Starpath: Scoundrels of the Interstellar Highway - Thread 2 - Games

[QUOTE]"Now, about that engine..."[/QUOTE] "Well..." Taur muttered, taking a few attempts to get himself up off from the crate and then taking a second to get his bearings. His wary eyes glancing at the cameras hung above them before looking back at Valkyrie. "I think that...Showing you it in person...Will say more then my words ever can about it." Taur said to Valkyrie, slowly walking up towards the corvette. However, as Taur began walking, the old Kercan begin to suddenly fall, nearly collapse onto the ground if he didn't had his crane with him. Letting out a loud coughing fit as he stood, trying to regain his balance. He motioned for Valkyrie to come closer. - - - - - - - - As Taylor retrieved the body of the late Jag from their ship, an large assortment of various pirates gathered around the outside in the docks. Some looking to be long veterans of the trade, many of their faces being quite responsible to another that's seen the latest bounty hunter's most wanted. Nevertheless, Taylor's exited with Jag's corpse in tow regardless, ready for anything that they may try. She's fought much, [I]much[/I] worse anyways in the last few months anyway so what would a couple of old space pirates do? However, this crowd of grizzled and fearsome figures quickly started to make way as a tall, cloaked figure arrived out from the shadows of the hanger. The dim lighting eventually revealing it be that of the notable crimson clad Vaker seen alongside Cerulean and Saffron earlier. The massing of notorious renegades suddenly begun to shambled away as the crimson Vaker panned it's glaze over them. Their movements revealing a great deal of fear in their step in font of this individual. It's stare then slowly turned towards Taylor, resting it's stare onto that of the Captain's. It's skull shaped mask concealed all of but it's eyes...They seemed to be missing at first but then as Taylor stared at them more, it appeared that nothing was there but pure darkness. Like two black holes we're entirely localized in where it's eyes should be. "Human..." It muttered, breaking Taylor's stare with the Vaker. It's voice deep and crisp with it's presence outshining the any of the other pirates in sight. "Let me serve as your escort..." It said lowly, slowly rising one of his long metal arms out from under it's cloak. It's arm fully extend out wide towards the way back to the elevator with it's hand wide open in the form of a welcoming gesture towards Taylor.

Valkyrie walked over quickly, ready to help the old Kercan up should he need it. She'd rather he not die just yet before telling her more about her father and the engine. Or his past, even. She loved old stories from the more grizzled veteran pirates. - - - - - - - - - Taylor studied the Vaker, then the group around them before nodding. "...alright. Lets go, I guess." she responded, after looking back down at Jag for a moment. Just how revered was he? He seemed to have almost legendary status around here. She pushed the gurney forwards, up next to the Vaker.

As Valkyrie walked up over towards Taur, the large Kercan suddenly pulled in close to him. "Be careful about your interest in me...They hold my keys closely.." Taur whispered, gesturing towards the ceiling cameras. Then let go of Valkyire's arm, pushing her away and giving her a angered stare. "I'm fine...Human." Taur shouted, "I'll show you this....Wreck of your father's work.." Taur then continued their walk with Valkyrie up towards the corvette, hasting his step as they neared the left of the vessel. This side of hull was missing, large pieces of it could be seen scattered around while a pathway on a series of scaffolding lead them into a wide opening of the dissected star vessel. - - - - - - - - - The Crimson clad Vaker and Taylor walked up towards the nearest entrance towards the elevator. The Vaker putting his arm back at his side. Taylor trip was much quieter then before, the halls we're clear with no sign of any scum in sight. The rumbling and noises of various pirates was also gone, the only sounds that Taylor heard besides that of the station's creaks was that her of her footsteps on the hard metal floor. Meanwhile, the Vaker's were seemly absent.

Valkyrie studied the corvette, her eyes tracing the gaping hole in the side where the scaffolding led. She couldn't help, though, but think about Taur's current situation. Was he traped here? A prisoner of sorts? Maybe a prisoner of that pair of Sanghvi that were here earlier. She cut a glance to where the elevator was, but continued to follow Taur. She didn't dare look at the cameras. Looking towards them would give off the impression that that he had told her something to those on the other end of the line. Instead, she continued to gaze upon the ship as she walked on. - - - - - - - - Taylor felt uneasy about all of this. It was silent beyond her footsteps and the creeks of the metal around her. Where did the rest of the pirates and slavers and such go? Was it a product of this crimson clad Vaker? Or those two Sanghvi? Or were they just being that respectful to Jag. She glanced down at Jag's shell yet again. Why did those two colorful Sanghvi want to see his body so badly before she handed it over to the Eternal Order? Just more and more questions were popping into her head, and in the mercenary business, that was never a good sign. Hopefully she'd be proven wrong in her thoughts on the matter.

Once Valkyrie and Taur had entered into the half destructed corvette, they found themselves at the center of the bridge. A once mightily sight was now nothing but remnants of the past. Many consoles we're torn apart and their insides laying haphazardly about on the floor, parts of the hull missing with dozens of cables and electronics hanging from it's openings. The sight weighted heavily on Taur, for only a few short years ago, this was the pride of his life. The ship that made him and his crew infamous among the quadrant. And now, here it stood nothing more then a reflection of Taur's status within the criminal underworld. - - - - - - - - While Taylor traveled alongside the crimson clad Vaker with Jag's corpse in tow. The two continued down the hall that Taylor recognized from earlier, though this time. A large door that was covered Vaker markings that was locked previously with two large turrets hanging overhead, opened automatically when they entered the room with the turrets folding back into the ceiling as well. The door opened to reveal a nicely decorated passage way, much better kept then the rest of the station seen so far.

Valkyrie looked around the bridge of the scrapped corvette, stepping over cables and broken parts as she moved about the bridge. This was basically an engineer's (or scrapper's) playground, but still. It was a sad sight for a ship that apparently had a long and storied history. Now, it simply sat silent in a massive hangar, a shell of what it once was. She knelt down and looked over what looked to be part of a communications terminal, examining the broken circuit boards and such on the underside. It looked to have been broken years ago, and pried out of the actual terminal nearby. She set it down, before standing and looking elsewhere on the bridge. She saw what appeared to be the captain's chair, worn down and dusty now. She set her hand on the arm, before glancing over to Taur. She honestly wished that this never happened to the Guillotine. She hoped whomever she turned it over to would continue to fly it long after she was gone. And so on with whomever they handed it off to next. Ships deserved to fly, not sit rusting in a hangar, simply being used for scrap metal. - - - - - - - - - Taylor looked about the hall as they walked, talking in this new hallway that was closed off before. Nice decorations compared to the halls before. She wondered where they were going exactly. Probably to see Cerulean and Saffron directly. Still, she continued to feel uneasy.

Taur simply let out a long sign after staring at such a sight. "Valkyrie..." He softly muttered, "Lets go." He motioned towards her to follow him as he turned to face the vessel's main hallway. The door now absent and halls dimly lit by various lights sticks lining the walls. Floors covered in detached metal paneling and open hatches. Lines crudely marked the way for the two as they walked the silent ways deeper into the ship. Sounds of sudden rumbling within the inner systems of the dead corvette could be heard. "Don't worry...She's harmless." Taur said to Valkyrie, waving his front to get her attention away from the noises of rattling metal echoing throughout the halls. Taur continued his trek towards the engineering section deeper in the vessel. - - - - - - - - - An uneasy silence devolved as both Taylor and the Crimson Vaker continued their walk though the finely maintained corridor that was colored mainly in a cold while but was borken up with the occasional spot of a striking yellow and blue ribbon that ran across the ceiling. With dozens of interesting relics and objects on display from many races, most being either ones in the renegade quadrant or Sanghvi in origin. Surely spoils of conquest, Taylor concluded. Though, a odd feeling over begin to creep over Taylor as she walked with this odd Vaker down this long hallway that open into a wide hall, not one of anxiousness or paranoia but weirdly...One of familiarity. However, this train of thought was shattered as Taylor found herself atop of a large staircase leading to a gigantic door where two equally sized Sanghvi stood guard. Colored in same ones belonging to the two long ribbons that lined across the ceiling. They stood silent and still, like overly complex statures. They seemed to be very similar to the ones found around that archive held in former Mantle space so long ago. The Crimson Vaker suddenly step in front of Taylor, staring at the two colossal stone guardians. After a second, the doors opened. Revealing a acquainted sight. "Good to see you once again," "Taylor of Caine." Cerulean and Saffron stated in their usual matter while they both stood in near a gigantic observation window that loomed over the rest of the station.

As Abrax told his background, a memory crept up that happened recently. ... Mariahlus kept her eyes in front of the wheel, looking out for any shuttles in the way. She gave a look to Abraxas sitting next to her, perfectly silent. His arms were crossed, slouching on the seat as if he was napping. Mariahlus frowned for a second. "Are you alright Abraxas? You haven't said anything since we left." She remarked, seeing the Malmarian keep staring in front. He gave a long sigh turning to her. "It's nothing. It's been a rough month for all of us. I've handled this before. But, are you okay?" He leaned closer, motivated to keep conversation going. Mariahlus scoffed, a tired smirk. "You've been sitting in that cell for a few weeks until me, Slaughter, Daud and Kira broke you out. Not only did one of your own betray you, but it almost seems that this has been going on for a long time. Personally, and professionally speaking, you're running on fumes. I'm worried that all of you will be hitting a dead end. And perhaps, we will never see each other again." Abraxas said. For a minute, silence hit the ship once more Mariahlus switched focus on the wheel again. She bit the corner of her lip at a miniscule view. "You almost spoke my mind for a second there. Yes, I am worried that all of this, searching for the ones who destroyed my world will lead me to... she hesitated to speak the last part of her sentence, until Abraxas let out a word, "To die?" He asked, receiving a slow nod. Her hands pressed the wheel, thumbs rubbing against her index fingers. Mariahlus blinked twice, eyes half open. "Yeah." She avoided his face, trying to focus on her breathing. From his position it almost seems like her eyes were getting watery. Abraxas looked out there, stars aligning. He took off his respirator, revealing an inch of his face. Mariahlus glanced at him. "A long time ago, on Malmar. I've made big mistakes that affected me and loved ones. I kept on pretending things were fine and that this war I've took in was natural, something to get used to. I felt that this event would be over and done with, like a common cold you catch in the week. I kept on running away from it. I just wanted to start something exciting and happy. A family with my wife Anna." Mariahlus looked back, nodding her head in affirmation. "But, it didn't work out that way. A month back before I met you, I was with another group called the Terika-Belladonna. I'll be honest and say that I wasn't sure of it. A couple of weeks later, I left. I don't have a reason but I guess I relapsed to an unpleasant time. When I saw two members dying in front of me and I took them back to the ship, I thought they had no chance of living. I tried my best but I wasn't sure if I did it my all." He fiddled his gloves together, attempting to make out what's he saying. Abraxas looked down, hand pressing his covered neck. "I guess... I'm afraid of dying." He admitted, turning to her. Mariahlus frowned. She could at least sympathize with the Malmarian. "But that's alright." He spoke up. Mariahlus's eyebrows rose upwards. "I'm sorry." She replied, trying to find some way to comfort him. "Don't worry about it. Worry about what you're doing in a few days." Abrax reassured, but she shook her head. "Not just that, but enforcements consider you an associate with us now. If only I could help you out more." "It's alright. I told you I've made my choice. Besides, A 2 billion credit bounty doesn't seem like a lot considering what you just did at Alcatraz and Oraro." He mentioned, earning a short laugh. "Don't remind me. I just need to find Lanius." As soon as they arrived around the merchant terminal, Mariahlus landed the shuttle on a free landing pad. End of the line from here on out. Mariahlus stepped out of the seat, walking up to Abraxas to extend her hand. "It's been an honor working with you, Abraxas." She gave a smile. "You can still contact me. Whenever you need me the most." He shook her hand. Walking out into the area he still wanted to know about something. He turned around, facing her. "Hey Mariahlus." She slightly tilted her head in reaction, raising an eyebrow. "Yes?" "Do you think you'll ever find him?" Mariahlus exhaled through her nose, crossing her arms. "He's not far you know." "I wasn't talking about Lanius. I was talking about Dwan." Mariahlus slowly shifted her eyes away, looking down at her boots before coming up with a straight answer. "I have to." Abraxas nodded, taking the reply. "Best of luck." He wandered once more, setting what's right.

Valkyrie followed quietly, taking in the appearance and layout of the ship around her as they walked towards engineering. The creaking and rattling didn't bother her much. The freighter she used to live on with her parents did the same thing, as did a few ships after and prior to it. It was a miracle this thing was even holding together at all, as broken as it was. She smiled a bit, remembering the days of sitting in one of the cargo holds, working on an engine with her father. Cheesy old Terran music playing from a speaker nearby. Mom checking on them every once in a while, sometimes even joining in with the engine work. Though she was nowhere near as skilled as her father. She really wondered if Sol scrapped the freighter. She always assumed that they did, considering it was used as a pirate vessel. Maybe it was floating around somewhere. - - - - - - - - - As the pair of colorful Sanghvi greeted her again, she felt that strange tired feeling yet again. What is it with these two? "Hello again. I've brought Jag's body as requested." she said, pushing the hovering gurney in. The two tall statue like Sanghvi outside were a real headscratcher, considering there were similiar ones guarding the archive. Maybe there were several of them, scattered across the galaxy? Protecting artifacts or objects/people of great importance? Were they part of the Eternal Order? Just more questions to add onto the list. She stopped once she was inside, glancing down at Jag once more.

The two continued down the path deep into the Corvette, which, despise the outward picture of a scrapheap. It's interior seemed to be more and more unscathed as the two descended deeper into the ship. The noises of rumbling begun to lessen as they two neared what used to be the main hub of the ship. Which was surprisingly enough, still relatively intact baring the missing consoles and non-functional electronics. "Just a few more steps..." Taur muttered, his breathing heavy and his limb becoming more prominent in his step. - - - - - - - - - [QUOTE]"Hello again. I've brought Jag's body as requested."[/QUOTE][B]"Excellent.."[/B]The two said jointly to Taylor before swiftly dashing past her towards the body, their blank faces staring down closely at Jag's body. They loomed over it for several minutes, standing completely still as they locked their glaze onto it. Slowly panning their stare down and up the worn and damaged obsidian corpse. They both seemed to utterly hypnotized by it. Meanwhile, the Crimson Vaker had seemly disappeared from the room.

Valkyrie continued to follow Taur, but noticed his breathing picking up and his limp getting worse. "We can stop for a moment if you need to rest." she said, eyeing him. She really hoped he didn't just croak here and now. - - - - - - - - Taylor watched the pair, before glancing around the room. Where'd the Vaker go? She looked about, but didn't see him. Just her and the two Sanghvi. Alone. She folded her arms behind her back, standing at rest, before returning her gaze back to the pair and Jag's body.

[QUOTE]"We can stop for a moment if you need to rest."[/QUOTE]Taur let out an deep sign at Valkyrie's comment, "Don't worry about me Valkyrie..." Taur replied to the worried before taking at moment to pick himself up. "I've endured far worse over the years...These mortal shackles..They are merely temporarily." Taur stated to Valkyrie, His eyes scanning from his left to right. The old Kercan resumed his stride towards the rear of the ship. Suddenly his step was filled with a renew vigor. "For once I'm free this...Insulting prison, I Will...Restore my physical presence to a more appropriate...Stature." Taur's voice was filled with a tone of rising determination. A sign that the fiery soul of the Taur's youth may still linger within this old man. "In fact..." Taur said once he reached a large opening towards the engineering section in the rear of the vessel. "I believe that you...Valkyrie, may be key to this..." "If you are willing to take on....A tutor?" Taur asked while gesturing his left hand. - - - - - - - - As the Two Sanghvi continued their old trance at the Jag's body, faint whispers in air could be heard and light within the room begin to slowly dim. A unnatural sight for Taylor, though a pricing migraine soon overcame her mind as she eyed the Sanghvi and their otherworldly obsession with the corpse. This unsettling scene was thankfully cut short. "My lords..." A Slaug muttered, looking to be one same veterans seen from earlier standing alongside the two Sanghvi. [B]"What? What does your miserable, vile presence require from us, unannounced?!"[/B] The pair demand, dashing in rapid motion towards the Slaug. Their combined voice was deep and loud, their presence was suddenly commanding and thunderous. "It-It's the other interlopers...They have..." The Slaug weakly murmured before Cerulean and Saffron shifted their attention towards the sight passed their open doors. It was an large gathering of various Sanghvi, all covered in the same pale white cloth and forged from the obsidian stone as Jag with the ever so familiar Crimson Vaker standing straight in front of them. "Our guests, the ones of the Eternal Order have arrived." The Crimson Vaker stated loudly towards Cerulean and Saffron. Cerulean and Saffron briefly stared down the Vaker with a intense, hatefully stare before they frantically turned towards Taylor, their chaotic stances soon returned to their normal, collected postures as they faced Taylor. "Thank you once more..." "Taylor of Caine," "Your services to us," "Will be well rewarded," "However," "We politely asked that you leave us be with our fellow Sanghvi compatriots," "Your reward will be one of your choosing.." "So in the meantime," "Please take your time in deciding what you wish from us," "And we provide it." "Without charge." Cerulean and Saffron stated to Taylor in their usual, soft voices.

"A tutor, eh?" asked Valkyrie, raising an eyebrow. She already had plenty of experience in the RQ, as well as the other parts of the galaxy. Fighting, building, maintaining, and so on...but nothing like what the techno warlock himself knew. Maybe she could use his help and experience with the Reavers. Jester might not like the surprise entry, but still. She could probably talk her into going along with it. Plus, it was Valkyrie's group first and foremost. If Jester disagreed, she'd still do it regardless and Jester would just have to deal with it. "...Yeah, actually. I'm starting up a group of my own out here in the RQ soon. Was actually planning on going to deal with it after we had delivered Jag's body." said Valkyrie. "It was a dream of my parents, to found and run their own pirate group. I decided recently that I'd do that as well. Tired of just roaming around, bouncing between various crews and groups. Its been fun, and I don't regret it at all, but I think its time to do my own thing...and I could really use your help." - - - - - - - - - Taylor rubbed her temple with her off hand as she nodded. "I understand. I'll head back to where Taur and Valkyrie are." she said. These Sanghvi were powerful. The whispers, the dimming lights, the severe migraine...and all they were doing were staring at Jag's body. Were they channeling the Void or whatever it was they called it? And their reaction to the Slaug was rather alarming. Taylor turned and headed towards the door, walking by the other robed Sanghvi.

[QUOTE]"It was a dream of my parents, to found and run their own pirate group. I decided recently that I'd do that as well. Tired of just roaming around, bouncing between various crews and groups. Its been fun, and I don't regret it at all, but I think its time to do my own thing...and I could really use your help."[/QUOTE] A smile rose across the grizzled space pirates' face. Another chance to set thing rights, Taur thought. "Thank you...Valkyrie, I'll teach you everything I know soon enough.." Taur said with a sense pride rising in his voice. The two then a few more steps, finding themselves in the middle of the engineering bay. A giant room that spiraled that seemly made up most of the ship in mass. Which strangely enough, still had a number of lights and basic systems still functioning inside with several generators scattered about the place with large amounts of cables running throughout the area. However, most of the inner area around the drive seemed to be inaccessible due to numerous amount of debris blocking off access to the inner core chamber. At least, on foot. "But let me show you what you came for...The drive." Taur said to Valkyrie as the two reached the room, he then pulled up a lose metal plate off the left side of the wall, revealing a small console. "Now...Valkyrie..." Taur asked, his large mechanical suit's backpack now shifting about. "How well do you handle zero gravity?" - - - - - - - - - [QUOTE]"I understand. I'll head back to where Taur and Valkyrie are."[/QUOTE] Cerulean and Saffron simply nodded and turn their attention back to a large, towering Sanghvi that was escorted two Sanghvi that looked similar to that of Jag but missing facial scars and side mounted implant. Nevertheless, the two Sanghvi parties ignored Taylor as they began staring blankly at one another with no movement found between one another. Taylor simply choose to walk pass this, though the sounds of whispers and the sight of a unnatural darkness forming around her. Took the experienced mercenary off guard, she continued her walk though back towards the hallway. Making her way pass the robed Sanghvi that we're equally ignorant of her presence. However, as she made her way down the stairs. The hallway had all but turned to darkness, with none to be found and the whispers only getting louder...

[QUOTE]"How well do you handle zero gravity?"[/QUOTE] "Fine, for the most part. I've had to do a few repairs and such in zero gee before. Still get ZG sickness from time to time, though." she said, glancing around the room before looking to Taur and the panel. So they had to go into zero gravity to get to the drive. Clever. She was eager to see her father and Taur's work. - - - - - - - - - - Everything felt strange, really. And the whispers simply grew louder and louder. What had those Sanghvi done to her? Or what were they doing in general? She felt along the walls as she continued down the stairs, her view darkened almost to the point of blindness. What the hell was going on!? She eventually found herself nearly stumbling down the stairs, but she kept on. Trying to get away from the cluster of Sanghvi behind her.

[QUOTE]"Fine, for the most part. I've had to do a few repairs and such in zero gee before. Still get ZG sickness from time to time, though."[/QUOTE] Tuar nodded, he reached to the back of suit, pulling out a long black cable that's strapped to his suit and tossed it over Valkyrie. "Just hold on tight." Taur said as switched the artificial systems within this part of the ship, making the two slowly float upwards into the air. - - - - - - - - - - As Taylor made her way to the end of the stairs, it seemed that the relics and objects on display in the long, towering hallway had changed.... The whispers only preceded to get slowly louder and deeper, the voices though now sound vaguely recognizable but too far distorted to make any one out. The one that caught Taylor's eye the most was that of being a large, detailed globe of Pyri II hovering in place of one of displays found before. She turn to find another display that of a statue forged in the shape of a familiar looking suit of Hastati-Class body armor.

Valkyrie slowly lifted off the floor, the feeling of gravity pulling her down being stripped away. Its that first minute that makes you feel sick to your stomach, and from time to time it'd make Valk puke. It bothered even the strongest people sometimes, especially after they've had a full meal. She waited till everything was floating, before orientating herself to where she was standing on the ceiling of the room. There we go! Now she had something to push off of. She looked over to Taur, and gave him an okay gesture with her hand. - - - - - - - - - - "What the..." muttered Taylor, looking around the hallway. Her homeworld of Pyri II hovered in a display, accurate down to the the very last detail. She could see the three large colonies on its surface, shaped like a triangle from above. She even saw the old abandoned Upyri colony on the far side of the planet, half sunk in the lava filled depths below it. The orbital station above it, of SDF ownership, quietly floated around it like a moon. The statue on display across from it was extremely familiar. She smiled a bit. It was a suit of Hastati-class body armor with a helmet, with various customizations and marks from damage and use. The torso of the suit, mainly the chest and stomach, had been reinforced with a second layer of armor plating. The thigh and shoulder pads had also been reinforced as well. She knew exactly who's armor it was as a image of a snarling dog had been scratched into the chest plate over the heart. The Mad Dog. The voices continued to bother her, though, preventing her from focusing too long on the two displays and pushing her onward.

Taur's backpack lifted both himself and Valkyrie up in the air gently. The two slowly made their way into the opening above rubble and towards the chamber where the core of the jump drive was held. Once they we're pass the assortment of scrap, the pair found themselves in the inner chamber surrounding the jump drive. It seem that this part of the vessel had been active for quite some time as much of electronics and computer consoles still being online, though in a state of low power with the rest of the area much warmer than the rest of the relatively chilly hanger outside. After cleaning the obstacles, Taur then landed both himself and Valkyrie at inner control deck that surrounded the jump drive's chamber. "There.." Taur pointed to the where the jump drive stood, siting squarely within the middle of a tall center chamber, inactive. "Now...Let me get things in order..." Taur muttered as he activated his mag boots, allowing to walk over to the deck's mainframe and allow Valkyrie open access to Valkyrie of the various control systems around the deck. However, as Valkyrie looked around the deck she could see that the place has been without hard gravity for quite some time and soon found an notable amount crystallize growth around the heating vents, looking to be of Sanghvi nature. Though, it has seemly taken the shape of something akin to a insect cocoon. "Little experiment...I'm trying." Taur muttered as pulled open a console's interface, "For I've seen Jag and his fellow kin....forge simple life out of rock..I've decided to do the same..As a hobby." - - - - - - - - - - Taylor found herself in a odd place, for no matter how many steps she took forward. She was greeted with more and more oddities formed after her own memories. It started to seemed that hall of insanity might stretched have on forever. With Taylor forever condemned to tend upon this path till the end of time. Soon though, the whispers began to fall silent and the objects slowly faded away along with the rest of the hall, it all turning into complete darkness. Taylor then found herself feeling utterly alone in this plane of pure darkness. As Nothing could be heard, not even her own step made a sound. This nightmare had seemly consumed her mind until that of a familiar sound could be heard breaking the silence. "Captain Taylor."

Valkyrie studied the small crystal formations, and chuckled. "Homemade Sanghvi." she said with a smirk. She turned back to Taur. "Hopefully it comes out friendly." she said. She remembered how vicious Sanghvi in general could be in combat. She looked over to the tall cylinder where the drive rested inactive, then began to walk around and examine the different consoles and interfaces. Interesting stuff, to say the least. - - - - - - - Taylor looked around frantically. "Who's there?!" she asked. She still only saw darkness. Was she drugged? Was this some kind of Void manifestation? Or had she finally just fucking lost it? She did note that the voice sounded familiar, though. Hopefully it wasn't just a memory like before.

[QUOTE]"Hopefully it comes out friendly."[/QUOTE] Taur let a hearty chuckle out at Valkyrie's comment, "Don't worry...I've raised worse.." Taur muttered as he worked his magic on the computers, "And..There!" The old Kercan had managed to get the old, inactive machines to display a full tech reading of the jump drive and it's sister systems onto the holographic projector within the middle of the room. Showing very detail of the whole complex device with every available technical read out, design notes and blueprints that Taur had on file. This was going to take awhile for Valkyrie to take in. - - - - - - - [QUOTE]"Who's there?!"[/QUOTE] As Taylor frantically scanned the darkness for anything she turned around and found the face of the voice. It loomed over her, standing tall as it's usually did. Looking down at Taylor awestruck face. "Taylor...It's me.." Jag simply said.

Valkyrie looked pretty awestruck at the various images and schematics before her on the interface. Holy shit, this was fantastic! All of Taur and her father's work regarding the drive, right before her eyes. She took it all in, looking over each of the schematics, charts, and blueprints that she could. She glanced back to Taur, a grin adorning her face. - - - - - - - - - - "J-Jag? What is this place? Is this the Void or something?" she asked, looking around then back up to him. "...Am I dead? I remember being aboard Duzakh Station, delivering your body and implant like you asked, and then as I was heading back to meet Valkyrie...everything just started going black! The whispers! This...p-piercing migraine!" she said, holding her temples for a moment before looking back up to him.

Taur simply smiled back at Valkyrie, letting her dive straight into the goldmine of information relating to the jumpdrive. It was an massive undertaking for Valkyrie to take in and she wasted no time in reading over every piece of valuable data that was stored in this mainframe. Meanwhile, Taur lowered his head in pain, placing his hand on his forehead while mumbling silent words with his eyes tightly closed. While Valkyrie continues to absorb herself within the digital treasure cove at her fingertips. - - - - - - - - - - [QUOTE]"...Am I dead? I remember being aboard Duzakh Station, delivering your body and implant like you asked, and then as I was heading back to meet Valkyrie...everything just started going black! The whispers! This...p-piercing migraine!" [/QUOTE] "Please..." Jag said in the clearest voice that Taylor had ever heard, no trance of the familiar artificial patterns heard before. "Taylor..You must claim down, for your presence is still strong within the material realm. You are still alive..."

Valkyrie continued reading over the information presented to her. This was fantastic. Everything she could ever need to construct an advanced jumpdrive of her own. Perfecting off this prototype. Building off her father's legacy. The grin on her face got even bigger. The things she'd be able to do with this thing. - - - - - - - - - - - - "I'm still alive?" said Taylor, studying Jag. His voice was crystal clear? He was talking to her through the Void, of course it was. She took a moment to try and calm down, taking a few breaths and focusing as best as she could. Finally, after she calmed down a bit, she spoke up again. "Alright...what's going on? Did Cerulean and Saffron do something? Is something wrong?" she asked, looking back up to Jag.

[QUOTE]"Alright...what's going on? Did Cerulean and Saffron do something? Is something wrong?"[/QUOTE] "No." Jag said bluntly down to Taylor "Nothing is wrong yet...At least nothing of their doings...No, for this was of my doing. Taylor."

[QUOTE]"No." Jag said bluntly down to Taylor "Nothing is wrong yet...At least nothing of their doings...No, for this was of my doing. Taylor."[/QUOTE] Taylor nodded a bit. This is all Jag? Channeling the Void to talk to her from beyond the grave. "You could have done it in a less...you know...terrifying way, but I guess that might be the only route since you're sorta...dead." she said, running her hand through her hair. She paused for a moment, before speaking again as she looked back up to him. "...Its good to see you again."

[QUOTE]"...Its good to see you again."[/QUOTE]"Likewise...Taylor." Jag calmly said to Taylor, it's body still looking like the moment she left it with Cerulean and Saffron. "But I do deeply apologize about the...Events that you have encountered so far, for it is seemly the nature of the void for both you soft-carbons and the Sanghvi that tend the line between self sapience and that of void...Again, I I'm sorry about whatever apparitions that have had to endure.."

"Well...most of it was apparently bits of my memories. My homeworld, my mother's body armor...stuff like that. Then the total blackness. Whispers faded to silence...and now here you are." said Taylor, tilting her head a bit. Well...why was Jag contacting her in the first place? Was there something he wanted to talk about?

[QUOTE]"Well...most of it was apparently bits of my memories. My homeworld, my mother's body armor...stuff like that. Then the total blackness. Whispers faded to silence...and now here you are."[/QUOTE] "Nonetheless...Taylor, I've contacted you for a grave reason...For my time within the void without a physical anchor to the material realm has allowed my presence to pierce the shrouds and see into the sea infinite...Precognition." Jag said, his voice slowly becoming faint. "And though my...visions are blurred and hazy...Have shown me an great tragedy that will befall onto the greater galaxy...And you, Taylor, you will be in epicenter of it all..."

Taylor's eyes widened. "...this has to do with the Archives, doesn't it? Do we fail? Does Starvis get released?" she asked. This was bad. [I]Really[/I] bad. But who were the ones to do the deed? Death Vigil? The migraine slowly started to creep back in as her eyes darted about. She had to tell Neasha and the others the next time she saw them. They had to figure out something.

[QUOTE]"...this has to do with the Archives, doesn't it? Do we fail? Does Starvis get released?"[/QUOTE] "I'm sorry Taylor...But the answer...The answer...It's too well hidden behind the veils for eyes to see it...For all I can see are images of...Terror, fear and...Death..But you...You, Taylor are standing against...It." Jag explained, his voice slowly getting more faintly and weaker with each passing sentence. "For you...Taylor...You will ,and many other...faces will be paramount in the coming days..But you must remain strong.."