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 Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2025 2:23 pm
Backdated to 10 March 2025, Monday evening
Her pencil--a nonbroken, fresh one--twirled in her fingers as Solaris lounged on a bench, back to the armrest so her wings could freely rest without being pressed or squished. On her raised knees, her field journal sat, and right above it, her phone rested landscape-view, allowing her to scan the various updates to the Database she'd seen on… well, everything.
She jotted notes down alongside her own she'd taken inside that place, nose wrinkling each time she had to pass over damaged pages to write around the rips and tears that strange force had inflicted. Solarian script flowed and swirled, and now and then were joined by small sketches she used to let her mind wander.
The Spike.
The Storms.
The Serpent.
The Murals.
It was while drawing a rendition of the eye on the last wall that she felt the rising sensation of something watching her, and she froze, skin prickling and senses straining for the source of this perception of danger.
Brow furrowing, she packed away her things into the simple satchel that hung from her crossbody fashion, forcing herself to stretch her arms and back despite the desire to make herself small as possible to elude the watcher.
She hadn't really been able to escape this sensation long since arriving back on Earth, and it aggravated her.
Was really to a point she'd rather whatever it was just face her, and she settle out the consequences after.
Realistically, at least, she knew that was a horrible idea, and refused to voice it aloud. Probably go as well for her as dealing with Faustite had been…
Cross, she rubbed at her forehead, finally pushing herself from her seat to start wandering back under lamps that shifted into streetlights as she exited the park. She debated who she could reach out to, who to ask for any updates--
But her eyes snagged on a figure that slipped into an alley a half a block or so away from her. They seemed to be… fumbling with something..?
Solaris started after them cautiously, keeping an ear out for any voices or anything--she didn't sense any auras… For a moment, she wondered if it was another Velencian, and her curiosity grew as she rounded the corner into the alley, scanning for evidence of where the figure had wandered off to next…
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2025 7:20 pm
When Solaris rounded the corner, she came face to face with Almadel. Their noses very nearly touched, but he had quick reflexes and half-skipped back two steps. Though his eyes were wide, his face immediately relaxed and he laughed quickly. “Oh! A Senshi! Oh, never mind. You had me worried, I thought I was getting into trouble. This storm’s got me all on edge!” He’d had something in his hand but with a flick of his wrist it disappeared. Rapidly, he offered a hand to shake hers. A smile had cemented itself on his face and his tail danced behind him. He had made no effort to glamour himself while meandering through the city, but his clothes were as out of place as his appearance. He didn’t seem to mind. “Hi, hello. Almadel," he introduced. "So good to meet you. What are you doing back here?”
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Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2025 4:57 pm
Her eyes went wide as she was met with a pair of very in-human gold ones. The other moved back swiftly, and she blinked rapidly, taking in the other's obviously non-Earthling appearance. She hadn't been expecting that.
His quick ease brought a smile to her face in turn, even if she was a tad confused and curious about what trouble he might have been getting himself into in the first place--what'd he just send away, anyway? Did he have access to a type of subspace, too?
The introduction, though, made her face light up with more genuine delight as she took his hand in a friendly, brief, shake. "So you're the space merchant I've heard about. Another senshi mentioned you." She released his hand and took a slight step back, a motion made out of courtesy and to respect another's personal space. "I'm Solaris. Wasn't sure I'd get the pleasure to meet you." There was one useful thing about this storm, then... "But uh... why did you think you were in trouble..?"
His question though made her wrinkle her nose. It was a fair one, but she still let out a heavy sigh. "Wandering. Thinking. I'm--" She cut herself short, eyeing the other alien. Grieve had mentioned he didn't seem to favor any side in particular, he gave favors to all. Including the Negaverse.
But that meant he'd also work with Order, right?
"I'm worried about the storms. And the thing I guess is behind them, or... joins them. I'm not sure which it is, even," she added with a dry laugh as the thought occurred. "Do the world vanishing storms accompany the world devouring great beasts, or do the beasts create the storms? I don't even think I've seen anything mention that." The very realization felt like it drained her of the day's energy, and she rubbed at her eyes with one hand. "Sorry." Pulling herself back together a bit, she lowered her hand and looked to Almadel with a slight frown. "Oh--forgive me, have you been hearing anything about what's going on? Or did what I just say sound like gibberish to you?" She wasn't sure if he knew about the impending threat--if he didn't, she wanted to appropriately fix that. Though... he wasn't a senshi, was he? How was he on Earth..?
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2025 9:30 pm
“It’s a little gibberish, yes, but I don’t mind.” Almadel smiled again, only now he seemed to have relaxed somewhat so he’d busied himself with smoothing out his suit and making himself look a bit more presentable. “I think I understand enough, I’m starting to piece things together. I mean, I know that Earth is in a very difficult spot right now! We should go back to talking about how you’ve heard of me. They said good things, yes?” For as much as he wanted to hear what was undoubtedly praise and words of admiration, he waved his hand before she could answer. “I want to hear all about it, but later. No doubt you want to shower me in questions, but I’m in a bit of a time crunch. We’ll have to catch up more after you’ve saved Earth.” It might have been lip service but he didn’t seem like he doubted she’d be able to. “You’ll have to tell me if anyone has the answer to that question–very ‘chicken or the egg’, isn’t it? Do you know that one, have you been on Earth for long enough? Or–” He was notably eyeing her wings but shrugged. “Anyway. It could be either, don’t you think? Maybe the beast is attracted to the storm? A lot of energy, yes? But you can’t really eat clouds. If I had to guess–and don’t quote me, it’s a guess, I would think that it's making the storms. Traveling through space takes a great deal of energy if you don’t have a ship, and I don’t think a serpent–it’s got too little arms, yes?–I can’t imagine how it would pilot anything. So it is safe to assume–I think–that it’s got some method of organic travel. But then, I have seen smaller storms that look like these–too small to hold a world-eating beast. Maybe it’s a coincidence? The universe has had worse weather of late, it could be unrelated,” he hummed, but the way he was tapping his foot seemed to imply he was too deep in thought to just brush the idea aside.
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Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2025 12:29 pm
His more light-hearted way of conversing, the lack of dour or brooding antics… Almadel was refreshing to be around, she decided quickly, though she wondered if it was more attributed to his abilities as a salesman--to wheel and deal was a necessity for any merchant, she would think. Being amiable, masking negativities… it wouldn't surprise her if she ever learned that was at play with the man before her, but for now? She appreciated it. For the first time since the storms first hit Destiny City, she felt some of the tension leave her shoulders.
Maybe it was just his nature, though? She didn't miss how he'd slipped right on over her question about what he'd been doing, sailing smoothly around it. His rapid switch from wanting to focus on his reputation, to the sudden dismissal and reversion to focus on the looming problem at their doorstep made her give a snort of a laugh. "Not the first I've heard of the philosophical query, but first I've had someone direct it to me," she quipped with a teasing grin, unable to muffle her amusement. After you've saved Earth. It was a heavy statement said so casually. We don't know how, she wanted to say, but felt it was... obvious. They were all scrambling. All of them, it seemed like. She'd never considered a scenario where she might actually converse with the Negaverse, and yet...
Almadel's train of thought snagged her attention from the sour, dour thoughts of her own that threatened to take back over. Her wings flexed slightly against her back as she followed along on his logic, brows furrowing as her own mind began to whirl and roll along its own, similar, tracks. "...I wonder. If the beast is potentially traveling via the storms… would it be possible these smaller storms are sort of… markers? For future targets?" She felt sick saying that, aware of even the storm above her world, never mind many others from the sounds of things. But it could account for all the sudden smaller storms....
One arm crossed in front of her torso, palm holding her other elbow as that fist propped up her chin in thought. It was all speculation of course, just a guess as he had said, but the more she let herself consider it... he had a potential point. Another small laugh was given in acknowledgement--no, she doubted the thing was piloting a ship any time soon, though she wasn't about to bring up how even Mauvians could likely formulate species-friendly technology if they had the proper resources available to them. "Organic travel can't be very quick, I would think. There's heavy limitations, isn't there?" Her knowledge on intergalactic travel was extremely minor--she'd never had to bother with learning the ins and outs of how the ships worked, how the navigational systems worked, any of it. Solarian on-world aerial ships were the most of her experience. Space? She enjoyed the luxury of others doing all the important work for her.
But organic travel couldn't move that quickly, could it? Not that she was sure of it's location at the moment, but Ganymede's report in the Database had said three to six weeks before it'd arrive... it'd already need to be pretty close to Earth to accomplish that on its own propulsion, wouldn't it..? Never mind then the storms on so many other worlds--
A thought struck, and she felt the blood drain from her face. So much for the tension reduction. It returned in spades. If her sudden hypothesis held any weight... it was terrifying. Mainly because she had no idea what to do about it. "...what if it's like the Negaverse, and able to teleport? What if it uses the smaller storms as sort of anchor points, pulling itself to one after another in order to travel. It would explain the smaller storms all around. They join with the bigger one when the beast teleports into that anchor point." While a fascinating concept, she already had enough problems with Negaverse agents having that ability in a fight.
The ******** do you do against a giant world-ending monster with a similar capability?
"How do you trap something like that? If it can just teleport, wouldn't it just move out of range of anything we tried to pull against it? How was it even imprisoned though, if it can do something like that--and that's just a hypothesis, I've got nothing to support it... just, I don't get how else it can be moving through space..." Her questions were less directed to Almadel, and more to the middle space she stared towards, eyes moving side to side rapidly as she scanned figments in her mind trying to connect pieces together with proverbial thread.
But then, her gaze cleared, and snapped to the golden pair with a sudden vibrancy that danced between curiosity and grim settlement. Determination. "You're a merchant, correct? Do you have anything to sell or trade that can hinder something's ability to teleport? Even if it's a smaller rendition, we might be able to modify it or recreate it in a larger form to fit our needs. Or, if you have information on any entity or peoples who you've heard of with similar capabilities as I'm guessing this thing does, I'll take that." As for what she could offer...
"I've got technology back on my world from the prime of my people. Artworks, books, digital archives--I can't access them right now due to some... technical difficulties," she clarified dryly, thinking of her ship she'd been trying to figure out how to repair.... and the AI she wished she could bring back online... "But I know I hid things away over the years. As did others. Once I have access to them, you've the pick of them. If," she paused, a more weighted tone to her voice, "the information or device you offer help us in keeping the Earth safe. We can't exactly maintain a bargain if the world's gone, and likely all us with it."
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Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2025 5:43 am
Almadel’s eyes flashed with interest he did not want to–or simply could not–conceal. “Oh, well you certainly do know how to strike a deal. But you are asking me to take quite a gamble that these goods of yours will be in any condition to barter with. But,” he clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “I will gamble on you. On Earth. You have my interest, and as such, you will have my help. Do I have something that can hinder teleportation? Yes. I will give it to you but know that I do so with doubt that it might help you.” He flicked his wrist and as if plucked from the air like magic, a blue velvet bag appeared, tied with a little gold cord. He unfastened it and rolled out a black, golf ball sized item. “You need only throw it at your target to elicit the effects, but it suppresses more than just teleportation. It inhibits all magic. It doesn’t have a very large range, maybe if you were to lay down three of me head to toe? There is poisonous air inside. Tasteless, odorless, sightless. I have no idea how you might replicate it. But this is all I have on me, I’m afraid. I hope my information may be more bountiful.” And, whether because he had information to share or just because he liked the sound of his own voice, he continued speaking as he returned the little orb to its bag. “There are a great many deal of limitations when it comes to space travel, but I am not an expert on all things organic, least of those rare and unspoken of. But I have high suspicion that this creature might teleport. But then, I think it tears holes in the universe and slips from one corner to another. I think the storms are sparks as it scrapes across a universe not equipped to accommodate it. I have no proof, of course, I’ve had no reason to get close enough to test that theory. I like your anchor point theory. I have as little to support my theory as you do yours. But someone must have found a way to disrupt its travel, if it was trapped? What would you do to trap a Negaverse agent who can teleport?”
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Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2025 5:36 pm
Solaris didn't miss the look in his eye, but she didn't count a success yet. His concern was valid--even if she felt confident she had something of value she could exchange. She just... had to clear away some things first...
Still, she held her relief and surprise in heavy restraint and check as he mentioned accepting that gamble. As he mentioned helping. Some part of her couldn't help but remain cynical in that moment, like things were going to fall apart the moment she held too much excitement or hope. A sudden notion born of the genuine fear of failure in protecting this world, and her own, if she were willing to stop and self-examine.
Instead, she focused on the bag he... huh, did he pull that from subspace? Or did he have some other method? The curiosity was a good distraction from her darker and self-doubtful thoughts, all the more when he pulled out the small ball. "All magic?" Her eyes focused on the little thing, brain whirling around his wording. "Does that include the magic that keeps us in our powered states? Would we need to be concerned about losing all of our magic to a point of reverting to a civilian, we were in range when used?" He said he wasn't sure it'd actually be of help, but it could be, so she wanted all the potential scenarios filled out to the best of her ability. A particular idea hit, and before she could stop herself, it fell from her lips, "What if someone is mostly composed of youma parts? Would that magic negatively affect them? Hurt them?"
Solaris clicked her mouth shut when her voice reached her own ears, and she kicked herself for even bothering to ask. And yet... some part of her mind still whirled. If it could be replicated, not only could it be used on this serpent but...--
She refocused as he spoke, leaving her what ifs trailing somewhere in the back of her mind for now. Tearing holes in space? Her brows furrowed. She liked the sound of that less than she liked the idea of teleportation. The logic and science was beyond her, she knew that. Scrapes across a universe not equipped to accommodate it.... that had her blinking rapidly a moment as she tried to process that one.
"Negate the ability," she said in somewhat autopilot, as part of her tried to puzzle over the not equipped to accommodate it bit. The rest could focus on his question. One she'd certainly questioned a few times already herself. "Either through trapping them in a place the magic wouldn't reach, or knocking them out..." Things that would be difficult at best with this thing...
"...could we... strengthen space around Earth, and other worlds? If it's ripping through uh... I think I've heard Earthlings say fabric of space, so I'll use that. But if it's ripping through the fabric, and pulling itself through those tears, what if we reinforce space? Strengthen that fabric so it can't rip through it? But I don't understand how any of that works--there could be far reaching negative impacts from doing something like that, assuming it even could be done..." She gave a huff, rubbing her forehead as her frustrations rose again. She was better on the ground, so to speak, in more direct conflicts. This was... so beyond that, beyond her capabilities or comprehension. She felt like she was just barely keeping herself from drowning. "Are you suggesting this thing isn't even from our universe? What, is it chasing energy in others then? Eat up all the supply where it came from?"
She might have said that in a slightly more snippy tone than she'd intended, and winced upon realizing it. "....sorry. This is just... I just want to keep people and worlds safe. I thought my biggest problem was just trying to clear the Chaos from my world so it could try and heal again, now this has cropped up..."
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Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2025 3:21 pm
“Oh, you’ve asked me so many questions. Big ones, too.” He dangled the little bag as if to tempt her with it. He was unshaken by them, or any ‘snippy’ tone. “It does steal your senshidom, I think. I’ve never used it on a senshi per se, but it temporarily stifles summoned or then-generated magic. Do you care if it hurts someone who has fused with a youma? I thought those were your enemies? Ah, but, I don’t know. I’ve never used it on one.I don’t think it will separate them if that’s what you had in mind.” The item was still offered because he did want to strike that deal with her. Maybe to sweeten the pot, he then set about attempting to respond to the rest of her thoughts. “I’d like it if you could reinforce space, but I’m not really sure how to do that. You’d need a celestial environmentalist or something, or a scientist, I guess. I’m just a merchant, I don’t have that sort of expertise. But–yes, I am suggesting it’s not from our universe. Or, at the very least, not from any part of it I’ve been. And I’ve tried to reach the end of it all, trust me, it’s just too far. There are dark corners where no one goes, but there aren’t worlds to eat out there so I don’t see how anything could be born there. I don’t know. But it does, inarguably, seek out energy, and it feasts on worlds–bountiful with energy, no? Ah, but don’t fear, Solaris.” He offered what could pass for a reassuring, if not smug, smile. “Many people are trying to resolve this, aren’t they? Someone else might have the answers you seek. But for what it’s worth, I think you’re doing an excellent job with this whole thing. Keep up the good work. I’m sure Earth will be saved in no time, and then after this Solaris will be a piece of cake, right?”
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2025 12:12 pm
A small snort of a laugh huffed from her nose, and despite it all, Solaris felt a corner of her mouth quirk upward in a lopsided, bemused smile. "I indulge my curiosity when able. Seeing as I'm not in a fight, or dangling off a cliff, I figured it wasn't a bad time to do so." Really, she wanted information, and typically? Answers got info. Wasn't always the type she wanted, or even something she herself could understand and make use of... but so long as she could memorize it and toss it out to others, then someone might have the ability to turn jibberish into actual usable, actionable, info.
Her eyes did follow the little bag for a brief moment. She wasn't disinterested in what the sphere could do.
Solaris nodded vaguely as she listened to his explanation, tucking the information away. If it was able to be used to stop the serpent, her other questions probably didn't matter but... "They are," she confirmed with a slight sigh, a slightly wistful smile dancing across her face momentarily. "But for the people they once were, I'd rather avoid a prolonged, painful death before their starseed is sent back to the Cauldron." Her gaze lifted to his, holding a moment in silent question--she couldn't help but be curious again. Would he care about her open discussion of potentially killing a Negaverse agent? How far did his neutrality go?
Unfolding her arms, she held a hand out for the bag. He'd given her enough, far as she could tell. No, they weren't direct step by step, paint by number bits which she would have loved... He'd given her new concepts to consider, information to bring to others and see if it sparked something in their minds. There were smarter people than she working on this, that much she knew was true.
Her hand flinched slightly, however, as he offered what was a nice enough sentiment. After this Solaris will be a piece of cake, right?
"I... would like to think so." But the truth was, she didn't know. She eyed him again, weighing her options. She'd already taken up enough of his time, and yet... "I don't know what else I can offer in trade, beyond what I already have, but... in your travels, have you ever encountered anything like--" She floundered, both in how to say it in English, but also how to best describe her thought process here. Solarian slipped from her tongue, musical and light as the breath in her lungs. "< Parts for the Silverbird? How would I best say it..? I've never been much of a mechanic. > Parts for... Solarian aerial ships? I've been trying to fix one. Or... < What are even the words for this? Machine spirit, but what is it in English-- > Um... I think, artificial intelligence? AI? Coding or programing for them?" She danced between Solarian and English, her words alternating swiftly between light and airy and a heavier vocal range. As probably jumbled as her thoughts were, really.
"I... don't know what the Chaos is infecting my world. I'm hoping fixing a ship will allow easier passage to fix that. I'm unsure if you've been there, but Solarian storms and seas aren't entirely friendly to cross on a blow up raft, and I've yet to figure out how to fit a sturdy enough Earth boat or plane into subspace."
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Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2025 10:45 am
With great pleasure, Almadel offered her the bag, and when she began speaking in a mashup of languages, he seemed to enjoy that, too. As with most things, it was impossible to tell if Almadel had any comprehension of her language, or if he just had a good poker face and a pleasant smile. He listened with interest whether or not he understood. “Oh, I can imagine. Well, I am a bit of an expert when it comes to transportation methods, so if you need anything moved, you can give me a call. I’ll give you a discount. When it comes to parts, hm! I suppose I’d need a better understanding of what it is you’re looking for. I’m not exactly a–would you call that a mechanic? A technician? I can peddle the parts but installation and recommendations, it’s a bit out of my realm of expertise. I have a large store room of parts I’ve collected. I might have something you can make use of. I’ll see if I can’t dig them out. You’ll be in Destiny City for the Star Festival, won’t you? I’m sure all this trouble will be over by then. I’ll bring what pieces I can find. I pick up a lot of strange scrap here and there so it might be something you can use. And I’d love to get them out of my storage. So bring me something good to trade, won’t you?”
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Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2025 12:40 pm
Offering him free pick of her peoples' relics and artifacts didn't feel like a poor choice deal as she took the bag. The solid weight was something she could shift about in her hands as she spoke, trying to wrangle her thoughts and languages into something cohesive. Information, and an orb that could nullify magic. She'd make them beyond the worth of whatever struck Almadel's fancy when the time to collect came.
His patience was something to marvel at, though, for how easily he made it look to keep up the smile as she babbled. Her cheeks colored slightly at her own struggles, but the resulting offers were... a surprise. Expert in transportation methods? She'd need to make a note of that, if only to query him further on what he meant. Solaris felt her shoulders relaxing once more as he spoke, perking up a bit even as he mentioned he might actually have something. Maybe.
"I can handle the installations... or find others who can. I know which Knight's wonder should have the blueprints--" She paused mid-thought, mind whirling. Would Sessrumnir's library have a record of the Kyrnsūl'vel..? Her brows furrowed. The timeline might not match for that, she realized. It's creation had been close to the time of the communication disruptions, hadn't it..? Her mind was muddled around that time period, specifics lost to her after so long--and she'd hardly seen the importance at the time of trying to keep records of things herself.
Ah, the folly of youth...
"...well, if it's not there, I can find plans from older models. I'm sure the Mauvians have worked miracles with less," she laughed, a chuckle that felt almost a relief to be able to give. Her eyes were brighter, at least, when she nodded to Almadel. "I'll be here, and I'll make sure to bring something worthwhile for trade. Oh--and perhaps a secondary bribe. I've a feeling you've got plenty of very interesting stories, I'd love to hear about your travels if you'd be willing then."
Just save the Earth, and then things would be all the simpler, right? While she doubted it'd be quite so easy... the breezy way he spoke was endearing.
Solaris bowed her head somewhat to the merchant, a simple gratitude gesture. "I've likely taken more of your time than needed. It's been a pleasure, Almadel. Thank you for your assistance... and I look forward to doing future business with you," she added with a grin, allowing herself that moment to not be stressed and panicked about the future. She wasn't the only one working on this. They'd figure something out. If the tiniest spark could ignite the largest of explosions, then the tiniest bit of information could be enough to save a planet.
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