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Sprite sighed as Phastos tripped over something in the dark. The sound vibrates through the room and down the corridor. What was the point in her hiding them if they were going to stomp around like womp rats all across the Domo? She doesn’t really understand why they are hiding at all. Sure Ajak wouldn’t be happy they were here but they were hardly going to get in trouble for running a few scans. A few weeks ago there had been an unprecedented global earthquake. Sprite had spend the better part of an afternoon, caught with a few others under a pile of rubble. She told the all her favourite stories twice over before the others had come to dig them out. It had caused a lot of damage and because of the scale and his irritating need to know everything, Phastos had wanted to come back to determine the cause. Ajak had refused. She said that it was not their battle to fight. That the Deviants they were fighting in the Midnight Plains were more of a priority. Phastos had been badgering her all week to sneak them back here. She couldn’t see the point of it really but when Sersi and even Ikaris started getting on her case, she finally let up. So here they were. Sneaking through their own home like petty thieves. Footsteps echo at the end of the hall. Sprite waves her arms widely to get the others to shut up. That doesn’t stop Seris’s little gasp and the sounds of Ikaris pulling her close were too loud for her trained ear. A soft glow appears in the doorway and Sprite checks in a panic that she has masked their shadows also. Of course she has. She knows what she’s doing. Thena enters the room. Her eyes scan the surroundings as they all hold their breaths. Then she walks gracefully to the fallen relic. It’s a golden Lytric mask. Sprite’s heart clenches involuntarily. One of Makkari’s old treasures. “Why are you hiding, Sprite?” The others look ready to hand themselves in but Sprite’s not done yet. She gives them a stern glare before revealing only herself. She grins running over to embrace Thena, who squeezes her quickly but gently in return. “Just testing you.” She rocks on her feet, a picture of innocence. But Thena has known her too long. “I see. And the others” “What others?” “Oh?” Thena looks down in her eyebrows raised. She opens her hand and her favoured weapon, a nine tailed whip, shimmers into existence. “All alone then?”
Her eyes never leave Sprite’s but she begins to swing the whip around the room. Not particularly high or fast. An old habit of hers. It cracks just beside, Sersi’s ear.
“Yep.”
Closer. Closer. The weapon begin to arch towards Phastos. Sprite groans, knowing she’s lost.
“Ugh, you’re no fun.”
Its barbed end lands an inch from his feet as all of them reappear. They all know Thena would never actually hurt any of them. But it left Phastos a couple of shades paler all the same.
“What is going on?”
Phastos tries to speak but words come out jumbled and nervous. Rolling his eyes, Ikaris steps forward.
“He needs to look up something on the mainframe, about the tremors this week.”
“And why the theatrics?”
Ikaris pauses a moment then shrugs.
“Just testing you.”
It’s a bold faced lie. All of them know it but Thena doesn’t say anything. She just nods toward the main deck and Phastos walks of in its direction. The rest of them are left in the room with the ghosts of Makkari’s old things. Sprite thinks of sitting in her hanging chair but thinks better of it.
“How are things with you?” asks Sersi after a moment.
“Quiet,” she grumbles.
Of all of them she hates guard duty the most. To be kept away from all the action for 6 months seems to drain her more than fighting a hundred battles with Deviants. Still her shift is nearly over.
“And how is he?” Ikaris’ voice drops lower.
Sersi seems to shrink in on herself and Sprite shivers. Even chained up and locked away, remembering he’s so close levels a cold feeling in her stomach. If Sprite was really honest with herself, that was more reason for her hesitance to return than anything else.
“Same as ever.”
A solemn disquiet falls over them all. No one really knows what to say after that. Maybe there’s nothing left to say.
“Guys!”
They all jump up immediately. Phastos gets worried often, but there was a note of panic in his voice that was catching. Rushing into the room, Sprite looks up at the hologram in confusion. It her planet. It was Centauri 6. But it was wrong. There are fault lines and cracks in places there shouldn’t be. She whispers but the stunned silence of the room makes her voice echo.
“The Planet is breaking apart.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Something’s wrong, you must wake up Druig’s eyes flash open and he frowns. He recognises the voice. It is not one he thinks he’ll every forget in all his long life. Ever since the Emergence, Tiamut has been haunting his dreams. He hadn’t told anyone, not even Makkari but what would be the point. He is dead after all. And though to save the Earth he’d wouldn’t change a thing, it’s still leaves an ugly feeling in his stomach. He sits up and pushes the dream from his mind because something is definitely wrong.The light from the open doorway casts a slit across his face. It was certainly closed when he went to bed. He can feel the intruder before he sees him. His silhouette against the viewing window. A dark shadow even against the vastness of space. But he still has to look to believe it. And even then…“Ikaris,” he manages to say before his mouth dries up.His fingers moving without feeling to his throat. He heals much faster than most but without Ajak the faded marks still ache to touch. Ikaris steps forward. His eyes glance to the knife on his bedside, and a faint mocking smile graces his features. It was hardly a threat to him. Makkari had called him paranoid. Thena called him wise. In the end he was neither. Druig stares up at him, helpless again.“Oh, Druig,” his voice pulls him far from the room, “Why couldn’t you just - “Why can’t you just stay down!” Even with the wind sqreching in his ears, he hears the words so clear not quite sure if it was a thought or a cry. Desperate and furious. He thinks in the end as he falls to the ground that they are really not so different at all. Druig gasps. They are not there anymore. They are here on the Domo. Safe, the word comes to mind out of habit even now when it’s not the least bit true. He forces himself to look back at his brother. How is he here? Ikaris had disappeared after the Emergence. They had all assumed he was dead.Druig casts his mind out. They are not on the island and Druig has gotten better at using his powers. The lover knave while a pest was the first decent sparing partner he’d had, ever really. Most Humans are easy enough to manipulate and the other Eternals had enough reason not to trust him without his meddling with there minds. Besides he didn’t really want to hurt anyone. With Eros he didn’t have to worry. It grates on him but the brat was good. He’s learnt a great deal from him.As he reaches out towards the other Eternal, he sees all that he has always seen before. Sersi first. Always Sersi. And he worries all the time. Druig can never be bother to determine what it is at any particular time. That has not changed but there is something. Something different. He doesn’t seem so reverent. More afraid. “Huh,” he whispers, forgetting his fear in his curiosity “You’re not him.”Ikaris sighs, walking up to him now. “Please don’t make this any harder than it already.” Druig shrinks back on instinctively. He’s already too close. Far too much closer than he has to be. His eyes flash gold. He will not be helpless this time.And first he sees Ikaris. Only it’s not him exactly but he can barely focus in it before there is the pull of someone else. He’s only felt it once before. Once he had gotten unreasonably frustrated and turned his powers on Ajak. Even now, he wonders had she had been on her own would he have been able to overpower her. But she hadn’t been alone and neither now is Ikaris. Perhaps if he’d had the time he’d wonder how the connection was possible. But Druig finds himself before Arishem and there’s nothing else to think about.*******************************In the end, Makkari blames herself. Thena was also awake at the time but she was supposed to be on lookout. Only they had already been travelling for weeks even before Eros arrived with news of the others and she was so bored. So when she sensed the vibrations coming from the viewing room she didn’t raise the alarm immediately. She’d almost hoped there would be something in there of interest. Space pirates. Another stowaway. A salesman. She wasn’t not fussy at that moment.As she rushed into the room, the sight that greeted her caused her to skid to a halt. The pull back of momentum steals her breath for a moment but she barely notices. She blinks and blinks again. Because standing right in front of her is Ajak. Her back is to Makkari but it’s her. The tilt of her posture and her even breaths. She turns and in a flash Makkari has already rushed forward and wrapped her arms around her. She stiffens You never think before you act. Druig’s chiding from a millennia ago each echoes in her memories as she takes a proper look at their leader. Something is wrong. It’s her. Definitely and yet her eyes aren’t warm like they should be. They look down on her in pity.Something terribly cold wraps around her arm and digs into her skin. She let out a silent cry and stumbles away. Ajak says something but Makkari has already turned to run. Except she can’t. Or just barely. She races down the hallway but the end of it seems forever away. Her legs feel strangely heavy and she crashes into the wall in her panic. She feels the clipped footsteps approach her and she scramble back.‘It’s alright, Makkari,” Ajak hands move far too calmly, ‘It’s going to be okay, we’re taking you home’She wants to run but doesn’t dare. To do so would on confirm her fears. Tears sting her eyes.‘What have you done to me?’Ajak sighs and crouch’s down beside her. She cups her face her hand and Makkari is frozen in horror at the gentleness. She can only think of the myriad of times she’s missed their Leader over the past few months. It feels so wrong to see her like this now.A noise brings her out of her reverie. Loud enough that even Ajak turns her head, The vibrations prickling across her fingers. She knows the pattern of them far too well and her heart seizes up inside her. It’s Druig and he’s shouting. She gets up before she’s even aware of it. Stumbles a few times but she races towards his room. It takes too damn long to get there. She can feel his cries for too long but finally, finally she reaches him.She barrels through the open door to find Ikaris standing over him. This is a nightmare. She surges forward. No way was she ever gonna let him lay a finger on him again. But her reflexes are too slow and he grabs her easily. Makkari almost screams in frustration. She levels Ikaris with a stare that has sent civilsation running for the hills. To her surprise he relaseases her. She frowns. Ajak enters the room and stands unnervingly silent by the door. Makkari doesn’t care. She searches for the wrongness in Ikaris’ face. And than it clicks. His expression mirrors her’s. He looks at her like she’s the ghost that may fade away at any second. He opens his mouth as if to speak but is cut of by a groan on the floor. Makkari is by his side in a moment.‘What did you do to him?’‘He attacked me!’ He whines.And for a moment Makkari almost takes back all she said. It is definitely Ikaris. Except that he signs. Ikaris rarely signs unless they are alone. She figures it’s easier when so many are in the room but she’s never asked why. It doesn’t bother her enough to say anything about it. She has become so used to the vibrations of the nine of them she can usually decipher what they are saying from that. ‘What happened?’‘He tried to enter my mind but instead tapped into the communication sphere and Arishem.’Terror tries to fog her brain but it can’t dampen her surprise ‘ You have it?!’Ikaris’ gaze flickers over to Ajak and he gives a little nod.‘Well let him go!’‘I can’t do that’Makkari looks ready to spring to her feet again. She may be unnaturally exhausted and terrified and without her powers but she is a fighter nonetheless.“No, I actually can’t” Ikaris says this time, so he can raise his hands, “Honestly, he’s with Arishem, I can’t break that connection.”Ikaris is many things but he’s not a liar. Well, a surprisingly good secret keeper it seems, but he can’t tell a direct lie. It has been a source of amusement and frustration many times in their lives.Makkari looks down at her… at her friend in despair. Aware but unwilling to look, she feels him crouch down next to her. He holds out a golden bracelet. It is the same as the thing on her forearm. ‘We were given them to apprehend you. It cuts you off from celestial energy, it’s why you can’t access your powers.’In spite of everything Makkari sighs in relief. She doesn’t know what this thing was but whatever it’s effects sounds reversible. ‘It’ll wake him up’He looks at her like he’s given her a choice. She hesitates only a moment, though it is the longest she’s ever experienced. But she can’t listen any longer. She kneels down beside him and slides the band onto his arm. He goes limp in her arms almost immediately. You never think before you act. ‘What now?’
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Druig wakes for the second time that night from a nightmare he can barely remember. The world around him feels foggy, like all the edges were eroded away. Makkari is beside him on his bed. He is leaning on her shoulder but it’s strange, she feels so far away. She looks over to him as he stirs.‘Are you alright,’ she asks, her pretty face pinched in a worry.He reached out mentally, just a little, to try understand what is bothering her but nothing comes back. It’s like grasping at air. Suddenly he sit up eyes darting around the room like a cornered beast. They are not alone. Ikaris is looking down at him and… and Ajak is there too. He had no idea until he saw her. “I…” His voice trails off. It’s quiet. It’s not been this quiet since he can’t even remember. Maybe never. How many times had he wished for this kind of peace but now he can’t stand it. It feels so wrong. And Ajak is here . Ikaris went missing but he saw her body. They buried her, when they returned after the Emergence.“Is anyone going to tell me what the hell is going on,” he says finally, his voice as low and controlled as he can manage. The words seem to echo in his little room. Ikaris blinks, coming back to the present. He takes a breath and starts to speak.“You rebelled against your - “Druig raises his hand sharply, cutting him off.“Anyone but you.” He ground out.‘Arishem sent them to bring us back.’Makkari’s words come out clipped and sharp. He swallows hard. If this wasn’t a dream, then that was not a nightmare. The thought of being completely at the mercy of that Celestial with truly no where to run. His breath comes out shuddering but even as he worries the same thought plays over and over in his head.‘I can’t feel you,’ his hands shake as he speaksHis eye land on the circlet of gold on his arm. He looks at it and feels certain he’s seen it before. The thought makes unreasonably angry. Ikaris follows his gaze.“It will repress your powers until we reach the World Forge.”“You collared me,” he’s not shouting yet but the fury in his voice makes their intruders flinch.Without really thinking he’s up again, staring down Ikaris. Even powerless old habits die hard. Ikaris steps back which is strange but just shakes his head.He nods towards Makkari, “It wasn’t me”Makkari stares at him equal part indignant and guilty. Druig doesn’t understand… ‘You wouldn’t wake up!’Is she joking?“What the hell Makkari!?!” He shouts“Druig, that’s enough.”Ajak speaks for the first time. Figures it would be to berate him. It may have been a while but it doesn’t phase him anymore.“And why are you helping him?” He flings his arm out at Ikaris, “ After everything he did?”“Everything I did?” Ikaris hissesInteresting. Druig pauses for a second. He didn’t know ikaris could do that.“Enough both of you,” Ajak comes between, “It’s neither of you’re jobs to play judge and jury.”“How can you do this? He murdered you.”“I would never !”Though Ikaris looks ready to murder him but at that moment Makkari slaps his arm. He turns to her in surprise. Her eyes are bright and her mouth pressed in a straight line.‘They came from the World Forge,’ she says‘Yes? And what?’‘We burnt Ajak’s body, heaven know what happened to Ikaris’Druig’s eyes widen. He looks between them both and every strange thing clicks into place. Their memories were stored in their old bodies. They were made without them.“You don’t remember Earth.”“We were never there.”Druig sits down, his mind racing. It’s been too long, he’s not used to so much happening so quickly all the time. Ajak is speaking but he barely registers it until she and Ikaris are by the door.“ - You'll both remain here until we reach the World Forge.”And the door slams behind them.*****************Thena watched as Gilgamesh moved around the infirmary. He looked over monitors and scans. It was not her Gilgamesh. Her Gil smiled more. His steps did not tread so heavy. He wouldn’t dream of doing this against her will. She smiles. In the end it didn’t matter. She was just happy to see him again.She sat shackled to the med chair. The golden band around her arm was playing havoc with her powers, but it was okay. She just sits and waits till him can bring up the courage to look her in the eyes.“I’m sorry” she says, when he does.“For what? This?” Gilgamesh points to the place she’d stabbed him earlier. He hadn’t bothered to dress it, Ajak would be along soon, but it was little more than a scratch. Thena could not find it in her to really hurt him. She laughs soft and elegantly as is her way.“No,” she said, sobering, “I’m sorry about you dying. I was there but I couldn’t do anything. If I had you might still be here.”Gilgamesh frowns. Slowly he comes forward, putting his hand in hers.“I am here,” he says, “and it wasn’t you’re fault. You were ill and we are going to fix you.”“Fix me,” she looks amused but there’s a sharpness to her word, “Have you found me broken?”His eyes widen.“No, no… I just mean…”She squeezed his hand and he falls silent. The way he looks at her makes her heart sing.She hesitates only a moment before speaking again.“I love you.”She’s never said the words out loud. Never needed to. But she felt this Gil need to hear them. He just stares at her. Wonderful, she has him so totally bewildered he can’t even seem to reply. So she carries on.“You know once after we split up we were in a house in the mountains and there was a great thunderstorm. The noise was… a problem for me. And so Gil decided it was high time for me to learn how to dance. He brought out this radio from a shed in the outhouse and turned the music up so loud we couldn’t hear the rain.” She smiles at the memory “Or each other. It’s a miracle I learn anything at all that night.”“It sounds lovely.” The words come out unwillingly. Memories of a night he’d never had.“It is a memory I shall treasure for eternity. I shall teach you one day. But do you see? We were the only ones there and you cannot remember.”“I’m sorry.”Thena shakes her head.“Don’t. I don’t blame you. I just need you to understand that I cannot let you do this. My memories are too precious.”He takes a breath and she can feel a lecture coming on. They could be here a while so she pushes through“I asked you once if it was wrong to be grateful for my illness. I’ve hurt people, I’m not the person I was but… there are new parts of myself that I have come to love. Things I have been forced to do that I never imagined I could. And I learnt so much about you, we’d never had the time to experience moving from one battlefield to the next.”Gilgamesh looks conflicted, his words less sure then the ones she remembered. But his answers is the same regardless “If you’re lost in a desert and you find a spring, you can still hate the being lost while being be grateful for the spring.” Thena smiles and nods. “I found you and a part of myself I didn’t know existed. And they are mine now and precious and I don’t want to lose them.”He says nothing for a long while but Thena is more than happy to wait. He is not the same as her Gilgamesh but he is still hers. She know he won’t do this. She will not take her memories when he know how much she values them. If he is truly hers, he may even let her go.And then Ajak enters the infirmary, shattering her plans.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Makkari runs at the door as it closes distressingly quickly. While she know it’s no good she spends a great deal of time banging and kicking at it. The doors of the Domo done have hinges or handles. Just a key pad that responds to Celestial energy. She leans against the door and slides down. They wouldn’t even need to lock it. With these bracelets on they can’t access the door handle. Her hands are shaking. She stares at them a moment, willing them to move faster but nothing happens. She rests her face on them. It’s not that she was over dependant on her powers. She didn’t use them all the time but there was always an option. All of a sudden her predicament closes door she didn’t realise were there. Her powers were a part of her, if she thinks to much the thought of being without them starts to terrify her.She takes a breath and looks over to the Druig. Her worries will not help them now. He is staring resolutely at the floor and only urns when she sits back beside him.‘I’m sorry,’ she says, ‘You were in pain and I was scared and I didn’t know what to do.”His expression softens.“I’m not angry at you, I’m just…” he trails off‘Scared.”He nods and she leans back, flopping onto the mattress with a sigh. Everything went wrong so quickly. Her hopes of rescuing the others seem a million miles. And seeing Ajak and Ikaris back from the dead was both surreal and frightening. They are so replaceable. She wonders if somewhere out there’s another Makkari, zipping through space a million times dpfaster then her. She hopes Thena is okay. Suddenly a though flashes through her mind and she sits upright.‘They don’t know about Eros? Pip could get us out here!’Her heart unclenches a little. There’s still a chance. However slim it may be.He shakes his head, “We can’t wait that long.”He gets up and moves to shelve in the corner of his room. Druig doesn’t have much in regards to keepsakes. Certainly not like Sersi. Still he finds it hard to part with gifts, on the few occasions they were given.She picks up an ancient pin. Mycean but a refreshingly accurate depiction. She shows it to him and he smiles.‘Dionysius.’She grins and pins it to his shirt.‘It suits you.’He only hums in reply picking a knife hilt from from a higher shelf. It looks familiar. Makkari glances back at the bedside table‘This is the first one,’ He answers her questioning gaze.‘What happened to the other?‘It broke.’‘How!?!’Phastos’ inventions don’t just break. Druig takes back to the bad and starts fiddling with the mechanism with the tip of his new one. It was a beautiful thing really. Like something Thena would use. ‘I left it on the porch one day and some of the kids started playing with it.’He laughs at her raised eyebrows.‘It works the same way everything else here does. They shouldn’t have been able to activate the blade and I never had any need of it back there… until the rest of you showed up.’Makkari purses her lips. They argued about this for 400 years. They can argue about it some more later.‘Then one day, maybe ninety years ago? Ninety four. I walk out and and there’s this kid swinging around this 10 inch blade like very little maniac’ he laughs and shakes his head, ‘Mali, was her name, did you ever meet her?’Makkari huffs and rolls her eyes. Probably. She came around often enough but had never been particularly good and keeping track of names. ‘But what had this got to do with anything.?’‘Hold on, I’m getting there. Anyway apparently I said at some point that the thing works by collecting Celestial energy and that switches on the blade. So she just - ugh!’
He stares at the object in frustration. He glances over to the bed posts and with a sigh wacks it against the side. The knife thrums to life, so suddenly that he almost drops it. Makkari is torn between laughing and checking if he was alright.
“She broke the collection mechanism so it required a lot less to activate it.” He wraps his hand around a blanket and picks it up and examining it fondly, “I still have no idea how she managed it but,”
He shrugs. The light of the blade straits to flicker. Makkari follows him as he carries it over to the door.
“Problem was it will just keep collecting energy until it shorts out.”
‘But neither of us have any”
Druig shakes his head
“The whole ship runs on Celesial energy”
He jams it into where the keypad should be. Makkari gasps. The excess energy could trigger the doors open, if the others hadn’t though to lock the door. It was a long shot and had they thought about it to much it should probably never work so they don’t. They just stare at it and wish on the benign enigma that guides human meddling that they could get out. The knife fizzes and sparks. Once. Twice. And then for a brief moment the door activatesIt’s only a moment and then it begins to slide shut. Makkari is already there, jamming herself between the doorway so he can push past. She follows suit landing clumsily beside on the ground. She laughs and she can feel the steady vibrations as he follows suit. ‘I love you,’ he says very, very quietlyHis face is turned away from her and his hands are still but she hears it anyway. She looks to him, her hands freezing for a moment.‘Eros or Thena?’ She says at last.“Whoever first, but let’s head to the MedBay.” He grimaces, “I have a bad feeling.”**************************Gil doesn’t know quite how long he’s been standing in the corridor. Ajak had sent him out on her arrival. She may not be the Prime for this mission but her words get him out the door. Still he can’t bring himself to go any farther.There are some things that are facts. Ajak loves Thena. She wants what’s best for her. And Thena is not herself. She’s quiet and happy at the same time. It’s wrong. He sighs but she is happy. He should go but the desire to run back in roots him in place.Ajak lies. Another fact. He’s learnt that recently. She lied to all of them. Her only priority is her mission He shakes his head hard. He has been free of his control for well over a century but sometimes if feels he’s still there. A voice he can never quite shake. He should go find Ikaris, ensure the others are secured. Ajak said she wouldn’t hurt her. Ajak lies He hears footsteps down the corridor and springs back to life. Celestial energy gathers in his arms. He’ll protect Thena from the dangers out here. Inside. Inside he doesn’t know. But here he is ready.
Makkari comes around the corner. It takes his breath away. Her eyes, bright and so, so alive, widen in panic, as she sees him. But even as the do the light fades from his arms.He takes a step forward hesitant and suddenly she rushes foward and wraps her arms around him. He hugs her back, his eyes squeezed shut. She’s warm and breathing and right there. He can feel her wet cheeks on his shoulder.I’ve missed you so much, he whispers, hoping she can understand him. She’d been gone so long.But any joy he feels twists in his stomach as he opens his eyes. The last time he say Druig, he he’d been collared and chained in the depths of the Dome. None of the others had the strength to kill him, but even now he thinks he could’ve. Sprite blamed herself and Sersi was too kind. The others could not understand. But he would’ve done it. Ajak assured him, though, he’d never have to see him again.Now he stands there smiling, fond and soft. He opens his mouth as if to speak but Gil cuts him off.“What have you done?”There is a flicker of confusion in his eyes and then for a moment an unbearable sadness. Then nothing. The mask is up and he is speaking.“Whoever you remember,” he says slowly, “he’s not me.”His voice almost sends him into a panic. Makkari makes a sound of annoyance as he holds her a little too tight in his arms. He loosens his grip but won’t take his eyes off him.“You trying to tell me you changed?! You killed a Celestial.”He blinks and looks away. Makkari looks at him confused, and it enrages him. What did he do to her? He tries to come forward. But Makkari blocks him, placing her palms on his shoulders and shoves him gently.‘We saved a planet, none of us wanted to kill Tiamut.’ She shrugs, ‘We had no other choice.’“Is that what he told you?”“It wasn’t my idea, “ Druig folds his arms across himself.“You think you can lie to me,” he rumbles, offended that he’d even try, “ikaris told me what happened.”Druig’s eyes flash, “Ah yeas, Ikaris, that beacon of truth.”“Enough.” As if summoned, Ikaris appears in the corridor. He is angry and slightly out of breath. There’s an ugly bruise forming on his jaw.“We’re not alone on this ship,” he stares down at Druig, “Who else is here?”“Oh, don’t ask me, I can’t be trusted,” Druig rolls his eyes.“This isn’t a joke.”“I’m not laughing. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”Gil find himself relaxing slightly. This is the Druig he knows. Ikaris grabbed him by the shoulders and slammed him against the wall.A slight wince and the curl of his fingers is the only that suggested he was even slightly perturbed. Makkari struggles to get over to him but Gil holds her back. There is a long silence that is only broken by a crash in the Infirmary.Ikaris sighs, looking between the infirmary and Druig.“Go.”Gil hesitates looking back at them. “I can handle him go.”And so the choice is made for him. He goes back to the infirmary. Back to Thena. Dragging Makkari with him.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The guard entered the room to find the bodies of the previous shift laying across the floor. Immediately he raised his weapon, eyes scanning the room. He doesn’t even get to inspecting the bodies before Sprite appears out of nowhere knocking him to the ground a little too hard to be safe. Taurans are so fragile but she is in no mood to be gentle.She dives back into the tunnels without a second thought. A terrible twist of guilt she’s been trying to ignore all day flares up again. It’s too late. They are going to be too late. And it’s her fault. When Makkari had not retuned from a scouting mission, she’d been certain she was fine and said as much. It’s Makkari, it seemed impossible that anyone could catch, let alone hold her. But the hours ticked by until even Ajak was worried. They’d wasted precious time because of her indifference. Another group of acolytes round the corner but she makes quick work of them. She’s not got the time to pull punches and she doesn’t want to. The bunker is a maze but it’s designed to confuse. Sprite is half certain she’s been down this corridor befor but won’t stop to check. Any time lost, could be time used. A fragile hope pulls her forward. Begging her to dispel her worst fears. A haunting scream barrels through the tunnels. The sound throws her too the ground and she knows . Pushing past the numbness in her limbs she gets up and keeps going until but she comes out to the antechamber. Her frantic breathes echo across the circular room. Her eyes dart around. They land first at the centre at a spherical object. It glows strangely on a pedestal, it’s marking strangely Olympian. Then at the two figures just below it. She rushes to their side, not wanting to see but needing to desperately. It was so very wrong, Sprite could not look down at her for too long. It’s a cosmic impossiblity for Makkari to be so still, under any circumstances. Tears she’s never let fall in front of anyone make faltering tracks down her cheeks. For a long moment there is nothing but horrible silence. Sprite’s aware of footsteps and later she finds out it was Kingo who shouted but in that moment there was nothing else. Sprite opens her eyes. She turns to Druig but his is not crying. He is as deathly stiff as she is, staring at something neither of them can see. She pulls his hand into hers. It’s only then she notices the corpses scattered around them. They are dead without question, pulling at their hair, some midscream. She can’t bring herself to blame him. If she were able she’d do worse. The artefact above them pulses and she glares at it. What even was that thing? What could possibly be worth sacrificing one of their own for. “They are going to regret this,” she whispers and he stirs for the first time. Their eyes meet and a silent agreement passes between them and Sprite finds strength in it despite the sinking feeling in her stomach. Almost against her will she glances back up at the glowing stone It’s important. She doesn’t know why? Why? What is that thing? Her head suddenly feels very heavy. She blinks hands. No! She can’t wake up yet! She - Sprite curses as her eyes fly open. She’s curses the Celestial’s and every god she’d ever been named for and the damn wizard staring down at her all concerned.“I was close!” she groans sitting up and rubbing her eyes.The room had not stopped swaying. The doctor wizard put his hands down, the strange symbols dancing around his hands fading into nothing. She shook her head a couple of times before lying back down on the stone table. But Strange doesn’t move. He crosses his arms and shakes his head.“That’s enough for now, you’re exhausted.”Sprite gives him a look that would scare the dead“I’m fine ” she grounds out, “just do you’re… thing”She waves her fingers, ignoring the unexpected disappointment as they bring forth nothing more.“I get you’re used to being able to do much more, but your body is human now. You need rest.”Sprite sighs. She trying to be nice. The sorcerer has been more than helpful. They been at this for three days now and he’s been a lot more patient than her. So when she speaks she tries to keep her voice as even as possible.“I’m not a child, Doctor, I know my limits.”She might be getting close to them now, though. Her hands are shaking just a little and she’s on the verge of a migraine but she’ll be fine. He comes and sits beside her, unmoved.“Well, I need to rest.”She tries meet his gaze but her eyes keep going out of focus. She can’t decide if he actually thought she would fall for that. Humans are stubborn. And stupid. And yet to develop space travel. So she is stuck her on their stupid planet while her family are who knows where. The empty dread from her dream bubbles back into her.“Fine!” She snaps, “Rest, I’ll be back.”She sways a little as she stand but waves off his steadying hands.“Where are you going?”“To do something useful!”She doesn’t quite know how she made it to the library in that maze of a house but as she gets in the tension is in her shoulders relaxes a bit. The inner bibliophile inside her jumps about with excitement. She’s probably read in everything here but that’s beside the point. Her fingers flicker across the spines of ancient times and myths as she turns into the much more dull but unfortunately useful section of the room. And nearly runs headfirst into another girl.She looks as surprised she is. Sprite was unaware the Strange had any kids. Though thinking about it now she wasn’t surprised.“He’s upstairs.”The girls eyes widen before looks away quickly.“Oh.” Is all she says. Sprite nods. So she’s hiding. If she was less busy she could have fun with this but she’s has bigger problems right now. She’s tries no side step around her but the kid sticks her hand out.“I’m America,” she smiles“Seriously?”She looks down at her hand and then back at her face unamused until the pause tips her off. Then she doesn’t even try to hide her laugh.“Oh you are serious. Uh well, I’m Venezuela, nice to meet you.”“Really?” The girl rolls her eyes.Sprite walks off before she even finishes speaking. Footsteps follow down the rows of ancient scrolls and books. Stopping at a section on transdimensonal travel she tries to ignore the girl as she slides along the shelves beside her.“What you looking for?”“Nothing that you’d understand.”Her fingers stop at the book she needs. Pulling off the shelf she starts to flick through the pages.“Need to get somewhere?”Sprite doesn’t answer.“Another universe?”Her eyes skim across the chapter.“Cause I can do that.” She glances up at that, taking a proper look at the girl. She looks human, nothing particularly special, wearing plain apprentice clothing and an eager smile.“Just another galaxy,” she replied slowly The girl’s eyes get impossibly brighter at the response. Sersi would love her. The thought flickers through her mind unbidden.“You’re a sorcerer?”“Uhh… yes,” she says too slowly but Sprite is tired and she barely catches itIt’s not important. What is important is that she’s now almost certain Strange is never gonna help her get to the World Forge. He thinks she’s too weak. Which she is. That’s why she’s been searching through her memories. But when she finds what she needs it won’t be enough for him. This kid though… hiding from her teachers, seems the type to be discreet. She may be wearing apprentice garb but if she can travel across universes she must actually a very powerful sorcerer“Could you do this one?”America doesn’t even look. “Sure.” The spell requires the use of an object to return it and the the caster to a place it came from. Sprite came from there so it should still work in theory. To quotes her insufferable partner in crime, she is a “fancy robot” from “somewhere in space” Of course she’s human now, but… it should be fine. It’s not like she has a lot of options at the moment.“Perfect.”“What’s there?”Sprite shrugs and looks away. “My family.” she says after a while, “their in trouble,” her voice catches in her throat and she takes a breath. Her new memories must be affecting her more than she thought. “I need to get to them.”She startles when America puts a hand on her shoulder. She turns to her but America just nods with a strange expression on her face.
Footsteps, bring them both to attention. Sprite spins around fingers moving instinctively. Nothing happens. She can’t hide them. She almost growls in frustration. Stupid, weak human body.The man who comes around the corner is not the Doctor. It’s the Sorcerer Supreme. She feels rather than sees America edging behind her.“Ms Chavez.”“Heyyy,” she peeks out from her shoulder.“You are supposed to be at Kamar Taj.”“I know… but I needed to… umm…”“She’s doing research,” Sprite supplies as amusing as it is to watch her struggle, she needs her here.“Yes! Yeah, and umm there more stuff here so I figured I’d just pop over y’know and see if I can find what I need.”Wong narrows his eyes. For a moment he says nothing but then, after deciding which battles he’s willing to pick turns to Sprite“Strange says you are attempting a memory retrieval spell.”“Yeah but he can’t seem to handle more the a couple of hours.”He smiles, “Yes he said that too, I came to offer my services while he recuperates.”Sprite lights up. Finally she can make some more headway. Every moment they waste, Arishem could be doing who knows what to her family. She follow him back upstairs. Strange sits in the corner looking sceptical. She smiles at him triumphantly. Lying back down on the stone table her eyes close before she even thinks. A moment passes and another and she’s vaguely away the familiar tug of the spell hasn’t begun. But the soft lull of sleep pulls her under before she can protest.“I can’t believe that worked.”Wong chuckles. “Believe it or not I have some experience with impatient and stubborn children.”“She’ll have your head when she wakes up.”“She doesn’t have the time,” Wong smirks, “She’ll wake up refreshed and too eager to continue to berate me.”Sprite did not in fact behead the sorcerer upon awakening. But the tirade she went on when she did was enough to make them both wish she had.
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Ikaris was surprised upon arriving to find the most used rooms of the Domo a mess of strange artefacts and treasures. The clutter feels foreign and disjointed to him. As they move further into the ship, the tension in his shoulders dissipates a little. The lights are dimmer here and further apart. It’s colder also, the main heating systems favouring their own rooms and common spaces. He soon realises that Druig has fallen behind.“I don’t have the time for this.” He calls back.Every moment they waste, the others must wait in confinement. He was shown Sersi when he was woken up. She’d stared right through him as though the effort to recognise him would take too much. The sooner they return they could forget all this. They can start again on some other planet. He turned to Druig. All of them could.When Arishem had sent them to return the wayward Eternals he’d been expecting different, worse. After all the Druig he knew had wanted revenge on the Celestials, this one had managed to carry it out. He’d expected a far more painful fight. Expected to win for sure, even on their planet, Druig could never hope to exert any control over Ajak while she had her connection to the Celestial, but when he arrived, he’d seem far more frightened than angry. Now he stands hands crossed over his chest fingers digging into the strange fabric of his clothes.“Where are we going?”“You don’t recognise this place,” The words come out, dry and mocking, before he can stop himself and Drug stiffens. He takes a breath as if to argue but whatever words he was going to say wither away on his tongue.Instead he walks slowly up to him. Ikaris glances down at the restraint on his arm. It helps him even his breaths. A reminder that he’s safe from golden eyes and saccharine orders pressed into his mind. Still he wonders, as icy blue ones study his face and seem to gaze right through him.“I saw you,” he is close enough that he can whisper, “Before in my room, just for a moment . You - you tried to save them”Something hard settles in his stomach. The disbelief in his voice puts him on edge. Anger that they failed, he could understand. Disappointment. But he says it as though the fact he even would consider such a thing was a curiosity.“We tried, by the time we found out it was too late.”Druig nods. His eyes are far away, fingers drumming a simple pattern on the side of his arm. It’s a familiar gesture and one he’s not seen in a long time.“I’m sure that’s just how Ajak planned it. She probably hoped we’d never find out at all.”His hands curl into fists as he comes back to himself.“So why did you go running back to him the moment you woke up!?”“I -“But Druig is not finished.“We were going to save them, why are you stopping us?”“Druig - ““Don’t you want them to be be free?”“Free to go where , Druig! Where do you think we can hide where they can’t find us? Or do you plan to keep running for all eternity?”He blinks. Ikaris takes the win. It’s not often he gets to render him speechless. Still Druig recovers just as fast.“A lot can change between here and eternity.”“Well it hasn’t so far,” he’s had enough grabbing his shoulder he pulls to the end of the hall, “but you’re arrogant enough to believe that you can upturn a way of life that’s existed for billions of years.”Druig shoves him off as he puts in a code for the room.“Hey! It was Ajak who decided that. And you’re beloved Sersi lead us to do so. She was the one who had to kill Tiamut in the end. I played my part and I’m not taking back anything I did but I don’t know why you’re all trying to make it out like I’m some sort of…lHe trails of as the door opens into the dark of the cell“I don’t want to go in there.”“Look, I was more than happy to lock you in your room but clearly that’s no longer an option.”He wraps his arms tighter around himself shaking his head but moves as Ikaris pushes him gently across the threshold.“Ajak would never go against her mission.” He adds. He’s not sure why.“She did.” He frowns, “And you killed her.”The words were said with no malice. Perhaps that made it worse.“Liar”“I’m not a liar.” Ikaris, please I’m sorry. I just want to go home. Ikaris shakes his head. He’ll not fall for that again. He should go.“Ikaris…”Damn his legs, freezing in their tracks,“She gave the sphere to Sersi, not to you. Why would she do that unless she wanted us to know?”For a moment there is silence and then the door closes, leaving Druig in the dark.*************************Ajak preps a strange looking head piece at the table. The only noise is the unsteady clacks of metal and ore slotting together. It is a far cry from Ajaks usual comforting words before dispensing her powers. “When you said I’d said still be myself, did you mean it?”Ajaks hands hover above the table. She glances from her work to her friend. The pale light of the Medbay caught silver threads in her steely eyes. They are weighed down with years but still keen and piercing “Of course.”“Because seem very different from our Ajak.”“Different, yes,” Ajak smiles as she brings the machine over, placing it on her head as gently as she could, “but I’m still Ajak, I’ve know you over a thousand lifetimes, Thena, you are the same through them all.”Thena doesn’t struggle. Her eyes never leave Ajaks own until she turns back to the monitor. Her fingers twitch by her sides. Her breath quickens in time with the steady beating of the monitor. Every instinct in her is saying to fight but each moment years of trust and shared joys and pains whisper to her. Surely. Surely she wouldn’t go through with this.“I don’t want to do this.”Ajak would force this on her, against her will.“I’m afraid you don’t have a choice.”“Yes,” now it Thenas turn to smile sadly, it was the answer she needed but it burned nonetheless. “I suppose you’re right.”With the flick of her wrists, two small blades form in between her shackles. She cuts through them like butter and is up before Ajak even notices. It’s not until she’s up and right in front of her that she does. Ajaks eyes widen, in confusion or fear, Thena cannot tell.“How did you do that?” She breathes.The cuff Gil had put on her was still bound to her arm, glowing fiercely. She looks down at it with a grim sort of satisfaction.“Because to you and to Arishem see me as nothing more than a damage machine,” she shrugs, “you’re accessories will not work on faulty equipment.”Ajak wraps her hand around her wrist. Although she towers over her, with a single look she makes her feel small. Safe. Don’t listen to your head, Thena “That’s not true, Thena, it may not look like but I do want to help you. All of you. Don’t you want to be cured?” Listen to my voice “But it’s not a cure is it? You’re taking away half of what I am,” She jerks her hand back, a long spear materialising and pushing her away. “Find me a cure Ajak I would anything for that my memories are too precious for you to just ”She pulls the headpiece from her forehead, throwing it agains the wall. The sound awakens voices outside. Ajak sighs. She stares her down and she wonders how Druig managed to be on the receiving end of such a look for so long. Thena has faced down more enemies than even she can remember but this hurts so much more. Ajak was her Prime, her leader. She wanted her to be pleased. Even when she used to disobey orders. To sneak out and glean any deviant that escaped the battlefield it was still to the benefit of her mission. Now they are at an impasse and it tears at her hear. None of this however showed on her face. When Gilgamesh and she said without feeling
“ Help me tie her up.”For a long moment Gilgamesh does nothing. He glances to the ruined operations chair and back at Thena. Makkari untangled herself from his arms and began to search the Medbay for some sort cords, there’s not a lot she can find. Then Gil shifts into action. He opens a tall cupboard, pulling out a pair of handcuffs.“You don’t want to do this, Gil.” Ajak says softlyPerhaps he does not but he hands them over to Thena all the same. Once they are secure she turns to the others. Gil looks thoughtful and Makkari restless. She knows they hadn’t been far from the World Forge when they were boarded. if they were going to rescue the others they need to figure out what they were doing now.“Let’s get to the bridge”‘Druig -‘ Makkari starts but Thena waves her off.“Eros has gone to retrieve him, he’ll meet us there and we’ll revise our plan.”Makkari purses her lips but nods.They march out into the corridor. Their plan had fallen apart but they should still have time to make another.
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“I thought he’d never leave.”Druig spins around, his eyes still adjusting to the darkness. He can’t help the way his heart races. It still throws him off that he can’t feel the presence of people nearby. Still he could recognise that smug voice anywhere.“Where have you been?” He hissed.“Waiting for you.” The voice of Eros comes closer. His figure beginning to take shape in the blackness. “I figured they’d send you down here eventually.”The silence gapes like a chasm between them.“You know what happened” Druig said slowly, “On Centauri 6”“I was there,”he hums “I have to admit, I was very grateful to find you a lot less murderous this time around.”Druig sighs, pushing down the unease that has been growing in his stomach since his encounter with Gilgamesh.“I don’t want to know.”The shadow of the past presses against his mind. He is well aquatinted with his own demons. Every dark and dangerous thought that had ever tempted him. Long nights fighting his own mind because it would be so easy if things just happened the way he wanted the to.“You said it was because of Makkari - ““Stop.”“- but it wasn’t really, certainly not by the end.”“I said enough”His voice breaks and he finds he’s backed up against the wall.“Woah, easy.”He can hear Eros step forward, a warm hand wrapping around his own. Eros’ powers can work without contact but it is easier like this. A wave of calm pulls him under. He rests in it until he is certain he can pull himself back up. Opening his eyes he finds he can make out his face now. Concerned and earnest.He smiles, in spite of himself knowing well enough, Eros would never let such emotions be so openly displayed in the light. In fact the he guides him to the door and back out into the dimly lit corridors, his face emgerges plasters with his signature smirk. Druig rolls his eyes. Arrogant idiot. “How do we stop them?” He asks, deciding to put aside his teasing for now.Eros is like Sprite, his powers manifest in his fingertips. A pale iridescent glow plasters his hands, and he tilts his head, thoughtful.“I don’t think we’ll need to” he says slowly. “I think we could convince them to help us. I’d rather have more fighters on my side if I had the option.”“You want to trust them.”“I don’t need to trust anyone. Ajak will not side with us, she’s convinced a rescue is in vain, Gilgamesh may follow her in the end should Ikaris side with her but in his heart he wants to follow Thena.” “So we’re depending on Ikaris.”“Don’t lose hope, you’re more persuasive than you think”Druig scoffs, “in the thousands of years I’ve known him, I’ve managed to change his mind twice.”“You assume he is against you”He wants to argue but now he’s not so sure.*********************Thena leads them down the hallway in silence. Makkari’s eyes flit from one person to the other. Each seems lost in their own thoughts. She wishes she could be. There is not much time left. The thrumming restlessness that settles in before a fight keeps her mind from focusing on any one thing. It’s worse since they still don’t have an actual plan. Originally this was supposed to be a stealth mission. They’d sneak in and out quickly with their family but it seems Arishem had always known where they were.Makkari blinks. Something is wrong. She feels the moment before it begins. Sees the way Thena stiffens just slightly and she holds her breath. She needs to find Druig or Eros and fast but the Domo is suddenly much bigger than it ought to be.The deep, steady vibrations of Gilgamesh voice ripple across the hallway and she turns to his concerned face. A glimmer of hope loosens her chest.‘You need to help her,’she says quickly, ‘you need to help her remember.’Wincing at the look of panic in her old friend’s face she tries to smile. She hates this. She hates feeling useless but she has no time to dwell on the thought as a flicker of gold catches the corner of her eye. Ducking out of the way just in time as a golden spear embeds itself in the wall.Thena is as precise and lethal as always. The blankness on her face seems so wrong. Makkari still has her fists but getting close is both difficult and dangerous and she really doesn’t want to hurt her. So she weaves between blows trying to speak whenever she has a moment to get her hands together. It is no use. All at once Gilgamesh barrels into Thena. And Makkari in the spare moment she has to breathe to realise she has lost track of Ajak.But Ajak has not run, she approaches Thena slowly and Makkari is struck with a strange sense of deja vu. She sighs. It won’t work even as for a brief moment Thena’s eyes clear. A shiver a good and her eyes go white again.Makkari runs. Not fast enough to get out of the way but fast enough to get Ajak safely to the side. After she isn’t sure why she moved to protect her. The cut on her waist is not deep but it’s painful and in a brief lapse in judgment finds herself pinned by the throat to the wall. Fingers grab uselessly at her hand to busy to say anything. But her grip loosens anyway. She blinked passed the fogginess and sees Gilgamesh by Thenas side. She’d sigh if there was any breath left in her lungs and closes her eyes. She’s safe now she knows and sure enough Thena releases her a moment later.‘ Good to know that still works,’ she says, sliding to the floorGilgamesh is by her side in a moment.“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”‘I’m fine’ she says, trying to shift a little further back“What were you thinking, jumping in like that!?”She frowns. Gilgamesh rarely gets angry. Certainly not without cause and there hadn’t been any.‘That I didn’t want Ajak to get hurt.’‘You could have been killed!?’She rolled her eyes.‘Gil, I know what I’m doing’‘No you don’t!’Makkari stares at him eyebrows raised and crossed her arms. She’s not angry. Something in his lost expression seems to curb her irritation.‘I don’t know what happened on your planet,’ She moves her hands slowly but sharply, ‘but I’m here now, I’ve made it this far and I know how to look after myself.’Gilgamesh just shook his head. He won’t look at her when he signs.‘You don’t understand what it was like after you were gone. Ajak became harsher, Sprite and Kingo kept going out like some sort of vengeful angels and Druig…’Makkari placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked so tired and sad and it broke her heart.‘We’ve all got out breaking point,’ she smiled up at him, ‘that’s why we have each other to keeps us from the edge’‘Well you weren’t there to help him then’‘I wasn’t there this time either.’She had been angry. She understood why he left, but she was still angry at how he did. At how he left her, without even considering that she’d have come if he’d asked.“I didn’t visit him for another hundred years after he left.”“Then who…”“You did.”They both turned as Druig rounded the corner. He glanced between the two of them, leaning against the wall like a thoughtful shadow. He was followed by Eros who grinned at Gil’s shocked expression.“It’s been a while Gilgamesh.”“What are you doing here?”“Picking fights with people bigger than me” he smiles as he glances around the room. “Where is Ajak?”The rest of them turn to find that their old leader has disappeared from the corridor. Makkari groans.“It’s like trying to hold water in a sieve.”“We don’t have time for this” Thena mutters and Druig nods.“You two,” he pointed between Eros and Thena, “need to come up with a plan. Fill me in when I get back.”Makkari grabs his shoulder “Where are you going?”“To find Ajak,” He turns and smiles, “and persuade Ikaris to stop being an ass.”