Location: The Abyss
The Shade Lord was humming a tune for his children. It was not uncommon for the Lord to hum for his children, however, this one was not for the children within the Abyss. It was a song of worry, of pleading, and mourning. The Lord sang for his children to return home, a wordless beg for them to not be afraid. It was also mourning for the children he had lost. At least two of them he knew of, likely more, taken by his children's unknown affliction of the soul.
The shades and vessels…. didn't take the news of their sibling's passing well. They too weeped, and cried. Hollow had been particularly affected, was it not his duty to protect his siblings? Yet, at least two still died. It was this that caused Hollow to request that the Shade Lord let him try again in bringing his siblings home. The Shade Lord had agreed, though told him to not resort to force, as… well last time was explanatory enough.
Ghost and Lost agreed to help as well, they were the most adept explorers and warriors of all the vessels, if anyone could bring their sibling's it would be them.
Many of the vessels asked themselves why their siblings were afraid of them. They only wanted to be with them, to protect them, keep them safe. Now they find two of them have died without their care.
The next time Hollow brings their lost sibling's back, they won't let them leave. They can't let them leave. The Lord would fix them, they would be together again, but they could never let their siblings leave again. Otherwise, they would surely perish, as Julia's 'parents' had. They would keep them safe… forever.
Location: Fungal Wastes
The Scouts had found a secluded area to rest, their suits clocks telling them it was 11:34 PM. They had spent hours in the wastes, It was mostly monotonous, just going in, exploring, marking the area down, and leaving for some other area of the wastes. The 'vessels' as they called themselves had been invaluable in surveying the area, as they appeared to have known it like the back of their hand.
Finally they come upon an enclosure, a safe place to sleep. Although the locals of the area left them alone mostly. In many cases what seemed to be out of fear, it was best to remain vigilant, against any opportunistic mushrooms, (not a sentence David thought he would ever say in his life) and the groups new found acquaintances.
While the 'vessels' have been nothing but helpful, there was always the possibility of ulterior motives. So the Scouts decided to sleep in shifts, Seer seemed happy with this, it eased her fears knowing that her new friends took the threat of the void being seriously.
Seer drifted off to sleep, a faint lullaby easing her into the realm of dreams. It was so much like how her Old Light would sing, oh so long ago.
David was first on the shift, in 2 hours, he would wake up Chris, and he would get to sleep. The vessels rather unnerving didn't seem to be drifting to sleep at all. All three of them sitting up, just staring at him, their blank faces, their mask holes where eyes should be, felt like they were staring directly into his soul.
"Why sibling no sleep?" Ghost asked. Hollow shot his head over to Ghost, then back at David.
"Excuse me?" David asked, confused.
"I apologize sir, Ghost here is just so used referring to others as siblings, we have a rather large family, and Ghost had spent most of his life surrounded by them. It's something that becomes automatic you understand" Hollow said.
"Ah, ok" David said. "Well if you want to know, its to keep an eye on you. No offense, but we don't know you, for all we know, you want to kill us in our sleep"
At this, black fluid began leaking out of Lost's eyes, and he began shaking.
"I-I would never hic never d-do th-h-hat" Lost cried.
For Hollow and Ghost, it really did sting. Almost as much as the giant sibling's backhand blow.
"I… understand your reasoning, friend. You must understand however that we really intend no harm. You should get some rest, it would be unwise to physically exert yourself without proper sleep" Hollow said.
"Si- friend should sleep!" Ghost asserted, running up to David, and plopping himself in his lap.
"I sleep with you!" Ghost declared, leaning back onto David.
Hollow clasped his hands together and put them to the right side of his mask. It was the action someone made when the thing or event that was in front of them was adorable.
David cautiously patted Ghost on the head, and action he seemed to enjoy, as when he tried to pull his hand away, Ghost grabbed it and pulled it back onto his head.
"It is nice seeing my siblings… happy" Hollow stated. One of his hands moving to pat Lost on the head as he recovered from his brief bit of crying.
"I'm still not sleeping"
"Awwww" Lost said in defeat.
Location: Appalachian Mountain Range, Former State of Virginia
The bug attacks had stopped for a while, Elijah wasn't quite sure why. Was it fear? Man- err, bug power restraints? Did they lose track of them? Elijah just did not know. So far no one was injured, but Jackson and himself were exhausted. The regulars were doing just fine though, them with their gene augmented asses could stay awake and alert for a day or two.
Jackson and Elijah however needed to sleep, while Elijah himself was genetically augmented, it was only for psionic powers, none of the augments that the regulars had. So the expedition team + 1 Elijah, began to move out of the valley. This would hopefully move them out of striking distance of the Whitenest bugs, and into an area where they can safely rest.
They came upon a clearing after an hour or so of walking. Jackson just laid down on the grass, and passed out, the powered exo-skeleton had helped him conserve some energy, but the emotional distress of the constant attacks left him drained.
As for Elijah, he was still dealing with the after affect of coming out of stasis. That and the exertion of telekinetically blasting quite possibly over a hundred bugs into a fine green paste. So Elijah laid down, and closed his eyes, and let sleep take him. Four of the regulars joined in, the other five standing at the ready. Tomorrow they would need sleep, so best have some sleep now, and be ready for tomorrow, so there is never a time all the regulars are active.
There was a strange golden light, and clouds… this was one hell of a lucid dream, Elijah thought to himself. There was a figure in the distance, Elijah noticed that he was floating closer and closer and closer. Elijah sensed a large amount of mental activity, the thoughts of whoever was nearby were numerous and loud. Suddenly a blinding light filled his vision, and he could hear a voice speaking to him.
"Welcome, oh most esteemed servant of the gods, welcome to our hall, we are most fortunate to have thou here" The voice said in a tone of respect.
The light cleared, and Elijah was once more on solid ground. As his vision cleared, he noticed he was standing on a golden platform. What was stranger was that there were beings wrapped up in bandages and wearing golden head pieces bowing before him, chanting what sounded like a prayer in a language he did not know. Suddenly the tallest among them stood up.
"Oh most esteemed servant of the gods, we ask that thou assist us in our quest to attune, and ascend" The being spoke with respect.
"Ah.. I… uhm, I believe that you have the wrong individual, whoever you are" Elijah said befuddled, this was clearly a psychic projection, he could sense the thoughts of those around him. He tried his best not to peer, that would be rude, and they were not attacking him. Though strangely, the beings seemed to be trying to give their thoughts to him, that couldn't be right. Maybe their kind just has unusually loud thoughts.
The being cocked its head to the side, confusion emanating from it.
"I do not believe we are, oh servant of the gods. thou hold vast power, and yet are not in service of a god at this current time. We would ask that thou, at least for a time, join our ranks, and help us attune" The bandaged being said, the thoughts of the group further pressing on his mind… oh… oh they were trying to get in… no… pull him in, his mind reared back, and he put up a mighty barrier around his mind.
"Do not try and take my thoughts, vile creatures" Elijah yelled angrily.
The bandaged figure that was speaking to him swiftly bowed… her head. It was a her, that was just about all he accidentally gleaned from their failed pull on his mind.
"Forgive us oh mighty servant of the gods, we did not mean to offend, please forgive us!" The bandage wrapped figure said almost beggingly.
"First, tell me who you are" Elijah demanded.
The bandage clad figure rose again.
"But of course oh mighty servant of the gods. We are the godseekers, we seek to attune to mighty gods, and through them, ascend, we are but humble servants like thou. However, we understand how above us thou are, oh mighty servant, do not think we lack the respect thou so rightfully deserve. We merely wish thy aid, please, join us in our ranks of godhome, and help us ascend" The godseeker bowed as her explanation finished.
Elijah cringed slightly, shit these… bugs were very religious, how did he break it to him that he wasn't the religious figure they thought he was. Perhaps… share some memories, let them know of… that place, hopefully they would understand.
"Look, I really am not the one you think I am, if I have your permission, may I show you why I do not believe so" Elijah said cautiously.
"We would be beyond honored for a servant as mighty as thou, to show us who in comparison are nought but the smallest of small, your most sacred memories" The godseeker said.
"Alright" Elijah said, preparing himself for the coming ordeal.
As Elijah brushed up against her, no, their mind, their mind was like a sea, a shared sea, with many individuals, but still one whole. At the feel of Elijah's presence, the godseekers seemed to quiver in anticipation, what secret could the memories of such a mighty servant hold. The answer was pain.
The godseekers stood up in shock at the unspeakable horrors they saw in those memories. Other mighty servants being brutally laid low by disgusting heathens, physical pain that few beings would ever even deserve experiencing. The righteous retribution as the mighty servant who the memories belonged to ripped heathens limb from limb with their might. The heathens finally laying the mighty servant low with some unholy contraption that dampered his most divine power. Then, there was black.
Elijah himself was emotionally drained, having to relieve the pain and torment of that place. The death of his friends, his failed escape, it left him… feeling empty.
"Now do you see, I am no-" Elijah began
"Oh most mighty servant, we weep for thou, may the heathens be blasted to bits, their bodies destroyed, their minds flayed. We had no idea thou had went through such suffering, come come, let thee help thou in recovery, it is the bare speck of what thou deserve oh mighty servant" The godseekers began ushering the emotionally drained Elijah further into the place known as godhome, for recovery. It may take multiple times of sleep for the mighty servant to fully recover from such abuse, but it was a burden the godseekers looked forward to.
Location: Pale Palace Holding Cells
The regular's clock stated that it was 11:35 PM midwest time, making it 12:35 AM Virginia time. He wasn't sure about bug sleep cycles, but if those human nobles slept like normal humans, they would be asleep… probably. He could deal with bugs, but the extra sensory powers of the human nobles would be too much for him to overcome.
With the nobles likely being asleep, now was his and the kid's chance to escape. The regular pulled on the top of one of his cells' metal bars. The metal moaned and creaked against the might of the regulars augmented muscle and powered exoskeleton. The metal began to bend, until it finally broke. Now he had to do the bottom.
The sound of breaking metal awoke the little girl from her sleep. What she saw amazed her. Mister was bending metal, METAL! With his hands, Mister was super strong.
Mister managed to break one of the bars off the cell, and then began bending the two bars that neighbored it to the side, creating a space big enough for Mister to climb through.
The regular walked over the girl's cell, and began the same process he did with his cell.
"Good to see you're awake kid" The regular said as he broke part of the cell bar.
"Sorry for it being so early, we can't exactly escape when the nobles are awake" The regular explained.
"You are very strong mister" The little girl said, aw in her voice, her eyes glowing a bit more brightly. The regular was honestly not in any position to be wondering why the girl's eyes were glowing, he had seen too much weird shit to find that weird.
"Thanks kid"
With a metallic snap, the bar was broken off. The regular bent the bars neighboring it apart, creating a space for the girl to get through.
The girl climbed out wobbly, still tired.
"I don't think I asked for your name, kid" The regular said.
"Its Summer mister," The little girl responded.
"Well summer, it's time we got out of this place" The regular said, lifting Summer onto his back.
"Now for the hard part" The regular thought to himself.