Location: Appalachian Mountain Range Former State of Virginia
The Expedition team continued their march towards the rendezvous point where they would either meet up with or wait for the escaped regular to arrive. That was the plan anyway, it was likely that there would be some presence of the White Queen's forces on the way there. They had certainly kicked the teeth in… or whatever the hell the bugs had where a mouth would be.
However, judging by the information gathered from Elijah's mind reading and the escaped Regular's message, Humans may be considered a valuable enough resource to the bugs that they may be determined enough to keep trying until they are fully spent. Then there was the prospect of the 'human nobility' they may come into play. They had apparently been able to knock out a regular, and push a monarch helicopter a not insignificant amount. Which had apparently freaked out the pilot enough that he seemed to forget he had mounted light rail guns on that thing.
Jackson spent much of the march contemplating things like this. Sometimes his mind would turn to what the hell happened at 492, but he really didn't know enough to speculate beyond it being horrific enough to cause the death of several of Elijah's peers. He did not wish to inquire about it further however, Elijah was clearly in no state to be recounting the traumatic events.
Sometimes his mind would wonder of a hypothetical confrontation. One involving one of the so called 'human nobles' and Elijah. Who would win was a thing he was wondering. All he had to go on about the 'human nobles' was the information from the transmissions from the Regulars with the Monarch and the escaped Regular, as well as the information Elijah had extracted from the heads of some of the insects they had encountered. From that limited scope of information, they seemed quite powerful, hell according to Elijah the bugs they fought viewed them second only to gods.
However, Elijah did mention to them that these bugs were in some kind of warrior caste that was trained from birth and indoctrinated to believe what the monarch of Whitenest, the White Queen, would tell them The conclusion he came to was that even information taken directly from the minds of their assailants may be unreliable, as what these bugs believe to be true is based on what the White Queen tells them is true, no necessarily what is actually true. So far the only recorded achievement of these 'nobles' was knocking out a single regular, who then escaped anyway.
While they did pose a threat, he was unsure how severe of a threat it was. Elijah on the other hand is the most powerful psyker to ever be produced by 492, and as far as he knew, possibly ever. He had recorded his earlier feets, which were impressive by themselves, and it is likely his power had grown while he was gone, as Elijah's gene mods were probably improved.
Elijah himself was walking beside him. His eyes were flicking around in his socket as it jumped from one part of the area to the next. Never taking in a sight, like he was looking for one specific thing, and if he did not see it, there was no use to look there anymore. He was probably looking to see if there were any bugs or 'nobles' around Jackson reasoned to himself.
Elijah felt something, it was getting closer, it was powerful, and it's thoughts were loud, and bright, so so bright. It would be near deafening and/or blinding if he was any less skilled or powerful with the abilities of the mind. However, Instead of his extrasensory… well… senses being fried like a human eye staring directly at the sun for hours on end in a desert, he could understand this person… or thing to an extent.
"We are getting nearer to…" The presence said, most likely unaware of his eavesdropping. Curious, Elijah focused, piecing together what this thing was trying to say.
"Do not fear Astari… I am sure that one treats her with respect… she has high views of that one" The voice said again, it was… feminine, and appeared to be talking with someone.
"Your kind, even in their chaotic state, are capable of great acts of kindness, you were much the same before I inducted you into the tribe"
The voice was becoming clearer, as Elijah worked to make sense of what he heard. They were speaking in a language that he did not understand, but the meaning of what they said he could easily understand. The meaning of this conversation clearly involved some sort of lost loved one the presence was helping someone with… a conversation...
This presence was speaking mentally to someone else, how else would he be hearing a coherent conversation directly in their thoughts? Interesting, so whatever was out there also had some extrasensory ability. He pushed his senses out a little farther to try to see if he could pry anything from the other side of the conversation, whoever the were.
The presence kept getting closer and closer. It felt… dangerously close, the voices getting louder and louder, the light becoming brighter and brighter.
Elijah's hand raised swiftly in front of Jackson, stopping him in his tracks.
"Something is coming," Elijah said frantically. The regulars stopped as well.
"W...what's coming?" Jackson asked, confused.
"I… I don't know, Its powerful, doesn't know we are here, I don't think so at least… I…"
"It is rude to listen in on conversations that aren't meant for you… you strange yet wonderous human…"
The voice sounded more clear than it did before, and it was now directed at him… he pushed too damned deep, and now that thing knows where he is. F U C K.
Elijah snapped his head towards Jackson, and then looked around to the surrounding regulars.
"Scratch that, it knows where we are, and its coming, get ready!" Elijah said frantically once more.
The regulars didn't protest or question, but began running into areas of concealment such as bushes, behind rocks, or up in trees that could support their weight.
Jackson looked Elijah in the eyes for a moment, before dashing off into some nearby bushes. Elijah himself decided to take cover behind a tree, eyes closed, focus fully on the incoming presence.
Elijah decided to send his own message, now that the group was as prepared as they could be.
"What are you?" Elijah said, a message sent in the presence's general direction.
There was a tense pause that lasted for a few seconds.
"I am the dream goddess Corona, proud protector, and matriarch of my Moth Tribe..." The presence said as it got closer and closer.
So it was one of those gods the godseekers had told him about… this could be problematic, very very problematic. He needed to keep his cool, and not accidentally start conflict where there might not even be one… he hoped at least, though he knew that was probably naive.
"Who are you looking for?" Elijah said, sending the message.
Another tense pause before Corona responded.
"A child of one of my charges, young for her kind, always so adventurous and loving, but… she wandered too far and got lost, she was then captured by forces of a kingdom known as Whitenest. They wish to use her power for their own ends... "
Elijah took a moment to think for a moment, didn't the escaped regular mention that he had a child with him in his transmission, said it's name was Summer… or something?
"Do you know where the child is?" Elijah asked.
"Yes, I have spoken to her even, much like you and I are speaking now, I came to her in her dreams. She said that she had escaped with the help of a tall human clothed in all black, bottom to top. Had a glass like material on the front of the headpiece where the eyes would be I think, rather strange apparel, I do not believe I have ever seen before. Corona said, describing characteristics suspiciously similar to a regular's.
Jackson and the regulars were all in their hiding spots, waiting for Elijah to give them all clear. Jackson had already vouched for Elijah's abilities, and put some trust that he can act like an early warning system. Until such a time that is proven false, they were fine going along with his warnings.
Elijah took a deep breath, and exhaled.
"Is the missing child's name… Summer?"
All at once he felt a barrage of… well, a lot of things, joy, suspicion, curiosity, love.
There was a tense few moments where Elijah could only feel the intense emotions, before Corona spoke once more.
"How did you know that? What do you know, tell me! tell me everything!" Corona mentally yelled demandingly.
Elijah took a moment to recover before responding.
"I am with the group that individual belongs to… he… messaged us via a means of long range communication, and told us about his situation"
Elijah heard an audible humming sound coming from the dream goddess.
"Hmmm, well you strange human you, how about we make a deal, I along with another who is with me, join you in getting my charge, and your friend, after that we leave and go our separate ways, yes?" Corona offered.
"Permission to talk it over with the rest in the group first?" Elijah asked.
Once more Corona made an audible humming.
"Hummmm, no"
"Wait wha-?"
A loud screech was heard as a blast of light appeared near where the expedition team was hiding. Elijah had to shield his eyes, while the regulars' and Jackson's visors protected their eyes.
When the light receded, what Elijah, Jackson the regulars saw from behind their cover was a giant fluffy… moth thing, with bright yellow glowing eyes beaming from an opening in its fluff, What appeared to be five white horns on its head. On its sides were white tendrils that formed together to make wings, its... legs? were gold looking and was undoubtedly Corona the self proclaimed goddess of dreams.
Beneath her however stood a woman… a human woman, she wore robes that took on a similar fluff to the Moth goddess above her, she had a head piece like a masquerade mask in that it covered the top part of her face. Her eyes glowed a similar yellow. She had what appeared to be a sword of some strange design, and what seemed to be a shield.
It was then that Elijah decided to do something one could call a bit reckless, but he wanted to diffuse things before shots started being fired.
Elijah stepped out from behind the tree he was hiding behind, hands raised in the air a bit.
He could sense the confusion coming from Jackson and the regulars, but ignored it for now, he would tell them everything later.
"You know… it would have been nice to have been able to give everyone here advanced warning you know!" Elijah said to the moth god.
Suddenly the woman underneath Corona vanished in a flash of light, and reappeared right before Elijah, blade bared, a scowl across her face. However, just as soon as she reappeared, she dropped her scowl, as well as her sword and shield, and began clutching at her neck. She was audibly choking. Elijah raised his arm, and the woman was lifted into the air, still clutching her neck, desperately gasping for air that would not come. Elijah had a look of near indifference on his face… this was just like the guards that rushed him with stun batons...
"LET GO OF HER!" Corona yelled.
Elijah blinked, and flung the woman back towards the goddess. The woman was on her hands and knees gasping for air. The moth god lowered herself to the ground and embraced the gasping woman. One of her wing tendrils rubbing her throat.
"I am aware she acted brash, but I will not tolerate violence against my charges" Corona said slightly accusatively.
"Then how about…" A noise from the tell tale radio distorted voice of a regular said, as said regular came out of the trees, weapon out, but not aimed.
"You and your damned charges make a habit of not attacking people who have their hands raised in compliance" The regular finished.
Other regulars began coming out of their hiding spots, and like the first regular, kept their weapons ready but not aimed.
"Yea… what he said" Elijah said somewhat sheepishly.
The moth goddess rolled her glowing yellow eyes at them.
"Very well…" She said.
"And Elijah" The regular said.
Elijah turned to face the regular who approached him.
"I think the everyone here deserves a damned explanation on what the hell is going on"
"That you do" Elijah said "That you most certainly do…"