Fiction:Shadow Plays

A world away from the aristocratic performance house and the dark palatial corridors of Volkarus great sanctum, the star cruiser Arcadium was modest. For a kind who were assumed os fond of luxury, Sarec's personal home posessed a modest level of that elegance. No gold, no high ceilings, no decorated murals. The form was in the function. Smooth, clean, but still ultimately modest. These were the chambers the old crone had now found herself in, or rather the mechanical body that now housed her essence. The android sat in a lotus pose, motionless, with only the malevolent blue glare of the machine's optics to remind Sarec of the vile presence that lurked beneath. It would appear she did not want to move, nor speak, nor do anything at that. She had been left alone for the first days she had been aboard the vessel. But after a fortnight of solitude, the door to the cargobay - the cavernous chamber she had made her home - opened. And in walked Sarec, carrying what appeared to be a small plastic container. Observing the meditating machine he sat down in front of her, crossed his legs to matc her pose and met his gaze to hers. To contrast her sterm glare, he gazed at her more optimistically. He set the container squarely between them, a drinks carton ready and prepared, and leaned back as he prepared to speak out.


 * Sarec - Are you going ot spend the rest of eternity in meditation?

Yaomea remained silent. Perhaps the lights of her body changed somewhat, turning a bit darker, but perhaps that was an illusion she cast on the ex-Inquisitor to dissuade him from talking. Sarec lowered his head, and held up his hands.


 * Sarec - I get it. You're still angry I stuffed you inside a machine. I wasn't exactly keen on you sharing by body as Br'Klakkon shared your own student's. I had no other options.
 * Yaomea - Like-- all--- Isio'Nar--
 * Sarec - I could have easily left you to wither as he invaded your mind. I did you a favour. I saved your life. - Sarec stood up from his position - As much as I likely panicked the Manifest saving one of you Mali', we have a common enemy.
 * Yaomea - Self-righteous-- pride-- listen--
 * Sarec - Listen?
 * Yaomea - I-- I-- listen-- you--

Sarec slowly sat back down. his mind now filled with questions as to her answer.


 * Sarec - I had good reason to save your life...Yaomea, was it? - Sarec let out a heaved sigh and lwoered hs head - What you experinced was not a typical Mali'nar power struggle. This wasn't one Mail taking something from another to keep the order strong. Because Volkarus is outside of the order
 * Yaomea - ...Isio'Nar-- lecturing me-- on our ways?, the machine sprang into motion at last, making a low-pitched, disharmonic noise that vaguely resembling a laugh. Did not think-- this-- could be more amusing--
 * Sarec - I thought seeing you fall for Khaxvis charm was was hysterical as well. That and your student likely didn't give a krann's ass about our philosophies. So we're both laughing right?

Sarec gave a cheerful smile, hoping desperately that he'd broken the ice with his new companion. But another thought was he had also insulted her signity enough to send her back ot inactivity. He waited with baited breath for a response, hoping desperately it was positive.


 * Yaomea - You-- speak-- like one of us-- could be my jester...--
 * Sarec - Well I thought you could do with cheering up after the entire. - Sarec motions his hands, indicating the incident that they had brought up that led to Yaomea's new mechanical body. - We're in the same boat because I don't think Volkarus had any interest in becoming one of the Mali'Nar. Aaaand his coup de grace I'm guessing gave him knowledge no mortal man should have.
 * Yaomea - You-- make sensible decisions-- are you certain you are one of the Isio? It is-- quite atypical of them...
 * Sarec - Let's just say before they inducted me I worked for people heavily invested in maintaining the extent of the spiritual and paranormal. Dealing with divine beings was a heavy part of what we did.
 * Yaomea - I remember the birth of your order... You think you know?..
 * Sarec - You speak of the Watcher Society. The Concord.
 * Yaomea - Yes... the names are familiar. Fools stumbling in the dark, but proud as always. You like to think of yourselves as gods just because you were born to a broodmother with shinier scales.
 * Sarec - The Society collapsed millennia ago. I was brought in to its successor - an order dedicated to keeping paranormals like Isio' and the Mali' out of the mortal spheres. The Isio'Nar however opened my eyes.
 * Yaomea - And you think you can do that?
 * Sarec - We were zealots. Proud fools who thought we did not need the words the Nar had to offer.
 * Yaomea - Shocking clarity.
 * Sarec - The Isio'Nar helped me see. If you think I would fit better as one of the Mali, then I'm sorry. Not interested in changing sides.
 * Yaomea - That is what they all say. the robot shook, Ha. Ha. Ha.

Sarec adjusted himself. He chuckled in response, though it was a laugh of extreme uncertainty. Whether or not she was telling the truth, he kept recalling the tempting power the Mali'Nar offered.


 * Sarec - Speaking of sides... your "student". As I said he's not interested in siding with either of our orders. In fact form what I hear his interest lies in opposition. What we call "mortals" - Sarec appeared to cringe at using such a term. It had not been long since he was one himelf. But kept it discreet, juding by Yaomea's behaviour she had long forgotte nany merits to mortality - He's gathering to gain supremacy against us
 * Yaomea - Yes. Continue to enlighten me. It is amusing.
 * Sarec - ...I'm guessing you already know about his project.
 * Yaomea - Yes. But it is funny to me when you speak.
 * Sarec - Then I'm interested in your perspective.
 * Yaomea - Are you not afraid I will shatter your mind?
 * Sarec - Why do you think I chose to place you inside an android.
 * Yaomea - ...Very well. the light of the android's "eyes" dimmed slightly, then began to bend in the air into the shape or some ancient symbol. Sarec could not recognise it, although it appeared to be some archaic Draconis rendition of the sigil of the Mali'Nar - a blue star, shaped vaguely like a coarlatus's snout, surrounded by a halo of light inside a circle, and with other similar stars surrounding it. Tell me. What do you see? Take a closer look.

Sarec narrowed his eyes, there was some sense of familiarity to the symbol.


 * Sarec - An insignia...seems prideful. Yours?

The image of the dragon's head dissipated as Sarec peered closer. Or, perhaps dissipating was not the right word - it appeared instead that the shining image dispersed into countless smaller lights. Each shone on its own accord, sometimes dimming, sometimes glowing brighter, and it seemed that each had a colour of its own - some of which Sarec was not sure were even conceivable by mortals. Yet, as he stepped back and moved away, the myriad of ligths once again appeared as a snarling dragon's head, and its colour the monotonous ice blue.


 * Sarec - I remember such sigils fro mmy studies...all significant, related. They differ by culture and ethic but they are all united into a single whole.
 * Yaomea' - Such a narrow-minded approach. So typical of your kind. Observe the lights. How they all shine discordantly and in their own directions. And yet, the image persists. Has your mind gotten to the conclusion already, or do I need to feed you knowledge with a spoon?
 * Sarec - So the Mali'Nar are not a homogenous order, but a collective, with each agent as strong as the others, working towards their own goals. But even with all this division you are all still Mali.
 * Yaomea - I am surprised. By the standards of your orders, you are nothing short of a genius. the machine's lights returned to its normal form again, And yet, you missed the most important part. We are not just all Mali. We all weave the same fabric, even when we work on our own weaves, many without even realising it. Do you think a single cell of your body, the one that channels thoughts throughout your skull or the one that hunts down infestations in your blood, understands that it is part of some greater purpose? No. It merely does what is beneficial for it. Do you think that a tree understands that it is part of a beautiful forest? Or does a single blade of grass recognise its position in the greater ecosystem?
 * Sarec - No. It merely understands its own part. Is this why you made him your student so readily?
 * Yaomea - No. But I believe he has a greater role to play. Whether through his successes or his failures. Or perhaps he will become a cancer that will bring the entire Manifest down... Yaomea looked at Sarec; her current body was somewhat lacking in facial features to express her emotions, but it appeared she wanted to smile, But why do you care? Do you think you have the power to defy the Sanktanaars's design?

Sarec was silent for a moment. She had a point; Volkarus was but one piece in a cosmic game, what he planned was minor compared to the grand designs of the Samktanaars.


 * Sarec - I could ask the same. If he is so insignificant to the grand scheme of things, what reason do you have to detest what he did to you. It was all part of the plan, was it not?
 * Yaomea - The plan matters not here. He has wronged me. Yaomea's eyes became blood red for a moment, He will suffer for that. The greater scheme of things will take all of that into account, but I pursue my own goals.

Sarec momentarily chuckled.


 * Sarec - All that big talk about how his efforts mean nuthing. But they mean everything to you. And you want revenge. I one one less cloaca threatening Andromedan way of life. And right now my best insight into the extent of his operations is staring me in the face.
 * Yaomea - For an Isio, you are surprisingly lacking in arrogance. That is to say, your ego is very much like a hobbit galaxy, whereas the egos of others of your kind would be comparable to Dranvamus itself.
 * Sarec - I'm not one of the ancients. If that says anything.
 * Yaomea - Don't you all pride yourselves on how ancient you are?
 * Sarec - Some of us. Seeing the universe gives one a whole new perspective on their homeland.
 * Yaomea - Perhaps you are not yet lost. Very well, it appears that our goals coincide as of now. Do you have a plan?
 * Sarec - Not...entirely. Summoning a coarlatus the size of a garrison was my biggest tracking marker on Volkarus' location in months. It also seems you helped him master two essences so my plan to simply knock him a few times might need some reconsideration.
 * Yaomea - Now, you are indeed a blunt instrument. I suppose I will be the one formulating a plan in that case. Leave me to my own devices for a while, Ferzin. I will be waiting for your return.

Sarec huffed and stood up. He took a momentary look at Yaomea and opened the door, passing though it and leaving her to her own mind.