Mix and Mingle Part 2

Posted on Tue Jan 1st, 2019 @ 3:19pm by Death & Baroness 2nd Class Schwein von Alcott & Lieutenant Asa Dael

Mission: Escaped Pantheons
Location: Worldship
Timeline: 2395

Not long after the trio left the ramen shop and changed back into uniform, the young looking girl dressed all in black, including black gloves and a long coat, calling herself Death, led Doctor Asa Dael and Baroness Alcott to what could only be described as an alabaster pyramidal temple on the surface area of the worldship where the elfin peoples were gathering to summon yet another of the deities that they hoped to use to evolve their peoples.

Stopping in the front lobby area, Death motioned to one of the attendants. "We're here to see your Flumia." With a nod, the attendant rushed off to find them. "I wouldn't expect much, but being outsiders, maybe you can talk a little sense into them."

With a nod, Asa awaited the Flumia.

"Baroness, we need to stop all this summoning. Or at least learn who is up next. Would you be so kind as to mosey around and see what we can glean by observation?" Dael posited.

The Baroness had abandoned her eyepatch in favor of the golden glow of her cybernetic eye - it seemed less out of place than an eyepatch, given the atmosphere and she could scan the area a lot easier. "Ja, my eye is picking up several dozen life forms circled around six eight meter tall monolith structures that seem to be radiating some sort of... bio-lytic energy? It is the same as the rest of the energy driving this worldship, but much more focussed into a central area. I assume that is where the summoning is."

Suddenly, the lights dimmed and the building shook slightly. The air seemed to tremble as a wave of energy washed over the trio from inside the temple.

"And there is a new lifeform. The energy is dissipating." Schwein would need to make sure she saved a copy of these scans for later review by the science staff.

Death sighed heavily as a long haired Flumia stepped out of the back rooms where this was all apparently taking place and headed towards the trio with a tired smile. "Greetings honored ones. How may I assist you?"

Leaving Schwein to her reconnaissance, Asa spoke first, saying, "Greetings Flumia. Word of your summoning have traveled across the stars and brought us here. What you do impacts the entire galaxy. Please, tell me, how can we serve you?"

Flumia bowed deeply, a hint of a smile on her face. "Ah, I was about to ask the same of you, great ones. We have just summoned another in the hopes of advancing our peoples. Perhaps this is not coincidence and we may help each other. We've been trying to summon far greater beings but we seem to have reached a limit on one end of the spectrum and have been experimenting on the other end of the spectrum. We seem to have brought forth a demon calling himself Haagenti and are unsure how to proceed."

With a start, Asa replied quickly, "Can you hold it in stasis? It would do us a great honor to solve your needs, and we can work best without a demon causing chaos or sorrow. If you would be so kind...."

"Ah well... We can hold our own in stasis... Sort of... But a summoned one? That's a bit beyond us, I'm afraid. Besides, he seems harmless enough. Perhaps even helpful." Flumia looked up at Asa with a bright, innocent smile, not really knowing what they had summoned into existence.

Meanwhile, the Baroness had wandered off into something that resembled a crypt under the temple. Her eye had been getting odd readings from the locals and though she considered them odd that the metabolisms were hyper fast, it wasn't entirely unheard of. However, these readings were a bit more peculiar. They were of the same locals, but... Not...

Happening upon a stack of bodies, she found one that was still warm and seemed alive. Reaching out, she touched it and was a bit shocked when it moved. "Su...gar... Please..." The person gave one last gasping breath, and then was still, cooling quickly. Checking the rest of the bodies, none showed any signs of decay. In fact, nothing here showed any signs of dust or decomposition other than the trees and plants outside. It was like these people weren't actually people, but some sort of bio-droid. Being tossed aside when their energy was expended.

Seriously creeped out, Schwein decided to return to the others.

Back with Asa and Flumia, Death harrumphed. "And what about unsummoning him? Or me? Have you figured that out yet?"

"Oh, I'm afraid that's not possible either. We still need you to advance our people." Flumia smiled even brighter, at the frustration of Death.

Looking briefly for Schwejn and seeing her return looking like she saw a ghost, Asa decided to keep talking to hold the Flumias gaze.

"I would be happy to examine your people and look into the fertility crisis if you like. There are always scientific ways to solve problems when we look hard enough. What did you want Death to offer? I believe her skillset is a bit......limited, yes? Surely you can dismiss those beings you no longer require? You will soon be overrun if not...."

"Fertility?" Flumia looked up at Asa curiously. "Most of us desire an end to everything. Not death, really... But an end to the endless unchanging reality we must endure. We welcome any change. Do you offer change?"

"I know a great many ways you can change," Asa replied, "There is always oblivion, if it is desired also. What type of change do you seek? My people are long lived also, so I have heard our elders bemoan similar woes, and I also know how the happier among us have faced the centuries without becoming dismayed. If you can clarify what you seek, I will do my best to provide it for you," Asa replied.

The Flumia smiled brighter. "We desire a change in our existence, whether it be evolution of our being or nonexistence. We will do anything to reach that goal."

By that time, the Baroness had returned to their side and was downloading the data from her eye into a PaDD for Asa to look over. "You need to see this... Flumia... When you summon these beings... Do you drain the energy from your people? The energy that keeps you alive?" Handing the PaDD to Asa, Shwein waited for Flumia's answer.

Flumia tilted her head to the side like it was the most common thing. "We use the energy bestowed upon us by our creator, the great Log'yerm///, to perform all summonings. Oftentimes, we use too much energy and are no longer able to move. Sometimes that energy is restored to us over time, and with some sweets, we are restored to ourselves... But normally, we're rendered permanently immobile. This is how it has always been."

With a sinking horror, Asa began to realize what that must mean….”Can….can you show this to me? It sounds very much like death….Flumia, please! Stop the summoning’s! You cannot mean to leave your people languishing in some coma-like state! I promise you, I will find a way for your people to change.” The urgency was plain to hear in the doctor’s voice; the El-Aurian could not imagine a fate worse than being left for dead of ages on end in the storage area of a temple.

Turning to the Baroness, Asa spoke quietly and quickly, “Um, I don’t want to do this of course, but do you have an option to atomize on any of your weaponry? Seeing as we are in the same room as a demon?”

Schwein pulled a disruptor out of her pack and checked it. "It would take a few shots, but yeah... If they've been doing this as long as we think they have been though... Just how many of these immobile people are we talking about?"

Flumia had that answer almost immediately, smiling pleasantly like some maddening doll. "Twelve billion, one hundred million, nine hundred seventy three thousand, and twelve... At last count."

At that admission, Schwein just stared at her in abject shock.

Death just shook her head. "This is why I'm useless here. These dolls don't even understand what Death is, let alone have the ability to die."

The doctor had stopped cold mid stride, taking in the enormity of what the Flumia had just said. The entire population of a world, more, lying in storage, unable to die, unable to live. The horror at the sentiment rose up, and the ramen and hot chocolate threatened to do so also.

Softly, Asa inquired of the Flumia, “How long have your people been this way? No species evolved in this manner naturally….What do you know of your origins? How have you come to be here?”

Sensing these people knew nothing of their own biology, much less their technology, Asa had a feeling the entire worldship was either on the verge of collapse….or they had not met the real power behind the scenes. How many of the elfin people could even be left “alive” if there were so many in stasis? The entire scenario was nightmarish to the El-Aurians’ sensibilities.

"Over a million years ago, our Lord saved us from the destruction of our world and we've lived our lives since then." This was when Flumia's happy facade seemed to crack, her fists clenching and her face scrunching up in pain for a moment. "For so long... With him watching over us... We had to do something to change things..." Then her cheerful demeanor returned. "So we formed cults a few hundred years ago and started summoning things. It was the most thrilling, enjoyable, and fulfilling thing, we've ever experienced. We found purpose where before all we had was routine."

“Your Lord?” Dael inquired, thinking knowing the name of this being might bring some wisdom as to how best proceed. Thus far the beings summoned and impacted were those known to the crew, at least in part, and the likelihood was high that this name would be known as well.

"The great Log'yerm///," Flumia replied simply.

“Flumia, it occurs to me that if you seek an adventure, well, the universe awaits! Why stay here and summon other beings to you when you could go out there and experience all the universe has to offer. Stunning nebulas, planets to encounter, a universe full of sentient beings to interact with, and new desserts and sugary treats to try! Why simply stay here?” Dael asked.

"Because leaving this worldship is the one thing we can't do. He has seen to that. We can't even see past his influence." For a moment the Flumia looked frustrated again, but then a greater light shone in her eyes that only blind fanaticism can ignite. "This is why we've been summoning others and now that true mortals... Those with the blood that the demons demand have arrived... We are able to proceed with the next phase of the summonings. Praise be to the next lord of our people. The great Asmodeus! Once we summon him, we will have the power to challenge our old lord and be able to change everything!"

"Um..." Schwein was a bit more than freaked out now as quite a few of the munchkins in black robes had been filing out of the inner temple and were now surrounding the pair and Death. "I have a bad feeling about this..."

For the second time in less than 15 minutes, Doctor Dael needed a moment to stop and reflect, finding their feet simply did not move for the span of 5 seconds. Firstly, the doctor was not sure how the sugar addled Flumia managed to pronounce ///, but she had pulled it off quite nicely.

Then the enormity of what was said hit the doctor. A cult!!!, no, wait, cults???. Most sentient life would stay away from something they knew was a cult, not rush to join and set up knock offs.

But then again, perhaps that’s how all major religions got started. Right, so a world full of bat crap crazy elves about to have a serious sugar crash when they try to summon Asmodeus. And we are clearly meant as sacrifice. Great, just great. And I thought meeting Death was going to be the weirdest part of my day. Dael reflected.

Feet once again putting one in front of the other, Asa noticed the concern on Schwein’s face and took in the circling figures in black robes. Their intent was quite clear, so time for a bit of razzle dazzle.

“My friends! I am honored to see you all, and to learn what I can from your resting comrades! Please, will you allow us the space to examine what we can learn? We can then discuss with your Flumia what options we see available to you. The solution to your woe is at hand!” the doctor cried in their best imitation of “preacher voice” they grew up hearing.

It’s all about false confidence and lying with a smile, they thought wryly, with a manic, hopeful grin in place, still holding their arms wide as they had when speaking.

Schwein just looked slowly over at Asa like they'd lost their mind. If it got them out of this situation though... "Uh... Yeah! Once we've examined your fallen comrades, your time will finally be at hand!"

Death just facepalmed hard. She knew a ruse when she saw it.

As for the robed figures, several seemed a bit excited, but most seemed to still be that generic cheerful that rarely strayed from their faces. As for the Flumia... She smiled brighter. Somehow, that smile had a hint of sinisterness to it as well. "Well then. I'll take you to our main temple where you may examine all of those resting in repose as long as you like. If you'll follow me... It's not far... Not far at all..." With that, the Flumia turned and headed off into a side passageway, the rest of the robed figures moving to guide the trio to follow her.

Picking up the PaDD that was clipped on to their clothing, Asa sent a message to Schwein

=^=I think we are a bit screwed here. Pretty sure we are about to get sacrificed. Stand ready. =^=.

All the while, the doctor maintained a smile of their own, opting for conversation. Hopefully if their “hosts” saw them as sentient beings deserving of life things would go better.

“Did you know your people are somewhat a legend on Earth? Beings similar to yourselves in appearance and, um, taste in food, were said to work with a compassionate being to spread joy to young ones all over the planet.”

There was a bit of mumbling among the elfin peoples before one spoke up. "If you mean Santa Claws, the Slavemaster, we ate him before our Lord saved our people from destruction."

Another spoke up drearily. "I remember well those dark days... Chained to the line... Never knowing when your next meal would be... Barely enough sugar to survive... I died on those assembly lines..."

“You…you died?” the doctor squeaked, “Forgive me, that must have been terrible. Among my people death is a permanent condition. I’m curious, how did you get better?”

It seemed each time one of the elfin people spoke Asa was dealt another psychological blow. Everything about what they said was such utter nonsense to the way Asa knew the universe to work, and they were at the same time curious to learn about these peoples and scared at what they might accomplish. As anyone who had been around school children after snack time knew- small, sugared up people in a large group can cause mayhem and destruction quite easily.

The last one to speak up just shrugged. "Well, I think I was a newt for a while... And then I woke up here. I don't know how. I just got better."

Flumia glared over her shoulder at the talkative ones. "Hush you! We are forbidden to speak of the before times! You know this!"

"Aww, but Flumia, they're about to become sacrifices to Melchior and Asmodeus! What's it going to hurt?" The talkative one whined a bit and rolled his head around a bit as he spoke. "We're on the verge of success, after all. Everything will be different and the old laws will be no more."

"Yes, but until then, we still have to obey them." Flumia waggled one finger as she walked, leading them deep underground.

"I 'm sorry, we are about to be what to who? I can't help you if i have been sacrificed....none of us can. And none of your summonings have worked, so what makes this one any more likely to? What changes have your other demons wrought?" Dael asked with a growing hysteria in their voice.

"They've given us knowledge and that's power that we didn't have before. Your blood will give us even more power. You and the other two will give us what we need to summon our new lords." Flumia sounded sickeningly cheerful as she said that.

As they walked on deeper underground, the walls of the tunnel were starting to take on a carved motif of carved people in tortured, screaming poses and the air was starting to heat up. In the distance a red glow could be seen.

As they got a little closer they could see great stone henges below, enormous pitted and worn volcanic stones that burned with an eternal flame easily seven meters high, arranged in a series of circles within which was inscribed a pentacle that filled the first circle. The chanting was clearly coming from dark robed and hooded acolytes who filled the gallery, and at the bottom point of the pentagram was a collection of red robed figures with very fancy pointy hats. Who were all gathered before a very shiny yet much more the local's height henge, which made it look a lot like an altar.

Schwein poked Asa in the ribs and hissed in her ear. "Is it time to escape yet?"

Nodding subtly in the affirmative, Asa whispered, "Recommendations?"

Schwein gripped Asa's arm almost painfully. "I'm picking up a Human and a Vulcan life sign on the other side of that mess... I think the other two sacrifices are already here."

"Well, let's go get them and vamoose, shall we?" Dael replied softly.