decks, when her sphere came into range of the now chaotic bridge, Lei-Xulla could see the Commander was still trying to wrangle the identities of the fleet that had just warped on top of them out of the stuttering Second Communication Officer, Hu’Gvt’Xe. Seeing no reason to let her subordinate suffer any longer, she cast [Greater Blink], bringing herself to the right of the irate Commander.
Lei-Xulla let out a chuckle as the already overtaxed commander spun and attempted to bury a dagger into her temple, only for it slide harmlessly off her pre-errected [Greater Mana Barrier]. Apparently unsatisfied with attempting to murder his second in command, he shouted.
“IN THE NAME OF KAS-FENG’S VOLUMINOUS DERRIERE, LEI! DO NOT JUST POP IN UNANNOUNCED LIKE THAT! I COULD HAVE DECAPITATED YOU! OR WORSE, SCARRED YOUR BEAUTIFUL FACE!”
Smirking at his impotent rancor she replied.
“But as you can see you did not Commander. More importantly, Com Officer Hu have you managed to get an identity ping on the ships surrounding us?”
The wide eyed Hu’Gvt’Xe looked from her to the Commander like a foundling who had just lost it’s stuffed toy while her tentacles went stock still. Which in turn caused Fhan to demand.
“Well gaping abyss’s bellow Hu! Answer her damn you!”
Looking on the verge of tears her tentacles curled as she stammered.
“T-they appear to b-be Amalgamation vessels Vice C-commander…”
Thoroughly confused, she wordlessly pushed Hu aside and interrogated the console herself.
For a frenetic few moments, one of her minds double checked the screens data while her third mind confirmed that there had been no attack on their ship whatsoever. Annoyed now at the being who was apparently privy to the reason for their current whereabouts, yet not letting them know to expect this she turned to face Commander Fhan and demanded.
“Sir it is as she said. I understand the need for operational secrecy, but why didn’t you inform us upon arrival, we were to be meeting with the fourth flotilla?”
Blinking at her in shock, it was the commanders turn to stammer by way of retorting.
“I c-can assure you dearest Lei! This is news to m-m-“
However he didn’t get to finish as the Apex Pinnacles [Holo-Display] sprang to life, silencing its inhabitants. Recognition dawned on Lei-Xulla’s delicate face as the visage of Chief Scryer Naz’Ul’Mek bloomed into existence. Her minds quickly came to the conclusion that Fhan was probably not trying to mislead them after all as the blue skinned High-Seer began to speak to the Pinnacle at large.
“Greeting’s my fellow Trade Amalgamation members. I must first beg your forgiveness for requisitioning your Dread Prism’s presence without providing you with forewarning of what to expect. I am however reassured at your continued caution Commander Fhan.”
Fhan’s hair perked up at the praise as she eyed the strobing lines of the emergency lighting, before continuing.
“Sadly the operational security of the Fourth Flotilla is tantamount to the Amalgamations success at this juncture, thus it was deemed a continued necessity by the Founder himself.”
That statement caused a ripple of murmuring to break out, only to be quelled by a warning glare from the Commander as the Chief Scryer carried on unperturbed.
“Unfortunately time is not on our side Elevant’s and there are matters of great portent to be discussed. In that vein I would request Vice Commander Lei-Xulla’s presence on my flag ship immediately.”
Hastily Commander Fhan offered.
“Certainly Chief Scryer Naz, I shall accompany he-“
But Naz’Ul’Mek shook her head in the negative as she spoke over him.
“The information is for the Vice Commander’s ears alone I’m afraid Commander Fhan. We will be lowering the [Teleportation Interdiction Field] in T minus 20 seconds...Do not dawdle Vice Commander Lei...”
Hair flattening from the instant sidelining, the Huj’Del could only frown in silence as the [Holo-Display] scattered into incoherent motes of light as the communication ended. After a moment of consternation his orange complexion brightened before he addressed her hopefully.
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“You heard the Chief Scryer my precious Lei, Best make haste and report the details to me in my quarters once the briefing is over, yes?”
Giving him a frosty look that told of perpetual barren ice locked manabeast infested Phase Three worlds, he wilted in the uncomfortable silence in the Apex Pinnacle, whilst the seconds ticked down.
When it was time she focused on the sleek outline elongated flagship The Bau-Ole that was easily fifty times the Xaxon’s size. Tracing its teardrop shape with a mind she honed in on it’s bridge and activated her [Greater Blink] and the Irksome pout of Fhan’Del’Gu was efficiently removed from her vicinity.
Scanning her new surroundings she found a functionally designed bridge, which was a mainstay of all Amalgamation vessels. Yet Lei-Xulla was wholly unprepared for the shock that came next. Sitting on top of the bridges command chair was the Chief Scryer Naz, but contrary to her preconceptions of the authoritative female, the chair itself was no higher than her hip. Stranger still, the occupant of said command chair, barely took up three quarters of its already miniaturized size. Snapping her out of her shock, High-Seer Naz’Ul’Mek commanded in a squeaky voice.
“Welcome aboard the Bau-Ole, Vice Chief of Operations Lei-Xulla. As I have stated time is in short supply, follow me through my portal please…And my sincerest apologies...But it will also require that you duck...”
Puzzled by the use of the title belonging to the more bureaucratic of her positions, Lei-Xulla nodded hesitantly at the expectant look on the miniature blue rune inscribed face. Apparently satisfied with her hesitance, the Chief Scryer rose from her equally minute chair to summon an oval disk that barely made it up to her own sternum. Then without hesitation, the small figure disappeared into it, leaving a less than impressed Lei-Xulla to flatten her ears and nearly crawl through afterward.
Feeling like she had been somehow stretched and pulled, before being remolded back together she shook her head to clear the jarring sensation:
You have entered the Oracles Garden of Seclusion Level 501 – 999
After the moment of wrongness had passed and she had willed away the less than informative change in system area notification. Lei-Xulla found herself in a vibrant garden, with a manicured purple lawn and exotic looking flowers skirting the mauve island of reds, oranges, whites and even gold. Lost in the chest height beauty that was likely a large jungle to the spaces other occupant, she let a mind continue to bask in it with her perceptive sphere, whilst another of her minds tried to probe its edges, finding only a diffusive haze in passive response.
Refusing to let the wondrous anomaly go un-interrogated, she left the other two of her minds to the tasks and turned her free attention to the serious looking, blue individual that only came half way up her thigh. The being in question queried.
“So what do you think of my oasis Lei?”
Smiling, Lei-Xulla’s ears twitched happily while she supplied.
“It’s magnificent, where did you find so many small flowers?”
Realizing she might have offended the spaces owner, she nervously glanced at the figure who was apparently unperturbed as she replied.
“It has been a hobby of mine for close to three thousand cycles...Unfortunately there are so few flowers of minor dimension that are generated by the system in the higher phases…”
The small figure shook her head, jostling her white hair to continue.
“I would like to expound on my hobbies further as so few phase three Elevants seem to find system generated flora interesting. I’m almost certain it is the adversarial nature of The Elevation System that does this….I am an indulgent…Our enemies draw nearer by the second, and here I am talking babbling like an intelligent deficient about flowers….”
Clearing her tiny throat, she added.
“The reason I have brought you here specifically is because the oasis is shielded from nearly any form of investigation that an un-ascended Elevant may possess. As for the topic of discussion...The task I gave you to send an Emissary to the phase one world known as ‘Earth’ has ended in failure.”
Blinking confusedly at the statement, Lei-Xulla was about to collectively argue with the [Bag of Holding] sized female, when she remembered just who had made such a statement. After closing her opened mouth she opened it again to endeavor.
“Begging your pardon High-Seer Naz...But I was under the impression that the Emissary was still on the ‘Earth’?”
Nodding diffidently she replied.
“It is rare that I say this, but I am unaware what the direct cause of it is, however the Emissary simply ceased to be after traveling to just outside a Citadel, to meet The Forerunner. Can you imagine it?...A Citadel so early in a Phase one worlds elevation?”
As the small High-Seer, let out high pitched chirping that was probably a chuckle, Lei-Xulla’s eyes went wide at the new information. While the system enable construction was common place among Phase two worlds, but a Phase one world?
That was like an over weight Ceh’jutan...It simply did not happen!
As she finished her multitudinous musings, the minute female was fixing her with a weighing look as she asked in a measured tone.
“Back to why i have taken you here, I would like you to relay to me Vice Chief of Operation’s, what were your exact instructions to the Emissary?”
Shrugging her shoulders she replied.
“The standard offer of a contractual indenture to the Amalgamation for the individual possessing forerunner like abilities as well as some bonuses as extra incentives should they be in possession of a progenitor class...I also emphatically conveyed that if the being has already sided with another faction or refuses the offer, that they are to be terminated on sight.”
Looking to the nodding blue skinned female Lei-Xulla furthered.
“I’m sorry High-Seer, but was all this really necessary?...I mean to say, can you not just [Farsight] in on this ‘forerunner’ for yourself?”
Fixing her with a far more serious gaze this time, the miniature runically tattooed being rejoined.
“That is the thing young Lei, I have not been able to divine anything at all about the being since shortly after I charged you with acquiring its indenture...Not even so much as its corpse…It is as if the abyss itself swallowed it whole.”
Her hair follicles saluted at the implications of her rare classed superior’s words. To be able to cloak oneself from an Oracle based class should be impossible for anything less than an Incarnate, and they would not be able to do so for anything more than a cycle.
Collecting herself she asked.
“So, where exactly do I factor in to all this High-Seer?”
Looking up at her with pity evident upon her face, Naz’Ul’Mek supplied.
“To clarify your instructions was only a small part of why I brought you here Arch Mind Mage of the Amalgamation...Upon leaving here you will be flung into a series of events largely outside of your control. Yet I am unable to go into their specifics for fear of altering their prognosticated outcome.”
The Chief Scryer’s minuscule irises seemed to bore a hole into her soul as she paused to continue.
“However, I can assure you that whatever actions you take in the events to come, as long as you have the survival of your subordinates in mind and are willing to receive aid from an unexpected helping hand, you will continue to have the full support of the Amalgamation’s upper management.”
Unanimously bewildered as to what the being meant, one of her queried.
“I-I don’t understand High-Seer Naz?”
Letting out a weary sigh the tiny figure shook her white haired head and replied.
“Though it pains me greatly, I have truly told you all I can young Lei. Now it seems our time together is at an end, please take the portal back to your ship and harden yourself for what is to come.”
Completely baffled now, she collectively nodded whilst mumbling deferentially.
“By your will High-Seer Zan.”
Allowing her minds one last inspection of the mesmeric garden, Lei-Xulla ducked into the [Portal] that the imposing yet minute figure had summoned. Despite bracing herself in expectation, she was once more disconcerted by the uncomfortable transition. Then as if the garden oasis had never been, the next moment she found herself standing in the apex pinnacle of the Xaxon:
You have entered Sarg'Aran Span, Level 501 – 999.
Then after willing away the expected Zone notification another much less anticipated notification with an accompanying rush of warmth sprang into being:
You are now the Greater Chosen of Wisdom Incarnate.
Minds reeling at the ramification's of being a greater chosen of an Incarnate, Lei-Xulla endeavored to keep a neutral expression as she Inspected the surrounds. Finding them unchanged, save for the now expectant look on Commander Fhan’s loathsome visage, she was about to begin to unpack the potential of her new and unprecedented role when the orange skinned oaf stood and entreated.
“My precious Kolo'Sani Zirconium, I’m so relieved you made it in one piece! Come to my quarters so that we can discuss this sensitive matter between equals…”
Her triplicate anger flared as she half spat.
“Commander Fhan I believe the Chief Scryer was perfectly cle-“
But she was droned out by the re-ignition of the ships red hazard lights pulsing in concert with the blaring alarm.
*WHOOOOOOOOP!* *WHOOOOOOOOP!* *WHOOOOOOOOP!* *WHOOOOOOOOP!* *WHOOOOOOOOP!*
Spinning to face the Second Communication Officer, Hu’Gvt’Xe for answers, she was appalled to find the normal active tentacles of the Rajukian, stock still and her whole being turned a sickly tingle of diffuse white. Seeing no point in demanding answers of a clearly catatonic being, she pushed the immobile Elevant from her console to make her own more productive instrumental interrogations. While another of her minds was busily scanning the surrounding area for threats, another paid attention to the alarmed cries breaking out from the pinnacles other occupants.
Upon discovering the cause of the com officer Hu’s catatonia she almost joined her inexperienced junior.
Where once the occupants of the surrounding expanse of space had consisted of the Fourth Flotilla and The Xaxon. Now, approaching them from port side was the a wall of thousands upon thousands of pointed vessels preceding a titanic hollow tipped, cone shaped vessel that made the Xaxon look like a grain of aquatic substrate next to a moon.
Fear nearly chocking her, Lei-Xulla shakily turned to Commander Fhan as her ears went flat and her mind stammered.
“C-commander! A Spike of Z-Zul’s fleet is upon us! Y-your orders?!”
Somehow more shocking then their impending doom that fast approached through the inky backdrop of space. The thoroughly unconcerned orange face of her ‘Commander’ wore sent a shiver down her enhanced spine. The being in question nodded understandingly while supplying in an even tone.
“Please cancel the alert Vice Commander Lei-Xulla, this is nothing to worry our loyal crew over.”
Having to do a double take and use a second mind to manage her first's disbelief, her eyes threatened to escape her furred skull as she demanded.
“What do you mean nothing to worry over you Jaf’jun intelligence deficient?! THAT’S A SPIKE’S SHTA'KING ARMARDA HEADING STRAIGHT AT US!”
Huffing he tapped a few commands on his chairs console and quelled the alarms to rejoin with a hint of reproach in his far too level voice.
“Precious Lei, there is no need for such slurs between such close comrades as us…Please just follow my guiding appendage and we will be through this necessary transition in leadership before you know it.”
Running his words through her minds several times to make sure she wasn't misinterpreting them, a tense silence fell upon the apex pinnacle.
Trying to keep her voice level, one of her couldn’t help but ask.
“Commander...Do you happen to know the reason why Zul’s forces are here?”
Looking almost as pleased as if she had just asked him about his favorite past time, Fhan eagerly offered.
“Oh but of course my sweet Iyoe’wkia nectar...its because I contacted them!”