Andrew was being led down a tunnel whose only feature was that it was made of the same white granite substance as everything else he had seen so far. The gold lines still pulsed with an unknown energy and for an unknown purpose. The spectral leash of purple energy which extended from his forehead to Ioma’s grated on him. While he knew it wasn’t an actual leash, it still served as a constant reminder of his position in her world. That of someone who would serve and follow her; and outwardly he did appear to be mindlessly following her. Looking like a dog whose will she had broken with that damnable leash. Though the truth was he was taking the moment of reprieve from Ioma’s demands, to try to come to terms with everything that had transpired. With all that had gone on in the last few days his mind had a hard time focusing on any one thing. Instead, it raced from topic to topic, one moment it focused on his part in the bad jump before it moved on to another subject like the fact that aliens and magic existed. After a short while his mind settled for a time on the loss of his friend and that it was a result of his panicked actions. Just when he had become comfortable thinking that was the worst of it, his mind came to the subject he had avoided most of all. It was the subject that haunted him more than all the other topics combined. It was that his wife might be floating frozen and lifeless in the void of space and there was nothing he could do about it. Through all the subjects, even the last, another part of his brain was still trying to process what, if anything, he might be able to do to escape his current fate.
He became painfully aware of his mental state when he realized he was no longer walking down a hallway but instead standing in a rather large arched chamber. Just as he felt he had taken measure of the room an odd feeling struck him. Like the room was getting smaller. He was going to dismiss it, but the walls had started to move, growing organically inwardly. The walls’ movements turned what was once a large chamber into a small room and once the room’s collapse was complete small vine like tendrils of white granite grew up out of the middle of the floor. They grew together intertwining and multiplying forming three pillars. The process resembled how Andrew had always imagined regeneration might look, though in extreme fast-forward. Eventually, the three pillars coalesced into two chairs with a desk between them. The table and chairs even had a look of perfectly polished white marble roots. Once this was done, the ever-present light somehow grew brighter on one of the chairs.
"Sit," Ioma said as if commanding a disobedient dog. She gestured, predictably, at the brighter lit of the two chairs, and Andrew, seeing no clear avenues of escape, nor gain at naysaying her, sat.
"Mr. Lather, this room has been secured from all forms of communication. No small effort has been expended to do so, as you seem hell-bent on revealing that I am controlling things on this ship and how exactly do you know of this anyhow?" Ioma in a voice that betrayed her skepticism and a bit of anger.
"Sorry lady I see…" Andrew started to casually say right before a red glow briefly coalesced around Ioma's left hand before it formed into lighting. Which leaped away and took him in the chest with a searing pain and caused his muscles to lock up. Once again, he found himself falling unceremoniously to the floor. Causing his head to bounce oddly as it hit the rubbery floor.
A small giggle escaped his lips when he realized he was still breathing. The giggle earned a fierce glare from Ioma.
"Mr. Lather, we have been over this my name to you is either Captain or Captain Lachs. If you refuse to address me with respect, then I shall spend what brief time we have together teaching you the proper respect you will need to survive with your body and soul intact. Though your mind may not make it through the ordeal in the same state. Speaking of your mind, what exactly do you find so funny?"
Andrew opened his mouth and then paused before he responded, "It was the realization that you're likely just trying to torture me and not kill me."
"What brought you to this conclusion exactly?"
"I seriously doubt that other elven woman is stronger than you. As she unceremoniously killed my friend with the same lightning thing, it seems only logical that you’re limiting your damage for a reason. Thus, it must be to get information out of me and so you’re using it to torture it out of me. As you seem to want to understand my mind, the part I'm most unhappy about is it seems either I have a conversation with you, or you destroy my mind, body, and/or soul?" After a short pause, he, in a more somber tone, added, "Souls are actually real?"
Ioma sighed "It appears you're cleverer than I believed your race to be capable of. You're correct, I am superior to Estred by all conceivable metrics, except perhaps cruelty. The metric of my superiority over her you should be most grateful for is my control.
As for souls, Mr. Lather, you'll soon find out just how real souls are. You seem determined to continue down this path of disobedience and as such I suspect you will also discover how much you wished your soul didn’t exist. With that being said, I feel I should also add that I'd prefer not to have to explore that route with you or your soul. Instead, I would appreciate it if you would just sit and have a conversation with me but don’t be fooled, am fine with either outcome."
Andrew smiling impishly said "Look ma…. Captain. If you just want to get to know me better, you don't have to do all of this. I’m flattered and all, but sorry to disappoint but I'm marri…" There was a pale tan flash, and again Andrew found himself on the ground grasping for breath.
"Mr. Lather, I see you think you’re getting somewhere, but please try to focus on your goal of making it through this intact," Ioma said with the look of a parent who has had to tell their child to stop doing something one too many times…. 10 times ago.
"Yes, Captain. I just think your entire society really could use some training on consent I mean…."
This time he was cut short as a black energy briefly coalesced around her hand before it shot across the table. Its motion could best be described as oily, though quick. It hit Andrew in the chest and through the scorched hole in his uniform, he watched, in horror, as it effortlessly seeped through his skin. Instantly, he felt cold and, more disturbingly, as if his soul were trying to crawl out of his chest. As if his soul was making a desperate attempt to get as far away from whatever she was doing as it could. As the oily black energy flowed Andrew found he was unable to process anything, not even how long he had endured this torture, though it felt like an eternity. It stopped when his entire body tensed up as if every muscle had gone to rigor. The energy had stopped, and his mind snapped back into painful focus just in time to see a look of concern ignite on Ioma’s face moments before the darkness took him.
****************
Andrew couldn’t get passed how much the passageway reminded him of that standard submarine passage that seemed to grace every show or movie set on one. Slightly too narrow, on either side of the passageway there was piping running to and fro, and that lighting which gave the scene the feeling that the air was thick and humid. The walls were covered in that grey paint and every nick in the paint betrayed just how old the Sled was. You could almost count the years by the many different color layers those nicks revealed. Only the rust at the center proved that the walls were made of some form of steel and not solid fordite. Andrew was standing in the center of the hallway and just to his left and facing him was a svelte man. He had tousled black hair, moderately framed glasses, a generously warm smile set in a slightly shrewd face, and whose coveralls appeared to be made almost entirely of grease.
"Hello, my name is Chogan Catawnee, it is my great pleasure to make your acquaintance,” the man said as he held out his hand. As Andrew took the man’s hand in a warm shake it gave him an angle to answer a question he had had since entering this hallway. That the man’s coveralls were indeed the same mission blue as everyone else and not actually made of grease. As he could just make out a clean spot of the mission blue on the inside of the man's collar as he ducked his head as part of the greeting and then continued, "You must be Andrew Lather the tech wizard I hear so much about."
"Ha tech wizard! I don’t know about all that, but I often wish magic was real. Imagine the things you could do with it. One thing is for sure, I wouldn’t be stuck waiting to answer to some authority figure about the inane things going on around here!” Andrew almost spat before quickly adding, “Sorry, you don’t need to hear all that, you must be the Alternate Mechanic I hear such great things about. Not to be rude, but I have to ask, how did you end up as the alternate? I mean I hear you’re a literal genious."
"Oh no sir not rude at all, but one I sadly don't have a good answer for. Though I do speculate it was family ties that made the decision." Chogan said very nonchalantly, “And how did you come by your fate, sir?"
Andrew considered his response for a moment. A moment that was long enough to allow things to get awkward.
"If asking is not too bold sir," Chogan added after a moment.
"No no definitely not too bold. Just a sore spot. See I was supposed to be on the Orin…asa and well a situation arose where I was held back and the Orinasa jumped with my alternate instead of me." Andrew said in a sullen tone.
"Excuse me sir, but I don’t understand how that explains why you are not primary here. No offense to Mr. Oxley, but frankly from what I have heard you're considerably better than Thomas, and yet because your alternate jumped with the previous mission, you’re the alternate now?"
Andrew chuckled.
"See the issue is that the reason why I was held back was later found to not be a real issue and the person to replace me is the person I believe sabotaged the Orinasa," Andrew said in a reluctant but slightly angered tone.
"Excuse my boldness sir, but they made you an alternate because you got held back on false pretenses and the guy, they replaced you with was the problem? That does not seem very reasonable, there must be more to this story." Chogan said almost chuckling with his odd smile that was also somehow infectious.
"My wife was on the O and so I might want revenge," Andrew said a bit sharply.
“Sorry sir, I really should not have dug, I meant no offense,” Chogan replied in a slightly sullen tone.
The two sat in silence for a bit with Chogan giving Andrew a caring look.
"Not that I'm one to bash people about using their family's fame to get ahead," said Chogan breaking the silence.
"Huh? Oh, that's right your father is one of the key engineers who made the Hring even possible right?" queried Andrew.
"That is correct. My father is a great man and was key in solving the food generation issues, among many other things. Though the food generation was amazing. If left on its own, it was predicted it could make food for the maximum crew of the ship for over 10,000 years. Truly probably a bit over-engineered, but what else could you expect from my father? " Chogan said proudly.
"Luckily, we didn’t have to test those food measures out on the trip to Yuta. I sure hope those that jumped away won’t either, but it’s nice to think food won’t be their issue," mused Andrew.
****************
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Andrew was startled awake by a sound he had not expected to hear again for quite some time. As it was a sound, he had not heard it since being transported to wherever this was. The sound was so unexpected that he had doubts if he had woken or if his mind just skipped from one memory to another. The sound that had startled him was the jingle that played each time his Kata implant rebooted. This was even more significant as one of the first things he did when he got Ziggy was to replace the generic, and annoying jingle with the beginning of his and Linny’s song. His initial doubts were quickly put to rest as his Kata display reappeared in his vision, before he even opened his eyes, with a very odd message. It was odd, not only for the message itself, but also that it appeared in what would be the center of his vision, if his eyes were open, instead of just outside of his normal vision.
[Reboot complete. Integration with Control Worm successful.]
It was then that he noticed the feeling of warm energy surrounding him and entering his body.
As he opened his eyes, he discovered that everything was tinged green thanks to warm green energy which was flowing from both of Ioma’s hands and was surrounding his entire body. Ioma was still sitting across the table from him, eyes closed in concentration, and she rhythmically moved her hands back and for causing the green energy to flow out of them with each stroke. The energy flowed from Iomas in a steady flow, but for some reason seemed to be heavily concentrated around his head and shoulders.
Andrew was brought up short when Ioma put up her hand as if she knew he was about to speak.
He sat there in silence watching her every move. As he did Ziggy kept posting message updates every two to three minutes.
[Your Skull fracture has healed]
[Left shoulder dislocation has healed]
[Forehead laceration is no longer bleeding]
[Forehead laceration has healed]
[Osteoarthritis has healed]
[Right shoulder contusion has healed]
As each message popped up, the highlight on his damage silhouette which corresponded to the message cleared. Andrew stared at it in disbelief. What should have taken months or longer to heal, had been healed in moments. While he was already fairly certain that the damage had been fully healed, it was further confirmed when another message appeared and Iomas slumped into the chair across from him. The green energy no longer emanated from Iomas.
[Congratulations, all damage has been fully healed.]
Followed by three more messages which only added to Andrew’s confusion.
[Connection to Control Worm has been strengthened.]
[Control aspect of the worm has been neutralized.]
[New function added. Stats and Powers display.]
Andrew had so many questions he wanted answers to, but after Ioma’s previous demonstration, he tried to wait patiently for her to speak. To help with this he distracted himself by exploring the reported new function of his Kata. He was unsure of how to use it, so he tried the normal way and with a thought, the "Stats and Powers" display came up. Floating just outside the left side of his vision.
[
Demographics
Name:
Andrew Lather
Race:
Human
Height:
1.85m
Weight:
99kgs
Sex:
Male
Age:
39
Hair Color:
Black
Eyes:
Central Heterochromia: Green with amber nebula-like inner ring and Limbal outer ring
Guild/Ikolis:
N/A
Clan:
N/A
Rank
Unranked
Title
N/A
Statistics
Strength:
3
Intelligence:
4
Reflexes:
3
Willpower:
6
Fortitude:
4
Persuasion:
3
Soul
4
Mana Pool
10
Reaction Points:
130
Mana Regen
1/minute
Speed
50
Initiative Modifier:
6
Skills
Category Name
Level (Specialization)
Category Name
Level (Specialization)
Athletics:
1
Bartering
2
Awareness:
3
Melee:
2
Technology:
4 (Implants)
Security:
3
Diplomacy:
2
Stealth:
2
Dodge:
2
Firearms:
3
First Aid:
3
Survival
3
Hand to Hand:
1
Implants
Slots
3
Control Worm Integrated Kata
Displays important data to the user through a vision overlay. Can also connect to the internet, show movies, and take phone calls. Continual monitoring of health.
After Control worm integration gives ability to see magic auras and unlocked magical potential of the user.
Enchantments
Slots
2
None
Powers
Name
Rarity
Effect
Mana Cost
Did I do that?
Unique
You can disable any magical effect that has a duration longer than 15 seconds, even if that duration is infinite. Willpower + Soul check against the original caster's Soul and a moderate modifier. If another magic user is present (including the original caster) they can add 1/4 of their soul rating to that of the caster's to increase the difficulty of disabling an emplaced magical effect.
2
The Eternal Sunshine of the Closed-off Mind
Unique
Closes your mind off to outside control. This includes magical mind-based communications.
DR rating of all mind-based powers used against the subject is increased by 10. If the subject concentrates on blocking an opponent the DR Increases to 10+ Willpower of Subject
1/rnd when concentrating on blocking.
]
I must be dreaming. I have a character sheet. Though I have almost no clue of the significance of anything on there. Still, I have a character sheet?
Andrew let out a small chuckle before he was about to reign himself back in.
Ioma lifts her eyes slightly annoyed "Do you find my saving your life amusing?
[Captain Ioma Lachs, commanding officer, Beautiful Winds. (Would you like to know more?)]
Andrew’s curiosity won the day and a character sheet popped up for Ioma.
[
Demographics
Name:
Ioma Lachs
Race:
Elf
Height:
6'
Weight:
120lbs
Sex:
Female
Age:
?????
Hair Color:
Gold
Eyes:
Ice blue
Guild/Ikolis:
Moti
Rank:
Galim
Statistics
Strength:
?
Intelligence:
?
Reflexes:
?
Willpower:
?
Fortitude:
?
Persuasion:
?
Soul:
?
Mana Pool:
???
Reaction Points:
???
Mana Regen:
???/?
Speed
??
Initiative Modifier:
??
Skills
Category Name
Level (Specialization)
Category Name
Level (Specialization)
?
?
?
?
Enchantments
Slots
2
None
Powers
Name
Rarity
Effect
Mana Cost
????
????
Attacks the soul for ??? damage
?
????
????
Healing effect which heals for ???RP per minute
?
????
????
Can connect with other people's minds. This allows communication. With a willpower check can read the minds of others.
With additional mana, expenditure can control a subject.
?
????
????
Creates a bolt of force that strikes a target dealing ??/RP of concussive force damage.
?
????
????
Creates lightning which strikes the target doing ??? Of damage
?
]
Andrew scanned quickly and then closed the prompts. Trying not to act distracted as he responded, "No Captain definitely not amusing. Seriously though thank you for doing so. If I might ask, what happened exactly?"
Ioma "I was teaching you a lesson, to show you how I can hurt you in ways you've never known. In my anger, I did not account for your previous injuries and your race’s frail nature. The result of my thoughtlessness was almost your death. Which would have robbed me of the chance to understand how exactly it is you can see magic. While it is recorded that humans can utilize magic and your ships harness it in a way we are still trying to understand. Perceiving magic in such a way is something I have not heard of in any outside of my race. Even in members of my race, it is not a power that is seen often. While I have been led to believe there are no magic users of your race, I must ask. Are you a wizard or some such of your people?"
Andrew, relieved to see the purple line had not increased, decided to act as if he was reluctant to answer. After a moment he blurted out, "I make Harry Dresden look impotent". He stood taller and puffed out his chest, trying his best to look important.
Ioma's eyes narrowed, "I am assuming I should know who this is?"
Unaffected he continues, " Merlin?"
Not seeing any recognition from her, his shoulders start to slump, "Dumbledore?", still nothing.
"Harry Potter?" he said the last in a slightly stammered defeated voice.
Ioma's eyes perked up "Ahhhh the boy wizard from your fake reality things?"
Andrew perked up as well, “Wow, you need to reconsider who your friends are. If you know who Harry Potter is, but not Merlin. Wait, how have you ever even heard of a movie?"
Her sternness reappeared, a small amount of black energy leaked from her hands, and Andrew felt his soul start to try to find the nearest exit.
"Please Mr. Lather don't force my hand. How I know of your culture is not any of your concern. I’ve allowed you to distract me for the last time. Back to what we’re here to discuss, which is how you have come by magical abilities and what are you capable of?
Andrew, a bit bewildered by the question responded, "If this is magic" gesturing toward the various purple lines and the rainbow energy pulsing through the walls "Then I guess it’s a gift from your control worm and I guess I can see magic flow? For all the good that does me."
Ioma's head moved back, and her eyes squinted with one slightly raised, "Control Worm?"
"Yeah, that thing you put in my eye," said Andrew.
"What makes you think I need that worm to control you?" indignation clear on her face.
"I don't know that's just want my implant calls it. Not sure where it got that name from though," responded Andrew.
“You have a functional implant?” Ioma’s left eyebrow raised with surprise.
“Yeah, apparently your healing magic or control wormy thing enabled it to work again. I’m really not sure which or if it was a combination of both or some other method. I also got a message that they Though how Ziggy, that’s my name for my implant, and your control worm interfaced, I’d suspect you’d understand better than I.”
Ioma responded extremely matter-of-factly, “Actually I wouldn’t. To date, none of your tech has worked while on our ships. I guess that’s not entirely accurate any longer, is it? As of today, exactly 1 piece of your technology has continued to function once brought on a ship. I assume this will come as a great boon to the researchers who have spent decades trying to crack how your technology works. As for the ‘Wormy things’, they are named Apanean Worms and they're quite exquisite magic. I will admit that I’ve always been quite impressed and a bit appalled that they work even on primitive brains such as your own. Though I highly doubt an Apanean worm had anything to do with your ability to see magic or your ability to ineffectually interfere with our link. So, I will ask again. So how have you come by this power and what all are you capable of?”
Andrew "Hey L……. sorry Captain Lachs. It's your worm, I figured by now you’d know how it affects those who you implant. I only learned magic existed toda.."
“I tire of this. I was hoping to have an open conversation, but I see you’re unwilling to do so.”
The purple line going to him flared with energy and he started to get the feeling that he should treat her with more reverence and answer her honestly. Andrew chaffed at his emotions being controlled again and instinctually started to try to push his will against his purple leash. His efforts were rewarded as the line noticeably dimmed, though it did not wink out entirely.
Ioma's eyes grew wide when she realized what was happening. Her face scrunched in concentration; the purple line brightened once more with renewed energy. Andrew, desperate not to be controlled again, let out all his pent-up emotions and energy from all that had transpired in last few months and into his struggle with this mental shackle. As his anger flowed not only did the line dim, but it also eventually winked out. Ioma gasped and immediately sent another purple line to reach out to him, but the purple line found no purchase to attach to him.
Andrew visibly slumped in his chair, a slight smile trying to hide on his face.
Iomas stood up, finger threatening to stab Andrew in the forehead.
"HOW HAVE you done this? Tell me now before I end you."
Andrew wearily said, "Now that's not much of an incentive. Now, is it?"
The ice flowing from Ioma’s eyes told Andrew all he needed to know, but she seemed to want to speak it regardless.
"Have it your way, I guess I will never know. "
The amount of black energy which coalesced around her hands blocked enough light that her hands seemed more like outlines. He had no doubt this was enough to destroy his soul, but before she released it, Andrew saw one of the purple lines running to her head flare and pulse. The black energy surrounding her hands dissipated almost as fast as it came.
Ioma’s face was a mask of pale lines on a sea of red. Through gritted teeth, she explained,
"Apparently, your fate is not to die here, even though you are even more an abomination than most of your race. I am to ensure you are alive and mostly intact when we arrive at the research center so you can meet with our God Biaobel. My guess is he’ll break you if I or others don’t first. Until then I must ask you a few questions and I do hope you make it where I must force the answers out of you."