Hello there and welcome back with the start of more mysterious people in CDTK's lives while they lay low with the Shadows.
Jay Delun…
Jay awoke with a good start, waking on her own time without Cindy or Kelly shaking her awake for once. She gives a loud yawn, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. She is greeted by the dome shaped guest quarters she and the two other teams reside in. The marble walls untouched by ages and the brass still polished after a million years. It was spacious enough to fit all twelve of them within without discomfort as well as fitting racks to store their gear for the servants to repair and treat when needed.
It's hard to believe that all the parts of the Fortress- sleeping quarters, mess hall, forges, armory, medical wing, garden, hangars, meeting rooms, guest rooms, temples and anything a city would have aboveground- is all skillfully carved into the mountain and below the land, including the sea port under the waters of the great oceans.
Jay turned to her left, giving her the view of the early morning sun over the ocean. It was quiet, save for the distant waves on rocks and the bonfire in the center of the room. It is rare for her to wake up first. Her head no longer aches, except feeling a bit sore all over from the gauntlet run in the night before. She looks around to see all the other members still sleeping the morning away. Except Cindy and Emily were missing, their beds neatly made. She gently pushed herself up from her semi-firm bed, careful to not wake anyone up. Her stomach lets out a loud growl though.
Her feet feels the natural cold stone under her, causing her to shiver slightly before grabbing her boots.
She walked down the nearly empty halls, lit with the natural sun from the giant stained glass windows and the fire above. The hall were lively somewhat with servants or the giant armored people walking around from time to time, starting their normal morning routines- whatever it was. She looked at the carved walls, the tapestry depicting battles of some kinds, showing off the legion's might power in combats, duels or warfare. The color of the threading used looked so realistic as the silver and gold seemed to move as she walked down the grand halls. There is the tapestry of the Forgemasters, recognizing Gaheris among the four that were shown in their full panoply of crafting. There stands one in white slimmer armor like Argus with something like pipes going over her back and there is another like Gaheris but their armor is more twisted, mechanical arms were replaced with cruel drills and other tools, matching the arrowed armor.
Though there is one where she paused for her full attention.
It was the tapestry of a woman in a black cloak etched with runic markings unlike Argus and the other white Forgemaster. Her skin is like porcelain, her eyes like ebony as her hands held something like black fire. She can see some of her grayish hair under the hood of her cloak.
It felt as if the tapestry is calling her closer. She stepped towards it slightly, her hand brushing the surprisingly soft fabric. A soft and ghostly voice is barely audible next to her ear.
Ful van woul karn tzing…
She almost sees the lady moving, a ghostly hand caresses her cheek.
"The Harbinger of Shadows." Jay jumped at the sudden silvery voice. She spins around to see Akaia standing behind her, her body no longer clad in the bulky armor, showing off the mechanical bioform hidden underneath a very unleaderlike attire of a pair of black basketball shorts and a white tank top. "My apologies for startling you. You seemed to be entranced by the tapestry."
Jay tried to keep herself from having a mini heart attack by clearing her throat.
"Sorry, but the lady looked so captivating," She tried to find the words to describe what happened seconds before Akaia arrived. "Like she was calling me to her or something."
Akaia tilted her head and looked at the tapestry before looking back at her. Jay looked back at the lady as well, but she seemed flat and inanimate like the rest of the tapestries.
"Did she say anything?" Akaia asked. For once in her life, she has never seen someone as level headed as the commander of the Order so confused at a work of art and a girl who claims to hear a voice.
Ful can woul karn tzing.
The voice repeats in her head clearly.
"I don't think so." She looked at the work again. Still flat and inanimate. She shrugged. "Could be the wind."
Akaia shrugged and turned around back down the hall.
"Perhaps."
Jay could've sworn she saw someone in a black cloak behind the pillars before she blinked. She could almost see her face under the black shadowy hood.
Training Arena
Diane's back hit the brass pillar with searing hot flames fanning from her and around the pillar. Her weapon flew out of her hand before she struck the pillar, landing across the training room.
She felt like an fool for accepting the fiery girl's challenge.
Moments after the fire ceased, she collapsed onto the ground as a black heap, steam steadily rising from her blackened body. She is panting for breath on her knees and elbows while the trenchcoat, gauntlet girl stand across from her, arms crossed and childish ruby eyes watched in amusement as she tried to get onto her feet.
"Done already?" She sounded sad and a bit disappointed, but sincere behind the teasing words. "Aww."
"Mel, you've killed her enough for the day." Cyres' accented voice interjected before Mel can go anywhere near her. "Now can you pick her from the ground and help me heat up the tea before you go have a lava sauna?"
"Yeesh, do it yourself princess." Mel stuck her tongue at Cyres as she hoisted Diane to her feet, brushing the soot from her. She stopped once Cyres shot her famous death glares at her. "Okay, okay one juance shi-tea comming up."
Cyres glared daggers at her before rolling her eyes as Mel sauntered out of the room. She turned back to Diane and handed Bleak Dusk back to her.
"We have much to discuss about," She eyed her blackened from while guiding her to the balconies bench that gives them a splendid view of the ocean beyond the land . "And work on your stance after the tea break."
Diane sighed heavily and plopped down on the bench like a fish out of water.
"What do you want to talk about, Cyres?" She asked, pushing her head off the wall when Cyres sits down beside her, her robe neatly tucked under her long legs.
"A lot more than I can describe."
Hour 1023 ; War Room
"What the hell do you mean that Prometheus is the "only answer"?" Akaia speaks up from her side on the long table. "There must be other solutions to this."
On either side of her sits her team and across of them sits Argus, and the The Grand Forgemasters Gaheris, Auriel and Aron. Of course, sitting on the left end of the table upon a black iron throne is Mordred. And there was one chair next to Gaheris that is vacant.
"I agree with my sister, even though we may not see the same from time to time." Rio follows, the Killian siblings looking briefly at one another before facing the older members of the Council.
"We can't let millions of lives go to die in vain because of our upcoming tactical error." Cyres pressed on, clearly using her status to help her team be heard by the members.
"Tactical error?" Aron guttural voice snarled beneath his warped helmet, the mechanical arm on his back whirled to life. "Now see-"
"Aron, don't let your gear go over your head, Aron." Auriel's soft voice rang about the room as she chastised her partner. "You don't want to repeat what happened last time."
Aron huffed and leaned back on his chair, not wanting to argue with her.
"Silence you two." Gaheris looked at the two of them. "Bickering will get us nowhere."
"Says you Gaheris, you were the one who wanted to unleash her while me and Auriel opposed the idea."
Mel tugs on Cyres' sleeve, aking the older woman turn to her with a hardened gaze for a split second.
"We should tell them." Mel whispered to Cyres. The queen nodded slightly before clearing her throat loudly.
The three Forgemasters turned to her, gazes hard and judging.
"I must say, this is exactly how our timeline ended with horrible measures of awakening her." Cyres stated, her ice forming behind her in a shape of the miniature sized warforged titan, standing over the premises of Beacon three times in height- her cannons firing into what looks like a large chunk of Vale. The cannon fire carved a huge chunk of land from the continent, reducing it to smouldering ashes that is soon filled by the ocean. "And this is pretty much what happens."
"But we can't let Cinder Fall take the rest of the Maiden powers. We would have no other alternative to stop her." Aron argued, ruby lenses looking at Cyres, who only ignored him. "What would you prefer?"
Cyres opens her mouth to respond before Mel speaks instead.
"I rather see the world alive than burn at our hands, Aron." Mel speaks before Cyres can let out a sound. "It is a part of her plan to get us to unleash her and BAM, she wins because she will divert her attention and storm into the this place the moment we open the earth for her to destroy the planet."
Silence prevailed in the war room, all attention to Mordred and Argus who sits silently in thought.
"My lord, what will you take?" Argus turns to Mordred, the old machine warlord turns his head slightly to ROCK's side of the table.
"Akaia, go back to Beacon with your team to investigate into this matter," Mordred commands with a serious tone. He turns to the Forgemasters. "Forgemasters, go awaken our machines and not her yet."
"But sir-" Gaheris starts.
"No buts Gaheris, remember we stand as a passive ground, we only aid them for now as the alliance says." Mordred turns directly to him, which shuts him up instantly. "And with team ROCK, we can learn more than simple things of both parties."
"What about CDTK, HLTP and EBNY?" Rio asks, donning his helmet again. "Should they remain here?"
"It's for the best." Argus replies. "The former may not like give such a warm welcome if they show their face at Beacon again."
Beacon Grounds
ROCK landed back on the area of Beacon, their mission: keep a tab on the suspicious events and take actions if provoked. Mel is left to Yang, Rio and Akaia to the tournament, Cyres and Hazurfurn to take the perimeter of the Festival and Beacon.
Rio's armor fades back into his aura again leaving him in nothing but his plated under armor. his baton strapped to his thigh as he adjusts to the weightless feeling without the heavy armor on his body. His black shirt has gray plates hammered on, almost like his dark brown pants with built in thigh guards. His black combat boots made no noise as he walked down the crowded halls when the crowd is roaring outside on the matchup.
He sighs and runs his hand through his short hair, ignoring the stares of the ladies around him as he pushes the door open to an empty maintenance hall.
It seemed empty for the most part, save the screaming matchup. Nothing would catch his attention for now.
Until he hears the sound of door closing around the corner in the distance. He quickly jogs closer, pressed close to the wall as if he is merging with the shadows- which he is.
He hears voices as he closes in. He peers around the corner, hoping to see the source of the problem.
His gray eyes widened at the sight of Mercury- who is supposed to be in Haven.
"We are so fucked again..." Rio quickly turned to his scroll- placed conveniently on his bracer of his left arm.
'Akaia, Mercury's here' He tapped on his arm scroll to notify Akaia.
'Emerald. Neo here . stands.' Akaia replied in short words not long after, meaning that Emerald is here in the stands. Also because Akaia is a walking biological construct, her retinal upgrades allows her to see through most things.
'Ruby is here- interfere.' Rio quickly typed back. He re-emerges from his shadowy blob and steps into the light therefore revealing himself to the two students.
"Hey," Rio clears his throat, he cocked an eyebrow at Mercury, diverting his attention to him instead of Ruby. "I thought you were in Haven… "
"Rio!" He hears Ruby's small voice behind him. Rio's eyes shifted to Ruby and back at Mercury.
"So why the hell are you back here?"
A/N So ROCK knows about Cinder and how she will pretty much take over the world and they are trying not to repeat mistakes again.
Akaia is not like Penny in a way besides being both machines- Akaia has a soul and more like Mordred- AI embodiment constructs , not cyborgs.
Forgemaster Auriel, and Forgemaster Aron are newly introduced- the fourth is later.
Though what could happen next?