005: In the Presence of True Power

[Tiglath]

An aghast Garvin responds "Oh, stone the ruddy crows!"

He attempts to reassure Ciencia and moves to help Aster "You and Aster just triggered an Ancient "event device" - something somewhere between "an offer you couldn't refuse" and a psionic booby trap. I reckon you're about to start feeling awful and then just maybe a little "more" than you were before but it will pass and you'll be fine". "Aster are you feelin' alright? You just 'ad somethin' forced on you - an' I let it ruddy 'appen!" Clearly angered by this turn of events he turns to Frederick and Terresa he states "This place is an unsurveyed and fully functional Ancients site which means that, while it's no doubt intoxicatin' for enquirin' minds to explore, the place is also crammed full of "unknown risk" some of which may be potentially hazardous. I strongly recommend we withdraw before anyone else undergoes any more "events" like the one you just witnessed". He adds irritably "An' if anyone 'ere tells you that they fully understand what's goin' on an' know 'ow this place works you can take it from me that they're bloody lyin'!"

[terrymixon]

Growler-
You feel ok? Good. Tell me, what did you just experience?”

"A flash of light, I think," Ciencia said.

Aster nodded. "We were just walking, and it lit up the whole area. How could you miss it?"

[terrymixon]

An aghast Garvin responds "Oh, stone the ruddy crows!"

He attempts to reassure Ciencia and moves to help Aster "You and Aster just triggered an Ancient "event device" - something somewhere between "an offer you couldn't refuse" and a psionic booby trap. I reckon you're about to start feeling awful and then just maybe a little "more" than you were before but it will pass and you'll be fine". "Aster are you feelin' alright? You just 'ad somethin' forced on you - an' I let it ruddy 'appen!" Clearly angered by this turn of events he turns to Frederick and Terresa he states "This place is an unsurveyed and fully functional Ancients site which means that, while it's no doubt intoxicatin' for enquirin' minds to explore, the place is crammed full of "unknown risk" some of which may be potentially hazardous. I strongly recommend we withdraw before anyone else undergoes any more "events" like the one you just witnessed". He adds irritably "An' if anyone 'ere tells you that they fully understand what's goin' on an' know 'ow this place works you can take it from me that they're bloody lyin'!"

"I feel fine," she said. "Well, maybe a bit nauseous, now that I think about it. Did you just say were triggered an uplift? Like yours?"

Ciencia's head snapped over. "What? Seriously?"

Also Ciencia:

Fredrick and Teressa:

[Thumper]

Growler growling-
”I saw nothing but that rod glowing…actually I saw it dimming until it went out. And you two acting like you’d been hit with a flash? A force? First thing that came to mind was we all must have looked like that when that device in the Moon Base Shipyard changed us. I’m guessing that’s what happened to you. As I didn’t see the light or psi wave or whatever it is, And those closest to you, Teressa and Frederick, didn’t either it must have been weak or a small radius from that device.

Bills, can you shed some light all this?”

[Tiglath]

"I feel fine," she said. "Well, maybe a bit nauseous, now that I think about it. Did you just say were triggered an uplift? Like yours?"

Ciencia's head snapped over. "What? Seriously?"

Garvin sighs "Yeah... that's why we didn't "see" the light - because we've already seen it. The little token on the table there was the... um... talisman".

[terrymixon]

Growler growling-
”I saw nothing but that rod glowing…actually I saw it dimming until it went out. And you two acting like you’d been hit with a flash? A force? First thing that came to mind was we all must have looked like that when that device in the Moon Base Shipyard changed us. I’m guessing that’s what happened to you. As I didn’t see the light or psi wave or whatever it is, And those closest to you, Teressa and Frederick, didn’t either it must have been weak or a small radius from that device.

Bills, can you shed some light all this?”

"No, but I'd wager our 'host' can," she said, turning to the robot. "What just happened? What was that thing and what did it do to our friends?"

The machine seemed unperturbed. "That was a prototype of the device that no doubt uplifted all of you. May former Master made it in his quest to perfect the final device. It has the same effect, but its range was unacceptably short. It also had no innate intelligence. It merely waited until someone with psionics that had not been uplifted came within its range to activate. It is dead now and will trouble you no further. He only made the one, so there is nothing more to concern you. In fact, you should rejoice at your friend's good fortune. They are now Ancients like you, Mistress."

"What did it say?" Ciencia asked. "I couldn't hear anything."

"I felt like I heard a whisper or something," Aster said. "Very weird."

[terrymixon]

"I feel fine," she said. "Well, maybe a bit nauseous, now that I think about it. Did you just say were triggered an uplift? Like yours?"

Ciencia's head snapped over. "What? Seriously?"

Garvin sighs "Yeah... that's why we didn't "see" the light - because we've already seen it. The little token on the table there was the... um... talisman".

To your astonishment, she dances a little jig. "Yes! This is so awesome!"

Fredrick scowls at her. "Princess Ciencia! This is no matter for celebration. We have no idea what is happening and how it will affect you."

"They're fine, so I'll be fine. Garvin, I'm sorry, but you have no idea how exciting this is for me. I could never have dreamed of something like this happening, but it has!" She threw her arms around you and kissed you soundly. "Thank you! Thank you!"

Aster smirks and rolls her eyes. "I should have known."

"Sorry," Ciencia said, blushing. "I got carried away."

She looked around at all of you. "This is huge, and I will show my gratitude. I promise."

[Thumper]

Walt-
Turning to face Aster and Ciencia, and loud enough for Frederick and Teressa to hear: ”Did you hear that? Soon your physical body is going to have a reaction to all this. It ain’t going to be pleasant. You’ll come out the back of this stronger. In fact, you’re now Ancients humans yourselves…same as Ancient uplifted Terrans. We’re not sure where this ends up, but, ah, welcome to the club.

Would you rather recover here in this facility or shall we take you back to the Lost & Found? William, Arkwr, Jaelah, Spicoli, what are your thoughts?”

[Thumper]

To your astonishment, she dances a little jig. "Yes! This is so awesome!"

Walt just smiles in surprise at her excitement.

[terrymixon]

Walt-
Turning to face Aster and Ciencia, and loud enough for Frederick and Teressa to hear: ”Did you hear that? Soon your physical body is going to have a reaction to all this. It ain’t going to be pleasant. You’ll come out the back of this stronger. In fact, you’re now Ancients humans yourselves…same as Ancient uplifted Terrans. We’re not sure where this ends up, but, ah, welcome to the club.

Would you rather recover here in this facility or shall we take you back to the Lost & Found? William, Arkwr, Jaelah, Spicoli, what are your thoughts?”

"The ship," Roscoe said immediately. "They will be in poor shape before much longer and we shouldn't tarry. The nausea and hearing/vision issues will begin soon, and they should be in their staterooms so we can care for them."

[Tiglath]

"I feel fine," she said. "Well, maybe a bit nauseous, now that I think about it. Did you just say were triggered an uplift? Like yours?"

Ciencia's head snapped over. "What? Seriously?"

Garvin sighs "Yeah... that's why we didn't "see" the light - because we've already seen it. The little token on the table there was the... um... talisman".

To your astonishment, she dances a little jig. "Yes! This is so awesome!"

Garvin's "flabber" is clearly "ghasted" "No! No, it's ruddy not! Some Ancient sod just scooped out whatever was you, binned it an' then replaced "you" with his idea of what a "new improved you" should be - without your consent! That's not even..." he struggles for a term "... polite!"

He lets out a breath and, smiling at her reaction, adds ruefully "Well... I'm pleased you're... er... pleased, Princess".

He turns to Aster "What about you love? I'm clearly too 'ung up on ways you should treat a Lady!" His eyes flash with a glint of mischief as he adds "The nuns in me foundlin' 'ome were very big on it".

[Thumper]

Growler-
”Fair enough. All saddle up. Ride fast.

Princess, with me. Frederick, you have point. Race y’all.”

He tethers her to him then tethers himself to the bike using the suit strings. Then sets off with as much haste as he can squeeze out if the bike…hoping that the Princess’ vomit will blow back in the Windstream rather than down his back.

He’ll stop the bike in the cargo hold of the ship and rush her to the stateroom asking for ship Roscoe to send he med and service bots to tend to her and Aster.

[helvorn]

"I feel fine," she said. "Well, maybe a bit nauseous, now that I think about it. Did you just say were triggered an uplift? Like yours?"

Ciencia's head snapped over. "What? Seriously?"

Garvin sighs "Yeah... that's why we didn't "see" the light - because we've already seen it. The little token on the table there was the... um... talisman".

To your astonishment, she dances a little jig. "Yes! This is so awesome!"

Fredrick scowls at her. "Princess Ciencia! This is no matter for celebration. We have no idea what is happening and how it will affect you."

"They're fine, so I'll be fine. Garvin, I'm sorry, but you have no idea how exciting this is for me. I could never have dreamed of something like this happening, but it has!" She threw her arms around you and kissed you soundly. "Thank you! Thank you!"

Aster smirks and rolls her eyes. "I should have known."
"Sorry," Ciencia said, blushing. "I got carried away."

She looked around at all of you. "This is huge, and I will show my gratitude. I promise."

William laughed as well as the Princess danced jig. "I can see we are going to have to initiate you into the arcane Imperial Marine "Snoopy Dance" to properly celebrate something like this Your Majesty." He nodded as Roscoe and Growler spoke up. "Walt and Roscoe both right Princess. We need to get you and Aster back to the ship to recover." He smiled. "You can think of a way to properly reward your humble subjects later. Now, saddle up!"

[Thumper]

Walt on Link (when back on the ship and Aster and Ciencia are puking their guts out-
”Guild Members: anybody think the Princess’ reaction to the uplift was odd? We don’t even really know what it means. Therefore, I think most of us are in the caution mode at the moment. Her exuberance has the hair on the back of my neck lit up. There’s something else at play here, and I don’t know what it is.”

Turning to Frederick and speaking:
”Frederick. I thought that was an unusual reaction by the Grand Princess. Not one of us had that reaction. I figure she knows a lot about Ancients…more than we do. Can you shed any light on this? I know you would never betray her trust, and I’m not asking you to. But what should we know?

[Tiglath]

To your astonishment, she dances a little jig. "Yes! This is so awesome!"

Fredrick scowls at her. "Princess Ciencia! This is no matter for celebration. We have no idea what is happening and how it will affect you."

"They're fine, so I'll be fine. Garvin, I'm sorry, but you have no idea how exciting this is for me. I could never have dreamed of something like this happening, but it has!" She threw her arms around you and kissed you soundly. "Thank you! Thank you!"

Aster smirks and rolls her eyes. "I should have known."

Garvin attempts to gently disengage from Ciencia (once the rational part of his brain takes over) he gently lifts her and then sets her down on her feet running his fingers through his blond hair and giving Aster a sheepish look.

"Sorry," Ciencia said, blushing. "I got carried away."[/dialog]

"That's alright, love - er, Princess! It 'appens every now an' then. I think I 'ave "irresponsible pheromones" an' they... cause accidents... so, not your fault".

She looked around at all of you. "This is huge, and I will show my gratitude. I promise."

Garvin looks taken aback "What, again?!?"

He bashfully turns to Aster "Well, she is a Princess...". He studies her carefully "Come on. You're about to 'ave the worst hangover - with hallucinations thrown in for free". He scoops her up and says "Ride with me. I can't remember 'ow fast it comes on but you don't want to be ridin' a grav bike when it does".

Garvin will saddle up and medevac Aster.

[terrymixon]

Turning to Frederick and speaking:
”Frederick. I thought that was an unusual reaction by the Grand Princess. Not one of us had that reaction. I figure she knows a lot about Ancients…more than we do. Can you shed any light on this? I know you would never betray her trust, and I’m not asking you to. But what should we know?

"The thing you're not taking into account is that she's a relatively sheltered nineteen-year-old girl," he said sourly. "She is prone to occasional bouts of unreasonable exuberance about the oddest things. If you'd had to listen to her go on for years about how boring things were and that nothing exiting ever happened to her, you'd understand. Bottom line? This is neither unusual nor unexpected. As bright and forward thinking as she normally is, this reaction was entirely predictable and normal. For her."

Terresa laughed. "He's not wrong. She's a big fan of lurid adventure stories and you just put her squarely in the middle of her wildest dream. This subject is almost as big as when she's thinking about boys. She'll eventually come back down and be more rational. If she gets as sick as you say, that'll probably help. She's going to be okay, isn't she?"

[terrymixon]

To your astonishment, she dances a little jig. "Yes! This is so awesome!"

Garvin's "flabber" is clearly "ghasted" "No! No, it's ruddy not! Some Ancient sod just scooped out whatever was you, binned it an' then replaced "you" with his idea of what a "new improved you" should be - without your consent! That's not even..." he struggles for a term "... polite!"

He lets out a breath and, smiling at her reaction, adds ruefully "Well... I'm pleased you're... er... pleased, Princess".

"That may be how you think about it, but you're still you," she said. "The things you can do have changed, but not who you are, Garvin. People are people, not powers. You haven't lost your humanity any more than I have. Don't become distracted from that."

Then she sticks both fists up in the air before heading for her guards. "Wooo!"

He turns to Aster "What about you love? I'm clearly too 'ung up on ways you should treat a Lady!" His eyes flash with a glint of mischief as he adds "The nuns in me foundlin' 'ome were very big on it".

"While I'm nowhere near that exuberant, I think I fall on her side of the divide. I think it's exciting. Now we are more alike than ever. Isn't that a good thing in a couple?"

[Tiglath]

Walt on Link (when back on the ship and Aster and Ciencia are puking their guts out-
”Guild Members: anybody think the Princess’ reaction to the uplift was odd? We don’t even really know what it means. Therefore, I think most of us are in the caution mode at the moment. Her exuberance has the hair on the back of my neck lit up. There’s something else at play here, and I don’t know what it is.”

Garvin appears "fresher fresh" and drinking a post mission light ale. He offers "I suppose it takes everyone differently. You all know I'm 'ardly an Ancients groupie but maybe the Princess is. If you're already heiress to an Empire what do you dream about? As for the snoggin'..." he grins amiably "... well she's not made of wood is she?" He lobs a bottle of cologne Walt's way " 'ere you go Walt. It's me secret weapon. Girls love the great smell of Brut - you can splash it on all over! I'm not lettin' you 'ave me Hai Karate mind - you 'ave to use it carefully".

[terrymixon]

Getting back to the ship happens without incident. Bilis will remind everyone that the being in the base had her upgrade those who had not been upgraded before the worst of the symptoms hit, and that she should do so for Ciencia as well. Fredrick and Terresa have a brief conversation and agree. Five minutes later, the princess has the Full Monty.

Shortly after that, the occasional bouts of nausea and issues with vision and hearing begin. As you all remember, this first set of symptoms was a lot milder than what will come with the second wave tomorrow. It only affected the group for a few hours, where the one tomorrow head everyone down and out for most of a day. They are both able to stay up in the common room rather than be in bed today. Odds are the first wave of symptoms will have subsided before the ship arrives at the Yamaguchi Starport.

Roscoe will tell you that he is dawdling and the arrival at the spaceport is still six hours away. What will you do during that time?

[terrymixon]

Walt on Link (when back on the ship and Aster and Ciencia are puking their guts out-
”Guild Members: anybody think the Princess’ reaction to the uplift was odd? We don’t even really know what it means. Therefore, I think most of us are in the caution mode at the moment. Her exuberance has the hair on the back of my neck lit up. There’s something else at play here, and I don’t know what it is.”

Garvin appears "fresher fresh" and drinking a post mission light ale. He offers "I suppose it takes everyone differently. You all know I'm 'ardly an Ancients groupie but maybe the Princess is. If you're already heiress to an Empire what do you dream about? As for the snoggin'..." he grins amiably "... well she's not made of wood is she?" He lobs a bottle of cologne Walt's way " 'ere you go Walt. It's me secret weapon. Girls love the great smell of Brut - you can splash it on all over! I'm not lettin' you 'ave me Hai Karate mind - you 'ave to use it carefully".

The princess and Aster are in the common area, though they are off to the side talking at one of the other tables and paying you no mind. Just a heads up.