Dumb
As they advanced the mist thickened and their steps reached their ears dampened and the deep rents in the walls first increased in number, then lessened and eventually ceased entirely. Strangely enough they weren't... bleeding, though given it looked like a cultbeast, it was perhaps not that strange after all, given their regenerative capabilities.
Reaching the end of the corridor it opened up into a large chamber, almost perfectly circular the reddish flshy walls interpsersed with black, rib-like structures, seemingly holding up the ceiling in arches, thick veins covering the ground, headed towards the center of the room where a small pedestal stood. It felt like... a heartchamber maybe, or a brain. Though the view onto teh pedestals surface surface was blocked.

Her guide stopped in his tracks but remained silent.

Who stood there in the middle of the room, unsurprisingly was no one else than Halcyon. As of now, he seemed to be unaware of their presence, staring intently at what laid there on the pedestal.
The guide looked back at Mainframe and nodded silently towards Hal, raising his spear...

There was a murmur going through the small crowd of people, as their stand-in leader looked back at them. Then a couple moments later, there was silence.
She couldn't see beneath the hood but it was obvious he was squinting at her, judging by his posture.
"...and why, dare tell, should we trust you, if the other one you brought supposedly already brings disaster? All of you are Starpeople, outsiders but this, is our home and we will stay here. The Elders tell stories of times past and this world has always been the same since the days of the Untouchable and it always will. Lac'raen has gone down to deal with the issues and said we should prepare to leave and that we will do."
As they talked the rest of the group observed cautiously for a while, having stopped their preparations but then continued as the man mentioned the Elders and the 'Untouchable'.

  • Dumb replied to this.

      Drakador_Chaos
      Mainframe carefully weighs her options.
      She was expecting Halcyon to face them frontally regardless of his stance, which is why she did all the preparations for herself, this "self", not returning while agitating the Guide to act as himself.
      But when faced with such an alternated scenario, she for once has her desire coming into conflict with her beliefs.
      Despite wanting a face-to-face explanation from Halcyon, if all this trouble is coming from such a single individual, elimination is the quickest and possibly the easiest path to resolve everything. Even if Halcyon do perish in this encounter, she can still call down Galar for assimilation and extraction of information, perhaps even buying the trust of elders and knowing intel from broader perspectives...
      But something indescribable tells Mainframe that it is not as simple as she thinks, a gut feeling mayhaps, or a subprogram within her ringing alarms for something that she missed...
      Right...Halcyon is capable of healing broken bones within one single night...Mere sharpened sticks and stones won't do much except completely remove any diplomatic options out of further interaction.
      Immediately, Mainframe chucks two vials of nanites at both Hal and the Guide for both protection and binding of their further action, and waits a few milliseconds more before voicing out.
      "Sup, collaborator, whatchu got here?"

      Yuki raises her eyebrows when the man mentions the 'Untouchable', not that it reminds her of something she knows of, but more of the whimsical joy when a strategist gets their hands on new leverages. But for the sake of the situation, she suppressed her emerging smirk and resumed her expression.
      "Look, No need to be so dragged up on 'trust', i don't know nor care about whatever Untouchable or any other stories that the Elders had told you all, we are not even asking you to not leave the site nor forcing you all to leave the planet against your will. We are here to simply provide a mean of transportation plus a little bit of precautions intervention just so you all won't suffer as much as we think you would. Instead of hiking a whole day to get to the Elders, traveling on this metal hunk only takes hours...uh... way shorter time than a whole day and you all can be on your merry way."
      Save as many as I can, Yuki's motto of her actions, but such short phrase also comes with a second part: Even if it means I will abandon even more.

          15 days later

          Dumb
          Though seemingly distracted just a moment ago, in one fluid movement Hal turned around whilst drawing his sword, swatting the container out of the air without effort. The vial shattered mid-air releasing its nanites in a thin almost invisible cloud, though as of now, it seemed Hal was not aware he had been hit anyways or at least didn't show it. The guide on the other hand was less aware, being hit straight in the back, reacting to the 'attack' by jumping to the side with surprising agility and then swaying his spear, pointing first at Mainframe, then Halcyon and then Mainframe again.
          "What are...!? I know I couldn't tr...", he yelled, though was cut of by his body freezing mid sentence.

          Hal looked her up and down for a couple moments, then the guide, as if judging their capability in battle, his sword was still in the open, though he didn't attack yet.
          "Hm, playing with tricks now, are we? I suppose I should not be the one to be blaming you.", he mumbled, seemingly more to himself than mainframe, as evident as he turned his full attention back to Mainframe a moment later.

          "What I have here, is the key, the very key, we have been looking for. I suppose you wouldn't know, what it is, or what it means, not, that it mattered anyways. It would've been easy to turn your back and go the other way, let me do what I came here for."
          He paused.
          "Though, I suppose if you did that, then there wouldn't have been a reason for you to be here anyways, now would there?"
          In the meanwhile, though still paralysed, the guide looked in terror at what lay there on the altar, behind Hal. He seemed to be straining himself considerably, trying to talk or move at all, though at the current time he was incapable of it.
          Hal sighed.
          Now, I suppose since you didn't try to backstab me immediately, it would only be fair to make you an offer. It is rather simple. Stand with me now and I will share the key with you."
          He paused again, this time his eys narrowing, his stance going a little lower, the tip of the sword just a little bit higher.
          "...or don't, though I suppose you already know what will mean."

          In the meanwhile on the surface there another moment of silence, before the tension seemed to slowly release.
          The man shook his head as if he had just talked to a naive child that didn't know any better than what it had said.
          "If that is indeed the case and you only 'offer' then you should have no issues with waiting until our and your friend both return, do you?"
          As they had been talking, it seemed most of the preparations had been completed, though nobody seemed to show any intention of leaving yet.
          "When... If, they both return, we will consider your offer, until then we will stay here."
          He turned around yelling several words she couldn't understand though everyone could hear, in response people went to their respective sleds and sat down, some pulling what would likely be rations off their packages and start eating or drinking.

          • Dumb replied to this.
              6 days later

              Drakador_Chaos
              "hm...well, I can't play hero here anyway, but before I agree with you, can you leave my companion and our craft out of whatever you do as well?"

              "sigh...you finish prepping the water?"
              "Yea...?"
              "Here..."
              Yuki slid off the pilot seat and went toward the storage compartment.
              "Ready the hose and the engines, we shall leave when they want so...or when things go dicey."

                  a month later

                  Dumb
                  There was a moment of confusion in Halcyons eyes, as if of all things he’d expected to happen this was the last one. For a moment, the tip of his sword slightly lowered, though his stance and expression remained wary.
                  “I have no business with your partners. I am here only here for the keystone.”
                  A singular pulse of the veins went through the floor, sounding like a heartbeat, breaking the following silence momentarily. In the meanwhile their guide seemed to be struggling, desperately, though seemed unable to do anything, so far.
                  …
                  Halcyon moved slightly sidewards as if trying to gain a different angle on Mainframe, each step taken with utmost care whilst remaining smooth, almost elegant, though the tip of his sword now once more pointed at her.
                  “What is your plan? We’re leaving now or I leave alone, we’re not going to get your partners.”
                  The mist in a room wafted almost as if in response to the pulse of the veins, the room was calm though the atmosphere remained tense.
                  “Even I don’t know what’s going to happen next, there may be no coming back.”
                  The veins pulsed another time as if underlining his point.

                  • Dumb replied to this.

                      Drakador_Chaos
                      “Alright.”
                      Confirming that Halcyon has nothing to do with her plans, Mainframe shrugs even facing the top of a sword.
                      “I’ll grab Mr. Guide here with me, you go do your thing.”
                      Ignoring Hal’s stare, Mainframe toss another vial at the guide, before slinging him over her shoulder like a package. A thin sliver cover, identical to the “armor” Mainframe is wearing, slowly crept over the guide, forming a roomy cocoon.
                      “Do proceed as you had planned.”

                          a month later

                          Dumb
                          There was a long pause as hal continued to observe her then stapped backwards towards the pedestal without turning his back to her or even leaving her out of sight. Then he reached back and picked up the shard on the pedestal that looked all too familiar though she hadn’t seen one like it in ages.

                          It was a shard of the Calamities core, the ancient beast of the Blood Cult.

                          He lifted it up and angular red lines formed on his arm coming down from his shoulder, she could feel the powers at work even at this distance, then, with one unceremonious motion he smashed the shard on the pedestal, the sheer force at work, destroying both the shard and a part of the pedestal and Hal disappaeared where he stood, leaving behind an about person sized red swirling portal that was, already, starting to close rapidly.
                          The room throbbed as the shard was smashed and slowly the veins on the ground turned towards a darker hue of red as the walls began to lose all colour, she could feel the life leave this place and this effect seemed to be spreading rapidly, how far reaching had the effects of this action been? There was no telling at this time.

                          As she gave the pedestal a second glance she could see the indent where the shard formerly stood, almost looking like… a keyhole. Mainframe was now alone in the room with the enclosed guide.

                          • Dumb replied to this.
                              19 days later

                              Drakador_Chaos
                              A few seconds pass as Mainframe triple-checks the “keyhole” left by the absence of the shard, hypothesizing what may fit into it. Alas, after doing some accelerated digital matching within her mind of using other potential alternatives, and discovering that none would seem to match, Mainframe shrugs to herself, and steps into the shrinking portal.

                                  2 months later

                                  Dumb
                                  There was a moment of silence as she passed the portal, already having to duck just to get through in time, followed by a strange feeling of transition, from a dreamlike state and space to one that felt almost too real, each and every edge she could see in the dim red light which permeated this new space felt too sharp, each curve too smooth, each surface too hard, the air as if every molecule would be brushing against her artifcial body. Her first few steps echoed, each sound feeling as sharp as the screeching of metal and glass, her senses here, were no longer impaired, no radiation, no interference, though strangely enough even with her senses restored, she could not detect the ceiling or walls of this room, as if it was just an endless plain the edges of her visual senses fading out into darkness also throwing into question where this light came from.

                                  The only thing here, seemed to be herself and the guide she abducted, as well as Halcyon who stood only steps ahead. staring into the air warily, before taking another step forward.
                                  “We’ve solved your damn riddle we founjd the keyhole, what’s next!? Where are you!? What is this place supposed to be?!” Halcyon sounded clearly agitated.
                                  “We’ve killed-!”
                                  “Indeed, you killed an entire civilisation to reach this place, quite fascinating really. Impressive, not a lot of people would do that to pursue their goals, though I suppose such is to be expected from people who seek to change the past, or pursue godhood.”

                                  The familiar voice of the Herald rang out through the void, coming seemingly from inside their heads yet echoing still.
                                  “You can drop that body now, Mainframe, it is dead weight, quite literally, an interesting bunch, your precursors, alas, they served their purpose, well…”, he added in a almost dismissive yet somewhat pitying tone.
                                  “You have been sent to test your resolve, though I suppose it is little of a test if one is not aware of the consequences of their actions, now is it, Mainframe?”
                                  The Silence that followed was deafening, it felt as if the entire space they were in was contemplating.

                                      Drakador_Chaos
                                      “Hm…”
                                      Mainframe seems…confused. To the consequences of their actions, to Herald’s words, and more importantly, to the objective of this trip. Albeit, she isn’t exactly stunned by the weight of the result, but rather, and quite simply, failing to follow the flow.
                                      “To be absolutely frank, I anticipated much of the consequences, although not as clear a picture when compared to experiencing it firsthand. As a matter of fact, this trio of the team accompanying Hal was planned as being part of the cost of this operation, through swapping crucial key factors with equally, yet to a certain extent replaceable units, even if our death is needed in this event, the rest of the plan can still proceed unhindered.”
                                      Having the silver cocoon over her shoulder like a sack, she shifts her weight from one side of her body to another, trying to stand in a more comfortable, or in the sense of her mechanized physique, a more weight-balanced posture, resulting in a rather casual pose.
                                      “Although I am glad that the death of us ain’t needed as of yet in tipping the balance of this one, I do not understand the meaning of this trial. This civilization that you said we killed is doomed from the start. A hard limit to the access of raw materials, a fragile loop of energy and convertible biomatter, not to mention the extremely hostile environment and a doomsday clock ticking underground, even without all the internal politics decreasing efficiency, this civilization can only spiral downwards and eventually reduce to nothing, one way or another.”
                                      Mainframe’s body shudders, as the volume from her slowly increases, first a chuckle, then a peal of laughter, ending with a full-fledged cackle.
                                      "Ah~ Don’t you think it’s quite ironic? A trial with a sealed fate, to test the devotion of sacrificial pawns… We are just pieces of a puzzle, and only together can one see the full picture of our “resolve”, including you."
                                      “That said, what’s the point of the convenient killswitch? what makes this civilization so special that there is a specific device to eliminate their population in such precision?”

                                          16 days later

                                          Dumb
                                          “Curious, rather curious. I’m afraid the whole thing is far less convenient than you would think, I suppose in a way what you did was like stealing all their oxygen, they would’ve lived just fine, better than most of the other civilisations in this universe to be honest, they made a pact with one of the heartstones of the Calamity after all, not particularly easy to find or destroy, but alas it was not to be…”, the voice echoed in contemplation as Halcyon seemed to be eyeing the dark surrounding them trying to find the source, though had otherwise fallen silent.
                                          “Though you are right in one thing, they will certainly decline now.”
                                          …
                                          “There was likely a lot of things you could’ve learned there in the pit though you seemed to have little interest in the past and in the end, I guess there’s no use in rehearsing the past to you Halcyon, is there?”
                                          The voice paused, as if waiting for an answer, though all Halcyon replied was an indiscernable grumble.
                                          “That aside, what you say is, no matter what I subject you to, nothing would matter?”, the voice paused again, raising as it continued.
                                          “If I would kill you right there and then where you stand, you would not care? If I were to take everything that you are, there would be no difference to you?”
                                          There was a silence that ensued, where even the background rumble seemed to fall deaf, an electricity, a tension in the air that was awaiting whatever may happen next, even Halcyon was now looking at her instead of the surrounding darkness as if she’d said something deeply offending.

                                          • Dumb replied to this.

                                              Drakador_Chaos
                                              “Hmph…”

                                              Mainframe lets out an ungrudging grumble, accepting her share of responsibility in the matter.

                                              "There is no need to go all slippery slope on the matter. Indeed, trials like this do… “touch”, whatever “humanity”'s left within me, and reflecting upon the matter does help revision on how we should perform our plan. Things will change through events and emotions, willingly or not, but the effect of the sheer removal of hardware? Might do less than subjecting us through another trial."

                                              "Like i said, Me, Yuki, and Galar. We three are largely regarded as disposables. Yuki and Galar, despite wielding otherworldly powers, are but native people with their souls partaking through… let’s say an “otherworldly journey”, gaining their power, albeit much more dampened to adjust to the rules of this universe. Even with them regarded as MIA in some operations, we have a whole lot of bodies, souls, and energy to repeat the process and produce something, arguably not the same, but similar in the ability and role that they shall serve in the plan."

                                              "As for me, this is but a physical unit, a puppet to be more layman, for me to interact with the real world. Holographic “skin”, various sensors, hollowed cavities, all designed to be effective and efficient in normal face-to-face greetings with beings of similar size. As such, if you are curious about the effect of eliminating us, its just going to be some numbers on the bill, and tada, the plan continues."
                                              "Though, regardless of how far “et omnia vanitas” one goes, vanities are limited to tangible things, while intangible things will be lost. Bonding with the new Yuki and Galar may be much different, and collaborative efforts would have to be reevaluated. Previous experiences and marks of our consequences on our body will be gone, and memories of our little adventure here will be clean from the database."

                                              “Alas, if you do wish to kill me, sure, but do bear the consequence of this trial yourself.”

                                              Mainframe does a subtle shrug, seemingly uncaring of what her provocation at Herald may lead. She shifts her pose once again, still casual as usual.

                                              “By the way, now that you mentioned Calamity… and if you may fulfill my curiosity, what did you do with the shard possessed by the alternate Crimson Alliance?”

                                                  12 days later

                                                  Dumb
                                                  “Fascinating.”, the voice simply remarked after a while of silence,
                                                  There was a dry chuckle.
                                                  “Indeed, why would I kill you? There is no point in disposing of something which is empty in the first place, is there? Nothing woul dbe gained, nothing would be lost, is that not so, Halcyon?”
                                                  The man visibly flinched at the remark but maintained his defiant grimace.
                                                  “Perhaps it would be more entertaining if I instead dragged someone more interesting into this place? Someone more important to your plans?”
                                                  Unwillingly, images of Dasha ran through Mainframes artificial mind.
                                                  “As for your calamity shard… Who knows, really? Many things lose significance over time, especially in a world like this, in a constant flow of change, between nations and people appearing out of nowhere at moments notice and fading into insignicance just as easily. Perhaps, I returned to its owner, perhaps it was the very one you destroyed?”
                                                  There was another pause and Halcyon seemed to become increasingly uncomfortable.
                                                  “What are we even doing here? Are we just here for your entertainment?!”
                                                  "No, no not quite, you do serve a purpose but beyond that, you have made a deal and I intend to uphold my deals, given my subjects have the will to see their tasks through…
                                                  As such, I guess the time for idle chitchat will soon be over."

                                                  • Dumb replied to this.

                                                      Drakador_Chaos
                                                      “……”
                                                      Mainframe remains silent after the response. This being, Herald, Warlord, whatever it proclaims itself to be, is much unknown to Mainframe. This was an entity which belonged to the command strata of a blood thirsty hivemind, which they “stole” a key piece of property from, and even then had been conniving throughout the records of the Alliance, with the only intersection in the Ancients Uprising which to be absolutely frank is only due to the Alliance’s action, the entity even waited out the destruction of their civilization just to recover the piece, an act which he could’ve done whenever he likes, wherever he likes. Then, this entity, after god-knows what happened during Mainframe’s slumber, suddenly proclaim himself to be the “Herald”, putting himself into the position of a guardian of such with his involvement in the Embassy, and no doubt been also doing some heralding behind the scene judging from the abysmal amount of recent entitorial discovery… Now, he is sacrificing an entire civilization for a trial….well, two trials perhaps, but still mysterious to what his motives would be.
                                                      Obviously, Mainframe thinks to herself, that Herald isn’t keen on actively going out and stomping possibilities, but aside from that she can’t really make out what is the deal, and consequently, how to properly “deal” with him, now and in the near future.
                                                      Mainframe remains zoned out, deep in her thoughts and estimates.

                                                          10 days later

                                                          Dumb
                                                          The silence lasted as Mainframes thoughts circulated, the only real sound was Halcyons silent breath and heartbeat just faintly louder than the eerie background hum permeating the impenetrable darkness around them. Once more, Halcyon was the first one to make a move, stepping further into the darkness, out of view though his voice still heard.
                                                          “Then what is what you want us to do?! What is this final trial, untouchable one?!”, strangely enough he was using the same term as the natives of the planet they just left.
                                                          “This place is a transitional area, a space between spaces, a Limbo of unfinished deeds, if you will.”
                                                          “What are you…?!”

                                                          Halcyon began his next question but was cut short by the disembodied voice.
                                                          "Both of you came seeking to fulfill their own wishes, each of you have their reasons, their history, niehter of you know each other particularly well.
                                                          …but I do.
                                                          So who am I to decide who is permitted to deink from the worlds desires? To claim the Chalice of Want?"

                                                          The voice was monotone and cold, as if the question was solely rhethorical, an afterthought to himself.

                                                          In the meanwhile the voice and the steps, now in the darkness had fallen silent.

                                                          • Dumb replied to this.

                                                              Drakador_Chaos
                                                              “Sigh…”
                                                              Mainframe lets out a deep breath, of disappointment and melancholy, before she puts down the bag containing the body of the Guide, yet keeping the cocoon intact. She calmly shifts her center backward, nanites flow from her clothes forming a one-legged chair, and sits there cross-legged, as she looks at Halcyon.
                                                              “Well then, do you keep your word, Halcyon?”

                                                                  11 days later

                                                                  Dumb
                                                                  …though as mainframe waited the only answer that came was a rustling clothes from the darkness beyond then the whistling of air as if something was moving very fast.

                                                                  The next thing she knew was that she saw Halcyon descending from up above, blade in hand rotating like a buzzsaw, the movement was fluid, precise one foot tapping the ground lightly as he landed, twisting and then transforming the accumulated momentum into a strike aimed straight at her neck. Had she not been who she was she likely wouldn’t have had the time to react. There was a certain hint of madness in Halcyons eyes, the man she had gotten to know over the past couple weeks, though that madness was completely overwhelmed by a grim determination that left no second guesses as to who he thought should have the grail and have their wish fulfilled.

                                                                  It seems Halcyon had made his decision long ago.

                                                                  • Dumb replied to this.

                                                                      Drakador_Chaos

                                                                      “Very well…”

                                                                      The chair instantly liquefies under her, and with a slight tilt of her head and the assistance of gravity, the blade passes just millimeters above her forehead, grazing through a few strands of hair. Mainframe, still in her cross-legged posture, albeit now standing instead of sitting, tilts her upper body to the lower right, removing the visual of what she plans with her right hand. With Hal missing his first strike and stranded in midair, the puddle of nanite sprung upwards like a beartrap in two separate layers, one aiming for Hal’s abdomen, while the interior closed in on his extended arm.

                                                                          14 days later

                                                                          Dumb
                                                                          There was a moment where time seemed to slow as the jaws of Mainframes construct leaped towards Hals body then a flash of red light and Hal was flung away from the trap which closed empty mid-air and neither side had hit their first attack, though a tear in his clothes showing just how narrowly he escaped.
                                                                          Flipping backwards mid-air and then landing on his feet, sliding backwards with a scraping sound, one of his hands released the grip on his blade to sway mid-air and release a volley of homing energy projectiles from an arc of red light following his motion, as his legs seemed to tense up ready to make the next charge, blade held point squarely at mainframes chest, making use of the distraction he thought the projectiles would provide him.

                                                                          Hal had not spoken a word and his breathing seemed to be almost non existent, he had wasted no second to stop or reconsider after his first attack failed, whatever his goals were he seemed to have no intention of dropping them even if there was no easy way out.

                                                                          • Dumb replied to this.

                                                                              Drakador_Chaos
                                                                              Watching Hal escape the trap, Mainframe resumes her posture, leaning back and bringing back out her previously concealed arm.
                                                                              Well…might as well test the plan before using it… Mainframe thinks to herself, raising the arm, and clench it tightly. Instantly, the two jaws of the sprung beartrap spin vigorously around Mainframe, with occasional jets of nanite precisely poking off the incoming projectiles.
                                                                              And then, after the last projectile was intercepted, everything ceased. Just Mainframe standing in a sitting posture greeting the incoming strike, and a large pool of silvery underneath.

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