"Donno," Starzone answered when Derek asked who the feline was, "Byte brought her home. Will ask her later."
Starzone felt the ripple of energy as it washed over Derek. The last thing she wanted was to be stuck on a lift with an unknown entity. She turned her head, sliding the armband off quietly and dropping it onto the floor. It rang sweetly as it struck the ground. Derek seemed to vague out and on a spur of the moment Starzone grabbed his wrist.
She felt the vague roil of energy coursing through, got the impression of a vision that imprinted on her subconscious somewhere but never made it further than that, before the energy faded and Derek exclaimed softly. She held his arm for a moment longer until he steadied, then bent down and picked up her armband, sliding it back on. The gentle numbing sensation needled the back of her head until her lesser ability fully settled.
Right on cue, the lift doors purred open on the residential floor. Starzone stepped out and led Derek back to his bolthole. She stood by, casually leaning her back against the doorframe as she waited for him to find his comm and pen it. "Do you want me to monitor your dreams?" she casually asked the air.
Starzone shrugged. "It'll be right," she said vaguely. She could have said she had seen things that would make his fur turn white, she had seen things that would give most people vivid nightmares until the day they died and possibly even reach them into the next lives at least for a little while, but that, to her ears at least, would have sounded complete and utter tripe, not to mention incredibly conceited. Besides which the worse thing she had ever seen, which nothing would ever top, was when she had unthinkingly grabbed hold of an unshielded Darkmoon and glimpsed what was inside the black box in his mind. Darkmoon's intense dislike of being touched and the fact that he was running purely on instinct at the time which stopped recognition from kicking in had saved her sanity even if it had broken her ribs, a fact he had been quietly apologetic for ever since.
She blinked and looked up at Derek. "Would you like me to stay with you?" she inquired. It was a bit difficult for her to believe that a mere two years ago she needed contact for her lesser ability to work. These days her tracking had gotten a lot better so she could find someone in a matter of not long but it was immediate if she had contact, rather than the brief lag it took her to find who she was looking for.
Derek had seen enough in his lifetime to fall under the belief that he had seen more than enough to make stomachs turn and give others their own set of nightmares too. In fact he had been through that stage more than once and to this day would still occasionally wake up to soaken blankets and heavy breath, accompanied by the loud and rapid beating against his chest echoing through his head until it would settle. Of course there was no doubt that when compared to whatever Starzone had seen and gone through was probably something that paled it in comparison. Still, Derek would consider himself just starting to get over it all now after all those years but even still he didn't feel he would ever be able to completely overcome it. Just deal with it and grin and bare it, using it as a means to strengthen him than weaken him.
"Please..." Derek replied in a concerned and yet calm tone, his expressions showing he more than needed the company and felt it would be safer if someone monitored him just in case. And one thing else was apparent in him. Fear. Derek hardly was ever affraid of much at all, often taking the thrill of it all and tossing it into a blend of adrenaline pumping, sweat soaked, macho action. But this kind of thing was completely new to him, emerging from the deep seas of the unknown and actually frightened him as equally as it concerned him. He didn't openly admit it though. He was much too proud for that. But he didn't need to. His tone and expressions, the way he helds his ears back a little and the look in his eyes along with an expression that showed a more sensitive side to this stubbornly proud lupe gave it easily away.
He didn't want to show it in front of anyone, feeling that his position pretty much demanded that he suck it up and take it like a real man. However at times even Derek had to show that in the end when something effected you it effected you regardless.
She sensed a deep seated fear beneath the mostly calm veneer. Starzone took the armband off and placed it on the nearby table. Again that tone sounded, just softly now. Her awareness expanded rapidly. She blinked as she saw his energy clearly overlaid, the blue-black maelstrom of Sydonai like oil slick across the gold-laced white of Derek. In a couple of places minute particles of either had broken through and were mixing with the other. She could also see, interspersed through Derek's normal colours, colours that shouldn't be there, in a distinct pattern of tension and stress knots.
She should have had to consciously shift vision.
Starzone put one hand companionably on Derek's shoulder, directly over a stress knot, gave a little squeeze on a pressure point and watched as the alien colours directly beneath her hand popped, the colours fading back to white, started bleeding down the network but halted as it encountered resistance from other nodes in the tension network.
"You," she said, "need a decent sleep. Get comfortable and jump in bed."
Though completely unaware of what Starzone had seen in him when she removed her armband and placed it on a near by table, which he watched her do with as much calm as he could gather before bringing his attention back to her, he could still sense that whatever she saw must have been pretty surreal. Especially since she would shift her gaze away from him. Derek's ears remained folded back in concern but he knew better than to let it get the better of him. After all, how as he to know that fear wasn't something else that triggered...whatever this was off? For the sake of safety for both himself and everyone else Derek tried his best to remain brave.
Her support, however she managed to do it, actually calmed him even if it was a little. Smiling Derek nodded slowly to Starzone's words before slipping off his boots and trenchcoat, placing them onto a near by chair, and slipping his shirt off to head into bed. On his left arm on the upper part of it (to the side of his shoulder kind of area...forgot what that part's called) he had what looked like some kind of tattoo inprinted into his very fur, standing out even against the dark colours of his fur. It was an interesting sort of design; tribal-like in its shape and pattern, twisting and curling to form the shape of a type of draconic, wolf-like head. His back beared a long scar running from the middle of his left shoulder blade and running along to fade to a stop just above the back right corner of his hip. With a shirt on one would be none the wiser of it but with his shirt off it was clear as day. It began as a thin slice, deepening into a thicker mark before fading off again into a thinner line as though he had been cut by some kind of blade or clipped by some strip of thin shrappenal. Fur had grown back around it, forming into a river-like dent than ran down through it however didn't achieve hiding it completely.
Slipping into bed Derek yawn wide, teeth exposed and his tongue's end curling in a very canine-like manner as he did so, letting out a small wine of sorts before smacking his gums a little and turning to his side into a little bit of a curl. But he just couldn't sleep right away.
"Starzone..." Derek soon spoke, a quiet and calm sort of tone, supportive too, before he then turned to face Starzone as he added "Commander Nubis...I've been meaning to tell you something about him. I was looking through some old photos during our return home and found out why I recognized him but just couldn't place a claw on it. To cut a long story he...he took me under his wing when I lost my family, taught me what he could until we where parted due to a war. Well, basically he had to go to war, I had to fend for myself. Which lead to...a few things. Anyway, I also know he's a champion and a name of legend back at home. He faught in a heap of tournaments and such and was practically undefeateable. In fact he rarely ever lost. Thing is? The way he faught. It was...strange. Everyone always said "He fights like a God!" and I find myself agreeing to that. Did...you get any strange vibes from him when you talked to him?"
Starzone followed Derek at a slight distance as he moved to the bed. "Nice tat," she commented. Of the scars she said nothing, though she had seen them and wondered. Nothig said though as chances are she might find out in the dreams. She settled herself on the bedside, listening as he told her about Nubis. She nodded slowly when he finished, smiling slightly.
"It explains a few things," she said. She put her hand on his shoulder again, intending to massage out more of the tension so he'd go to sleep easier and be easier to synch with for dreaming purposes, but she wanted to make sure he was okay with her touching him first.
"Huh?" Derek stopped half way into hopping into bed, looking at his arm with a small smile before looking at Starzone with a nod and a "Thank you" to match. He would proceed to add "But truth is I'm not even sure where it came from. I mean I do know I've had it almost all my life and I've had a few docs tell me it's a natural print in my fur. Why it came out the way it did is another story...But I'm getting the feeling what's been happening lately is answering that question pretty quick"
The scars Derek bared was something of a much deeper story, a sign of that the crash he had when he first landed on Mars wasn't the only major injury he had. How he got the scar was something that may well just be answered in the dream. Along with a few other things that maybe Derek himself wasn't yet aware of.
Now in the bed and with Starzone sitting beside him Derek looked up and listened to her, one arm held behind his head and he calmly laid on his back, his attention on Starzone and his ears perked.
"I guess..." Derek nodded before easing back in the bed. Starzone's touch was magical to put it one way. Whatever she was doing it helped him ease and he was more than fine with her touching him. In fact he fell right asleep he was relaxed by her touch.
Then the dreams would proceed to start...
Starzone added "perpetual tattoo" to her "list of weird crap about the Lupe". She was amused that he passed out almost immediately, that had been some serious tension he'd been carrying. She worked a bit more, lessening the strength of the tension network significantly. The Lupe was probably going to have the best sleep he'd had for a long time.
When his breathing was deep and regular, Starzone slid off the edge of the bed, leaning heavily against it, one hand still on Derek's shoulder. She watched his face for a little while, timing her breaths so they coincided with his. Her mind moved into the pleasantly fuzzy dreamy stage of trancing. Her antennae sparked briefly, apparently half-heartedly, and she closed her eyes.
(ooc - Derek, start dreaming punk ;)
---
Trajectory sensed the approach of another presence and stopped. Streak sensed the presence of another presence and also stopped, but a moment later and scant inches from colliding with Trajectory. For a second the two stood almost nose to nose. Pride and alpha male syndrome had Trajectory standing his ground, reflexes had Streak immediately backing away.
"Hey, Traj," Streak said.
"Streak," Trajectory answered shortly.
They looked at each other for a little while, though "glare" was perhaps more accurate in Trajectory's case.
"...you haven't seen Starzi by any chance?" Streak ventured.
"No."
Streak hesitated, then forged ahead. "She's not in our bolthole. Or checkin' her mech. Or in the training rooms."
Trajectory remained impassive, though his mind raced. "Starzi's the one that finds people."
"I know." Streak conceded, "But you got a better chance of findin' her than I do."
Trajectory smirked. He reached out and latched on to Streak's shoulder. Streak grimaced as Trajectory dug into pressure points quite deliberately, but didn't make a sound. Trajectory's eyes lost focus as his antennae sparked up. For a second Streak felt dizzy, though he wasn't sure whether it was from being reaved or from the acupressure, but he recovered quickly enough. Shortly afterwards Trajectory's antennae stopped glimmering and his eyes refocused.
"She's with the Lupe. Scaping."
Derek's sleep was peaceful, his dream starting off as something subtle and in a series of broken flashbacks of a better time when he was a cub. His real family was present as they watched him playing in the park, enjoying the freedom of a joyous life before suddenly the scene flashed into a disturbing, war torn version of the very same park, Derek now a little older standing at the very same park, looking over at the battered playground some short distance away from him. The wind blew eerily against his trenchcoat and he struggled to hold back his emotions.
His breathing deepened as he faught hard to hold back his emotions and slowly an army of some kind or another drew closer to him, cautiously stepping forward. His fists clenched and his eyes shut he bow his head as his breathing became stronger and his heart beat hard against his chest before suddenly he opened his eyes, that familiar blue glow to them present as a sign of when it all began, or could have began, and with a yell to the skies and his hands held out in a clawed fashion at his sides a strong blast of energy shot from all around him, kicking up dirt and debris and shattering the armies like broken glass. No sooner had this blast struck did Derek's dream suddenly change to a different scene.
Commander Nubis knelt down onto one knee, resting his hand on Derek's shoulder as he spoke supportively and calmly to him, the scene looking as though it was in some old, beaten up room.
"There is something great in you Derek. I don't know what it is or if it's a part of you but you will discover it when you're older. It will be a shock, maybe even bare a name. You must tame it...Be it a part of you or otherwise it will help you but it is also very dangerous. If you do not tame it...worlds could be at risk..."
(OOC: XD! D=! Don't be so mean, Derek's going through a rough time you...you...meanie! XD!)
Dreamscape
Starzone hovered unobtrusively, observing. It was true, some things never changed. War shattering happiness. Lives which may have panned out boringly normal twisted into something else entirely.
She moved closer, remaining on the edge of consciousness, as Sydonai effortlessly tore through the advancing army. She moved around, imprinting Sydonai's energy signature. She wondered, as the army toppled, if he'd match Lorus, or even Darkmoon. She continued circling, and eventually worked out that no, he would't match Darkmoon, much less Lorus. He was however more than a match for her and Trajectory individually, to have a prayer they would have to take him together. Not that she wanted to fight him.
She unthinkingly dipped in closer to get a good look at the memory of Nubis. There was something definitely, but he would probably be like Lorus and Darkmoon, remarkably good at hiding his Presence for someone who had So Much.
Why worlds, why is it always worlds. The though originated from the part of her that was Nekamah. She was exasperated, although not consciously aware of why. They had myths about creation and myths about world destroyers to counterbalance it.
Death and revenge.
Her lip curled in mild amusemet, the tips of her wickedly sharpened rodent incisors showing.
Sydonai is supposed to be an angel of lust as well. How that fit in the grand scheme of things didn't really matter to Starzone in any of her aspects. Nubis and the beat up room fizzled ut and for some reason they were back at the desolate playground, the remnants of the decimated army long gone but the feel of what had transpired still clinging to the air. The lone swing - and there was always one - rocked gently in the stillness as if occupied by a ghost. Its partner hung in a macabre fashion by one chain, the other collapsed and looped on the ground.
Wondering if she was going to get Derek or Sydonai, Starzone approached Derek from the back and put her arms around his waist, resting her head between his shoulder blades. She exuded calm and comfort as she pulled the form of her physical aspect around and over herself. Sydonai wouldn't care less what she loked like any more than she would care what Sydonai looked like, should he be the one she got, but she didn't want to startle Derek if that was who she got.
Materialscape
"Okay," Streak said at length, unsure of what else to say. "Uh. Don't you usually have to do that kind of stuff together?"
Trajecotry shrugged dismissively. "Only if we're seeking and only over a distance these days. She's gotten better." And stronger. As had he. He didn't really need to say it out loud though, it hung in the air between them almost as if he had. "You can patrol the corridors if you want but I need sleep," he added brusquely, and set off. Streak fell in step beside him.
They didn't say anything more to each other as they headed to their boltholes, which weren't that far apart from each other. And it was one of the few times where they weren't so antagonistic.
Dreamscape
Sydonai was strong. Very strong and extremely powerful, having only just yet displayed but a small example of what he was capable of doing. However he was not unlimited in his powers and what he could do nor was his existant without flaws. Though somewhat more shadow and energy based, in turn becoming quite the force to be quite the challenge in a battle, his limitations guided well to very high chance indeed that Starzone and Trajectory could take him out where they to do so together, if need be, but it would be a fierce and long battle that could well lead into some nasty surprises. Who he matched didn't seem to bother him. All that mattered was the victory of the fight and making the enemy pay, most the time suffer in the process. Although as it stood he didn't really seem to be the enemy. Dark, yes, arogant, deffinetly. But not foolish or stupid. One thing that was both the focus of his strength and could also be labelled as somewhat of a weakness was that he seemed to be most powerful when enraged, his aura more calm when he's in one his more...confident moods yet like a bat out of hell he would burst from the ashes and strike fear into the center of one's soul the moment his rage was unleashed. Or was it rather Derek who did all this?... That question still seemed to linger.
Why worlds? That was a good question. Although unheard in the dream to anyone else but Starzone that question was one asked countless times in the past and present by many. Perhaps it was the odd reminder that though worlds as large as they are may be large they are fragile, in turn all upon the worlds are tested their loyality and will to keep it strong and alive. Either way...it was always some world or another at risk. Maybe it's someone obsession with making things go boom and smash. You never know what kind of sense of humor the Universe has at times.
The scene now changing the eerily silent playground Derek stood there once more, completely unaware of Starzone's approach and when she approached him and did what she did to what he realized must of been some kind of support it was then Derek smiled. He did not glance over his shoulder to see Starzone but knew she was there. Her support was unexplainable, pure brilliance and enough to bring a smile to the most broken of hearts.
"Thank you..." Derek whispered, his voice young, the whisper baring a faint echoe to its tone as though innoscense itself where speaking through to her.
He shut his eyes, slowly opening them as they began they now glowed and it was almost expected that Sydonai would coldly make his presence known. But instead...he showed kindness. Dark kindness but one that was kindness all the same. It was strangely comforting and even he seemed to apreciate Starzone's actions. Shadows began to form in those tentacle-like fashion but they where not a threat. Rather they gave off an aura of protective qualities that was comforting rather than threatening.
"Of all whom have witnessed our pains you are the first to have truly tapped deeper into our sorrows to find that glimmer of hope we had almost lost" Sydonai began, his expressions calm though serious as they where, his tone too likewise "For this, we are greatful. Know this Starzone; For your actions you have our protection and//or aid whenever you should need it. I know I come accross as a dark being and that I may be. But I am not heartless. Not entirely"
Back To The Material Plane
Rav'una, almost no doubt forgotten about by those concentrating on Derek's current issues, awoke in true to her personality fashion. While the medics tried to wake her she had actually taken a little longer than expected although when she did wake up back into consciousness she quickly snatched, out of pure reflex, at one of the throats of the medics with a frown and a low growling-hiss, mistakening him as a threat. It wasn't until others calmed her down that she let go, realizing what she had done but not quite appologizing for it. It wasn't that she didn't feel bad about it, she was just too firm in her ways to admit it.
"He should have been cautious..." She hissed, whipping the sheets off of her and attempting to stand but her legs where still quite weak, in turn forcing her to sit back on the bed with an irritated growl.
"Curses! How I dispise the after math of an unconscious experience..."
Dreamscape
When Sydonai popped up Starzone dropped her physical guise, reverting back to her Dreamscape form. It was a reflex action and she couldn't have stopped it any more than she could have prevented herself flinching from an object rapidly approaching her head. She raised her head as the tentacles came up, but sensing their non-threatening intent, she felt safe enough to move around in front of him. She made and held eye contact, his softly glowing blue eyes and her blood red gem-like ones, accentuated by the matching coloured Ajana set above and between them, and listened to him talking.
She studied him as he spoke, his tone surprisingly soft, and oscillated violently between wondering how Derek and Sydonai could ever be anything other than perfect balance as they seemed so completely and utterly different from each other, and seeing the darkness planted in Derek from the war, and the compassion in Sydonai over an act of kindness. It made her wonder if they could in fact pull themselves together into a coherent whole, should they choose to do so. Her spiney mane, now running down the length of her spine, waved gently in the non-existant breeze.
Why, why worlds? She could see how he could possibly destroy worlds. Why? Nekamah was still mildly exasperated, Starzone still clueless. Why worlds? She looked around once more at the desolation, the keen sense of loneliness.
Do you like it like this? she inquired.
Materialscape
Chip rushed in as medics were helping Rav'una sit back down on the bed, pausing briefly to make sure the one she'd grabbed, still rubbing his throat and looking a bit nervous, was okay. "Bloody hell, Byte's gonna kill me," he muttered, and then turned to Rav'una, smirking.
"Guy can't even grab some food without chaos happening. What do you eat?"
Dreamscape:
Here they stood. One of light and one of darkness, facing one one another with their gazes met and no threat made. Nutreal where their grounds and calm was Sydonai's attitude and tone as opposed to usually more deviant fashion. Though darkness still lingered in his words it was only the natural darkness but the words where genuine, kind in some strange sort of way and he showed strong signs that his intentions were not to harm. Not Starzone, not Derek, not anyone on who he considered to be 'The Allies'.
Sydonai saw compassion and kindness in Starzone and though dark he held a similar level of care of his own. When Starzone approached Derek, regardless of the risk of Sydonai emerging form the depths of the unknown, Sydonai saw it as a 'Pass or Fail' scenario. Starzone passed with flying colours. By showing she didn't care of the risks and that she was trying to comfort him or help him in some way or another Sydonai in turn felt that someone attempting to protect or help Derek, as he was doing in his own ways, deserved a chance to see the more calmer and kinder side of him. Perhaps it was possible Derek and Sydonai could combine into one. They where a balance, this is true, and how Sydonai came to be most probably, in fact quite highly likely, could have been a result of everything that had happened to Derek up until now. All things combined formed Derek and Sydonai into an odd representation of Ying-Yang, dark and light coinciding with one another in a balance Derek was completely unaware of. And here he thought he was just a humble techy.
"Whole worlds could be at risk..." Commander Nubis' voice echoed in a whisper off in the distance. Sydonai noted with a smirk "He refers to the risks...An untamed beast can wreak havic upon great masses"
Starzone's inquiry was met with the same sort of smirk, although his tone still remained calm, as Sydonai took a moment to look around them, closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath as to draw in the scent of the scene. With his eyes opening calmly he turned his attention back to Starzone with a few casual nods.
"Yes" Sydonai replied "But only for it is a reminded of the fragile nature of even the most strongest of worlds. It reminds me of how I was born, how it was I emerged from the depths of Derek's hurts and sorrows...I like it like this for it calms me. But..." Sydonai exhaled, lowering his gaze with a shake of his head before adding then after a moment's pause "It uneases me for I know how uneased it makes Derek. I wish him no harm and when things as this bring pain to him I see not the strength of which is gives me...but one whom attempts to rebuild what was destroyed watching his spiritual garden become nothing more than ashes and acid rain..."
Back To Reality:
Rav'una's ear twitched at the sound of someone rushing in and when Chip entered the room she still didn't seem all too phased. Although he did manage to amuse her, shown through a merely small smirk.
"You would not be the first to have told me that..." She responded in a bit more of a calmer and good natured manner.
"Normally anything I can find that is eatable" Rav'una responded with a shrug "But usually anything meaty or that tastes good enough and won't end up being the death of me" Rav'una smirked.
Dreamscape
Starzone's ear pricked up, hearing Nubis' voice coinciding with her continued wondering. She smiled slightly, keeping her lips over her teeth. Then one has to ask, what were the masses doing around the untamed beast? Or...why is the untamed beast having a tantrum? The blood gems that were her eyes did a remarkably good job conveying the humour in her "voice", considering they were inherently expressionless.
She understood what he had to say about the desolation, the stark reminder of how the mighty could fall, and the potential fallibility of even the most apparently infallible of things. Still. She held out one overly large, dangerously pointy tipped fingered hand to Sydonai.
Materialscape
"Rightio. Try not to kill any of the medics for a couple of seconds."
Chip disappeared and was back in a flash, carrying a large bread roll with a hefty hunk of squid meat in it, and a few almost token tatters of vegetable matter. He offered it to Rav'una. "Woulda just gotcha the meat but one of the medics was whining some crap about balanced diets." Chip grinned and shrugged the shoulder of the arm that wasn't holding the plate.
Dreamscape:
"Perhaps it was they whom unleashed the beast and all its fury..." Sydonai responded with a small smirk to his expressions, signalling a small sign of his own humor when he added "Or perhaps it was that they merely wished to take a peek but when unlocking a cage always be sure to keep your distance from what is within"
Sydonai's views where dark, as was he, but he had an almost prophetic-esque type attitude when it came to things such as destruction and loss by the masses. Things of darkness where often lessons, even for those of light, and Sydonai knew well on how to portraight such lessons. Granted that you caught him in one of his better moods. He was proud of what he had done but not proud of what had happened to the lands around them nor was he pleased by Derek's inner sufferings. Strange as it may be Sydonai did show signs of care and kindness, perhaps small pieces of Derek's own personality having rubbed off on him somehow along the way.
When Starzone held out her hand Sydonai's expressions became slightly puzzled and curious, a small and even eerie tilt of his head made at the gesture, his glowing blue eyes scanning over her hand. "Do you wish to guide me somewhere?" Sydonai asked, straightening his head and bringing his gaze to meet Starzone's eyes.
Material Plane:
"I will try..." Rav'una smirked in a dry sense of humor, waiting then as Chip scurried off to get her something. Upon his return Rav'una's attention went to him, then the plate as she slowly took it from him and sniffed at the contents. "Hmm...Well it would have to do..." She shrugged, taking a bite of the Squid meat in a somewhat not-so-lady-like manner, swallowing and turning her attention to Chip again with, for a change, a smile.
"Thank you" She nodded "It is better than what I have been mostly feeding off of over the years. Believe me...you do not want to know..."
Dreamscape
It took a supreme effort of will, but Starzone managed to pull her guise. Her Dreamscape form rippled reluctantly back into her physical form, although the gold of her eyes remained tinged with a strong hint of blood red, and her Ajana stubbornly refused to close. She also left off the arm strappings so the criss crossing lacerations that almost covered both forearms were blatantly obvious.
I want to try something. With Derek, if you consider yourselves separate entities. After a fashion.
Materialscape
Chip settled on the arm of a chair, not looking directly at Rav'una as she made short work of the meal. "Byte will be in later to see how you're doing," he informed her. "How you feeling?"
Dreamscape:
Sydonai watched Starzone's change with intrigue, taking note of the marks upon her arms and wondering, yet not questioning, how they came to be. Somehow it made him smirk with some kind of odd level of respected glee. It was not meant as an offensive gesture but merely, in his way, of showing his respect. His ways of expression where odd at best at times, or rather most the time.
Bringing his attention back to Starzone with a nod, his smirk still ever present, Sydonai replied with a bow "Then I shall bring him forth..." Standing upright, still smirking in his own style of 'smile' Sydonai added "It was an honor" before then 'absorbing' back into Derek, the scene around warping for a moment before returning to its usual state. Derek, lost as to what had happened, now stared at Starzone in surprise.
"Starzone?...How-" He was about to ask how she got here but stopped, shaking his head a little before then waiting to find what it was she wanted.
Materialscape:
Finishing the last portions of her meal Rav'una cleaned herself up, turning her attention to Chip then with a blunt yet reasonably calm response. "Like the armies of many nations have trampled me...But otherwise better than before"
"Byte?" Rav'una then questioned with a small perk of her brow, raising her hand to gesture questionably "Was she the one I threatened and later was the one who aided me to get here?"
Dreamscape
I'm a Dreamwalker, Starzone answered the truncated question with a slight smile, among other things. She glanced around at the scene once more, then looked back at Derek. Do you like it like this? she asked once more the question she had put to Sydonai earlier, placing slightly more emphasis on the "you".
Materialscape
"Good," Chip smirked, and then answered the latter question. "Yeah. Byte's kinda like our star's ambassador."
Dreamworld:
"Dreamwalker?..." Derek questioned with some surprise "I've heard of you guys! Wow, this is crazy!" Derek's enthusiasm was certainly present, a strong sign he was certainly back to his old self again. And regardless of what was around them he seemed more cheerful than before.
But that enthusiasm dwindled rapidly as he was asked the same question Sydonai was asked. As expected, Derek responded quite the oppossite, frowning deeply as he lowered his gaze with a shake of his head.
"I hate it like this..." Derek began "It's a shithole, a reminder of how stupid war is and how it's nothing more than a river of bad memories and nightmares" It was then Derek added, after a pause that welcomed a silent 'wind' (if such a thing exists in the dreamworld), something of which held a different view's similarity to Sydonai's response. "But...I see how we can learn from it. From the mistakes and hurt, from the loss and chaos...It all falls into place and in some way makes us stronger" It was a different point of view but the fact each shared some similarities, one way or another, in their response, with one finding it distasteful and nothing more than hurtful lessons and the other practically admiring it all, indicated a strong possibility that the two where perhaps the same entity. Or that it would be easy to combine them due to the small set of similarities. But small as they where they would still prove useful.
Material Plane:
"Ambassodor you say" This made Rav'una smirk almost proudly "And to think I was so close to eliminating her. It is a good thing I did not and where it not for you and her wise words I most probably would have"
(Out of Character: This is getting wild! I'm loving it! I never would have guessed all this to happen in a million years, lol!)
Dreamscape
Starzone tilted her head slightly, the temporal wind ruffling their manes and the grass and the swings the only indication of its presence. There was definitely bleedthrough in the energies, small but significant enough. Starzone looked downward at the spot between them.
*Things cycle,* she said, motioning to the small pink flower that was struggling up out of the ashy ground. *Things go to dust, things come from dust. Someone can twist something you like into something you don't, you can turn an unfavourable situation into a favourable one. Either way, this is your space.*
She reached out and took his hands in hers. The grass immediately beneath them burst into living colour with painful suddenness, spreading for a 3m diameter before halting. The circular oasis of life stood out starkly from the surrounding desolation. Starzone waited to see if Derek had any desire to reclaim the space, now that she'd shown him what could be done with it.
Materialscape
"Well I woulda been pretty upset if you'd offed her," Chip said, "she is my sister." He smiled. "Woulda called for blood vengeance and all that other unpleasant crap."
Byte walked in.
"Hi!" she called cheerfully. She grinned at Rav'una. "You look heaps better."
Dreamscape:
Starzone's words caught Derek's attention quite suddenly and he tilted his head a little briefly at what had been said. It made sense but it also confused him as to what exactly she meant. Then it suddenly made sense to him and he found himself nodding in agreement. However what really threw him off was when she held his hands and life apparently bloomed around them and it was shortly after Starzone waited to see if Derek would reclaim 'his space' that something unique happened.
Rather than one or the other emerging instead Sydonai stood behind Derek in all its glory, tall and dark with the area around Sydonai turning to ash and dying soil while the area around Derek remained as full of life as Starzone's area. Sydonai stood over Derek a short distance behind him like a guardian, watching, observing silently while Derek, unaware of Sydonai's presence, was caught by complete surprise at the sudden change of enviroment.
"What...what just happened?..." Derek asked Starzone with a perk of his brow, lost and yet making some sense out of it. Kind of. For Derek this was all completely new.
Material Plane:
Rav'una simply smirked at Chip and without even a second thought replied "Then perhaps you would have been the one to have worthy enough to have taken me down. In which case it would have been my honor..." Something right there in her response told one a lot about what kind of personality and attitude Rav'una had in regards to fair fights and honor. Though an assassin she was worthy of the word "honor".
Byte's entrance caught Rav'una by surprise but fortunately it didn't end up like their first meeting. With a small chuckle Rav'una's attitude seemed to make a sudden change, even the end of tail giving a light swish or three to indicate a sign of a more cheerful approach.
"It is good to see you again too Byte" She smiled, suddenly showing a lot more of a friendlier side to her. Maybe it was the fact Byte had helped her or that Byte showed so much respect. Either way, it was almost comical to see a feline-type being so friendly to a Martian Mouse. Especially when consider that feline-type was Rav'una.
Dreamscape
Starzone glanced up above Derek's head with her eyes as Sydonai suddenly and unexpectedly popped up behind him. Almost immediately the blood red tinge in her eyes expanded to completely take over the gold. Starzone unwittingly squeezed Derek's hands as she turned her face away from him while the red expanded to fill the whites of her eyes. Her spiky hair spiked up more and grew down her back along her spine, other than that she struggled to hold her physical guise.
*It's your space, you did it,* she replied with an effort, and then falling back into old language, All I did was give you a little tap.
Materialscape
"Right," Chip drawled. "We tend to prefer life over death here." He smiled.
"Who did what now?" Byte looked between them, looking momentarily puzzled.
"Blood vengeance and all that crap if she'd offed you."
Byte looked amused rather than distressed at the thought of her own potential death. "Yeah that woulda been kinda messy." She flopped onto the arm of the chair Chip was perched on, deliberately slinging her weight across his broad shoulders. "So what brings you to our lovely planet?" she asked, a small trace of sarcasm barely detectable in her voice.
Dream Plane:
Derek, noticing changes in Starzone and the sudden squeezing of his hands, began to quickly realize at least in part of what was going on. Though he didn't fully understand it he somehow knew, through some feeling inside, exactly what to say. Leaning closer to Starzone, Derek whispered two simple yet effective words.
"Be free..."
He didn't know why he said it but at the same time had a feeling it was something to do with what Starzone was going through. Sydonai remained calm throughout the whole ordeal, watching over Derek and observing Starzone in silence.
"I did it?..." Derek questioned with a perk of his brow, giving a small puzzled frown as he continued "But how? Isn't this just a memory?"
Sydonai then replied to Derek, who didn't turn to see him but was obviously surprised to hear him. "Memories often form the greatest of impressions..."
Material Plane:
"To each their own then" Rav'una smirked in her response to Chip, once again showing the kind of background she came from. Speaking of which...there was still a lot of mystery behind her. Something of which soon would be briefly revealed. At least to answer Byte's question.
Turning to Byte as she asked her question Rav'una emotions turned suddenly serious again, frowning as she turned her gaze to a side in her response and explained what had happened.
"I would not normally be permitted to give away such details but given the circumstances...I will explain what I can" Taking in a deep breath Rav'una turned her attention to Byte and Chip as she explained "I had been assigned by our greatest warrior leaders to assassinate some very high ranked and positioned individuals whom, as far as we could tell, where corrupted in their ways. I had eliminated three of the five main targets and was on my way to eliminate the fourth when my ship was attacked by what I believe to be our enemy. Long time rivals after their betrayal many years ago forced us into such rivalries"
"It was shortly after fending them off that my ship was shot down and I crash landed on this planet. My actions against you where more so in defensive nature than with the intent of striking you down. I did not want to take any risks. Not after such an attack"
"And...that is mainly why I am here..."
Dreamscape
Derek's unexpected communication shattered Starzone's concentration. She let go of his hands and stepped back twice, vaguely noting how he apparently effortlessly held the sphere of life around him. Her Ajana flashed in a way unrelated to the slightly bizarre lighting, and then her eyelids disappeared, metamorphosing into the gems that her eyes turned into in this form. Her mane spiked right up, looking almost needle-like and quite convincingly dangerous, and was obvious now in its extension down her spine, tapering off just as it hit lower back. She swished her tail, and it made a whip crack sound. It had always been in elongated form but she had been carrying it curled behind her previously. Her hands grew larger, the fingers elongating and developing sharp tips at the end. Starzone looked down, raising her hands slightly and regarding them disinterestedly before lowering them again and looking towards Derek and Sydonai.
She tensed slightly when Sydonai spoke, watching both for any sign of potential hostility but in the end not feeling sure which one she should help if a fight broke out but feeling reasonably sure she was most likely to help her techy.
Materialscape
Chip and Byte listened, and then glanced at each other when Rav'una was done. It was on a slightly smaller scale, at least for the moment according to her retelling, but there were remarkable parallels with Mars' current situation.
And they both fully understood Rav'una's wariness with the whole crash landing on an alien planet thing.
Still, Chip couldn't help himself. "Do we look anything like your bad guys?" he wanted to know, his tone that of genuine curiousity even if it did lack the innocence that normally accompanied.
Dreamworld:
Derek seemed to be calm considering Starzone's reaction and even he wasn't so sure where all of his actions where coming from exactly. But he went with the flow, speaking from his heart and instincts and pushing aside that wonder of "How?" and "Why?". He just did it and the results seemed to be effective on a good level. So far at least. As her transformation took place Derek was suddenly intrigued, and admitidly a little intimidated, by it and her new appearence while Sydonai smirked with wicked glee at the sight he beheld. For Sydonai it was beautiful, worthy of a memory. For Derek it was something he couldn't look away from and though it kind of frightened him a little at the same time he was surprisingly accepting about it. He kept his calm when she turned her attention back their way although was still a little cautious, at least in his own actions. Sydonai resisted the urge to play...Good thing he did or it probably would have been the end for Derek. Or Sydonai. Or all three/four involved.
"I uh...I think he means well..." Derek figured, somehow, that Sydonai's response to him was what triggered a level of alertness in Starzone and though again Derek wasn't sure how he knew this he didn't question it.
"Starzone..." Sydonai began, smirking wickedly but meaning good in his actions and tone "I assure you that no harm would be brought upon those whom are my allies. I have no issues with you, your Ajana, Derek or anyone else in the side of which is ours. But I believe you are here for a reason...Perhaps this reason should be revealed. Are you not here to see for yourself if we are as one? If it is possible to form a fusion of sorts? Or even, for that matter, if we are but the same?"
Derek was now really confused. Although on the other hand this was all, finally, starting to make some sense.
Materialscape:
Rav'una had only explained things in brief, saving the long story and history behind her enemies and what not. When Chip then asked her a question she raised her attention to him, shaking her head a little before then giving her response in a firm yet calm manner.
"Far from it" She began "Those whom attacked my ship are feline. Felines not worthy of such a title I might add..."
The similarities, at this point, probably increased and in truth there where some frightening similarities to Rav'una's people and those inhabbiting Mars. Only the history behind it all was quite different.
Dreamscape
He doesn't bother me, Starzone assured Derek with a smile where her lip just barely covered her pointy incisors. It was spoken as a statement of fact and not intended as a put down for Sydonai. She couldn't really help looking ferocious in this form, it was decidedly predatory by nature. She sensed a something or other from Sydonai and minded him.
I only stepped in as he seemed distressed, she answered. It's what I do. She paused momentarily, completely unmoving and watchful, then seemed to reanimate as she added, Aspect, fusion, separate, you need to work out yourself. For yourselves. Her tail cracked in the stillness again.
Materialscape
"Jus' sayin'," Chip commented, "maybe you wanna watch who you jump, you probably need more war as much as we do." He smirked, then stood abruptly, dumping Byte on the floor unexpectedly. She landed on her tail, swearing at him quite colourfully and bringing a smile to Chip's muzzle. "What's that they say about always being prepared? OW!" Chip jumped as Byte suddenly cracked him across the inner thigh with her tail, causing him to leap away from her.
Byte stood up, dusting herself off and looking decidedly prim, ruining the effect by grinning at her brother. "Had a report from Salvage saying they should be able to fix your ship. Seems like you lucked out and most of the damage was external. When you're well enough though we have to report to the Commander." She glanced up at Chip. "We can go for a walk or something first if you want though. Get some bloody flowing and whatnot."
Dreamscape:
Derek felt a sense of relief by Starzone's response although her appearence certainly was enough to intimidate him. But on the other hand knowing she meant no harm and was here, in fact, to help was something that eased him. Sydonai took no offense to her words and instead smirked proudly at what he heard. Such bravery was rare and he promised himself to take good care of this find. Very few ever felt that way toward one of such a dark nature although really Sydonai wasn't as dark as he prided himself to be. Yes, he could be cold and certainly unforgiving when it came to punishment and the likes. But there was that obvious part of him that cared in his own sort of way. A strange sort of care that permitted one to actually admire him as something unique amongst the dark.
"So what you tell me-" Sydonai began, Derek meanwhile by now looking to each in his presence like a tennis match "-is that in order for us to be as one we first must learn to seperate and fuse as one?" Derek flinched, by natural reaction, at the crack of Starzone's tail and Sydonai's tentacle-like shadowy extensions forming from his back twirled and molded to form a flame-like shape around him, each 'tentacle' swaying calmly beside one another.
Material Plane:
"More truth has never been spoken..." Rav'una exhaled, nodding in agreement to Chip's response. She watched later then with amusement shown only by a smirk and a light chuckle that emerged as the two had a little bickering, for good reason, and with a cheeky smirk and a tone to match Rav'una said "That is no way to treat a lady my good sir. One could easily get hurt from such actions" She meant it in good humor which was a pleasant change from her usually more firm and intimidating personality she so proudly placed on display.
Feeling a little more perked up after hearing the news that her ship was not beyond repair, and surprised really considering the damage, Rav'una gradually stood to her feet with a grunt, forcing herself to keep balance, her tail swaying behind her slowly as she smiled with content at Byte's news.
"This is the best news I have heard since my...sudden arrival" She explained, straightening her expressions and tone then like a switch as she gave a nod to the whole Commander scenario.
"Whilst a good walk sounds like a good idea I would hate to keep the Commander waiting. I would much rather see to him first. To get it out of the way more so than anything. Then, if you think you can put up with me for a few moments longer, I would be more than happy to stretch my legs and get a feel for what it is like to walk without feeling like I was run over by a War Ship..."
Dreamscape
Starzone shook her head, the needles growing down her back waving gently with the motion in a peculiarly organic fashion belying their pointiness. You need to decide if you are separate entities or aspects of the same one. If you are the latter, then you need to decide if you are happy coexisiting or if you prefer to be one and the same. She seemed to have finished, and then suddenly went thoughtful and added, I have no idea what will happen if you pull yourself...yourselves...together. From observation it leads to a more balanced, more complete personality. Though I... she cocked her head, seeming to struggle to find an apt descriptive, ...remember...sometimes it goes bad if one or both personallities had intention to take over completely.
She stopped again as she was suddenly dumped with far distant memories of forcefully separating entities in similar situations, where one had attempted to quash the other in a bid for complete takeover in the guise of pulling themselves together, the pain, the pain that transferred to her as she was rending, the annoyance at the entities afterward. She blinked and the memories faded into the background once more. It did occur to her on the bright side that she had only a very small amount of that type of memory.
Her gaze flicked from one to the other in a manner that was more felt than seen. Neither Derek nor Sydonai felt or came across as self-righteous enough to want to assert their dominance, she vaguely predicted relatively peaceful coexistance or eventual merging, possibly the former leading to the latter, although she couldn't rule out the possibility of takeover bids by one or the other.
Materialscape
Chip managed to restrain himself from grabbing hold of Rav'una as she staggered, though he couldn't stop himself from shooting the hand out.
"Hang on a sec." Byte pulled out her comm and switched over to the other side of the curtain. Her voice could be heard muffled on the other side. She switched back shortly after. "Commander's overseeing repairs to his aerotech. He said he'll give us a call in ten. Wanna kill some time til then?"
Dreamscape:
Both Sydonai and Derek listened now to Starzone's explination and it all started to make a lot of sense now. Even though this was still a dream state it felt more than just a dream. In fact it was more than just a dream, this much was apparent. When Starzone was done with her explination at that point Sydonai stepped in a little closer, the ground beneath him shifting to form more of the same darker tone, almost dead soil and whatever vegetation was left within his zone but what he stepped away from bloomed back to life. Now standing right behind Derek, his hands resting upon Derek's shoulder, who in turn felt a sudden sense of calm. An odd calm but one that was comforting to him and actually made him smile.
"I know now..." Sydonai began, calm and ever so eased as he held Derek close like a father to his son or a brother, in turn calming Derek and giving him the that ultimate sense of protection, as Sydonai continue "We are one in the same he and I. Seperate yet Derek is the light where I am the darkness. Together we are balanced, in tune and thus effective in battle should it have to reach to that. We must work on forming evenly, to combine as one so that both our qualities emerge as an equal"
"What if we fail?..." Derek asked to which Sydonai responded to by leaning close to his ear and spoke softly in a tone that was genuine but sweet even for Sydonai. "We will not fail"
"But in saying such..." Sydonai straightened himself once more and with his attention back to Starzone he asked "Tell me of the risks and what you know. If it benefits us, it must be known"
Derek could tell, as did Sydonai, that something had struck the thoughts of Starzone that bothered her. But to question it would have been rude. Instead they needed to know what was meant to be heard and what Starzone wanted them to know. It was not a selfish attempt to absorb information and be rid of the helper as well as the one bonded to one another but a means of helping one another. Dark as he may be Sydonai, as shown by now, cared deeply for Derek. Very deeply indeed. Which in turn meant he wasn't about to allow Derek to suffer any more. This is also why he had caused so much death in the name of Derek, to protect him from harm, to stop the pains in his heart and help him grow stronger and braver. It wasn't until now that Derek began to understand what had happened all those times he had blacked out and what have we.
Starzone was wise in her choices, being careful as one should be in such a situation. Which also earned further respect from Sydonai who sensed the caution in her and read her emotions and aura like an open book. But he did something in return which he rarely, if ever, did for anyone else and that was allow himself to be completely open for Starzone to read and study if need be. Nothing was hidden. No emotion, no intention, no thought...nothing. He wanted her to see the proof of his genuinity and though darkness flowed through him like oil through water there was that glimmer of light in his heart that faintly illuminated with every pulse.
Materialscape:
Rav'una did notice Chip's reaction and actually it was rather touching to know someone actually cared. Though it may not have really appeared to be the case she apreciated it. She just didn't show it like most would.
With Byte excusing herself Rav'una simply nodded to her and awaited her return, nodding again to the update and her suggestion. "I suppose that would be wise. What would you suggest we do? Somehow I do not think a feline walking about what I assume to be your headquarters full of mice is such of which would be accepted so welcoming" Rav'una couldn't help but smirk at the thought, even though she did have a point and was serious about it.
Dreamscape
Starzone's tail lashed again. She sighed through her teeth, her sharp incisors showing this time. You are your own risks, if one of you gets into your head that the other shouldn't exist. I see energy blending and changing as required, or fighting, which is how I know whether they're pulling themselves together or one trying to extinguish the other. I don't know how you will turn out afterward, if you do pull yourselves together, or what mental processes you will each go through.
She tipped her head a little, one ear perked up more than the other. I can't see you two vanquishing each other any time soon. Not unless you meet one of those weird cultish priests. The air shimmered and the memory of a mouse clad in white priest robes. They'll try to convince you to kill off Sydonai. She smirked in amusement. They're all about love and peace and forgiveness and serving your fellow life form, but have no concept of balance. She raised her head slightly and the memory dissipated. Fortunately they don't come to the Tir. We're all Darkness spawn or some such. Though we do get the occasional hero trying to save us.
Starzone raised her head, seeming to hear something from far away. My boys are worried about me. Her smile contained both fondness and amusement. Wake up when you're ready. See you on the flip side. There was no fanfare, no sound effects, no nothing. She was just not there anymore.
Materialscape
Starzone kept her eyes shut as her senses roused. She was keenly aware of the knots and kinks in her body that came from sleeping in awkward positions, in her current case draped over the edge of Derek's bed. She was also well aware of Trajectory and Streak nearby, just outside the door of Derek's bolthole she figured. She kept her eyes shut as everything filtered and damped down as required. Then she opened her eyes. She saw traces of energy pattern. She picked up her power blocker, sliding it back up her slender, well toned arm until it jammed under her shoulder. Her vision returned to what classed as normal, and what was starting to seem to her as slightly impaired, the not unpleasant but ever present thrumming discernible in the back of her mind.
At some stage the red strips she kept tied around both forearms had come undone and were looking somewhat bedraggled. Turning off the bed and leaning against it, she unwound both, revealing the heavy scarring along both forearms, and methodically began retying the one on her right arm first.
Down in the medical facility, Byte motioned for Rav'una to follow her and led the way to the reception desk for discharge purposes. "We've had cats here before," she said with a smile. "You might get a few odd looks but we don't tolerate intolerance here." She grinned.
"Understood" Derek nodded, feeling that eventually that question would be answered for anyone who needed to know, himself included, when the time came.
Derek wasn't sure what just happened but figured it had to of been some kind of aftershock from what happened earlier. Or perhaps he was adapting to whatever exactly was happening to him, which all came out of the blue at randomly at best. When Starzone's wristband hit the floor he remembered hearing it, his hearing already accurate and strong being a lupe type but the surge of energy forced it to echoe in an almost slow motion kind of effect before suddenly returning to a normal speed as he returned to his normal state and what have we.
It was then he noticed Starzone was holding his arm and it did surprise him at first. But he couldn't help but smile at her in apreciation with a small "Th-thanks...". It was all he could say or do.
With the doors opening right on cue Derek stepped out shortly after Starzone had and headed along with her to his bolthole, stepping into and turning a few steps inside to her with his ears perked at her question. Folding his ears back a little with a small yet concerned smile Derek replied "If you're up to it, sure. Can't promise you they'd be anything calming but...yeah, I'd like that..."
You ain't got a life 'til ya live it free!
(Thanks Nightbeat/Katana for Derek's picture! ^..^)