More Meteor Showers Bring Even Stranger Powers. (O/A)

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Gidget truly didn't spare any expense when it came to recreation, and no where was that more apparent than Valhalla's music room. The only place that could possibly rival the number and variety of instruments would be Julliard. The shelves were arranged in a half moon that arched opposite of the entrance that sprawled backwards. They held instruments from all over the world that were sorted by type, region, make, and model. The center of the music room was an expansive space beset by a haphazard setting of tables, chairs, and computers that had been tossed about when one of the anti-gravity generators had been destroyed in the battle.

On the back walls were inlaid Plexiglas cases that held various instruments that had once belonged to, and had been autographed by, dozens of famous musicians from the last seventy years. Gidget had a lot of fun securing them during her many sleepless nights as a sentient automaton. She didn't particularly care about the history of the instruments or the artists that once played them, but she did find great fulfillment from the look on people's faces when they first saw them.

Alec groaned, "Aw no! Everything must've gotten thrown around during the fight."

He quickly ran over to end start of the shelves for guitars and keyboards. He sighed with relief. The shelves, and the instruments therein, were still intact; due in no small part to them being bolted in the floors and ceilings while using security clamps and lockers to keep the instruments in place.

He hopped to the center and arranged a few chairs for he and Kerana to sit in. He moved with an energy he didn't know he possessed. He was practically trembling from the excitement of what he was preparing to do.

He pat a chair that had an open nook where the seat me the back and urged, "Here Kay. I got a tail friendly chair for you. Gimme just a sec."

He jogged to the shelves for acoustic guitars and secured a Gibson SJ-200 Deluxe with shoulder strap and pick. Once he had deposited those by the chair he planned to use, he made haste to the electric keyboards. He chose a Yamaha DGX-660 for the added features, and nabbed a stand to lay it on.

Although one wouldn't know it from watching him, he occasionally began to feel hints of the malaise that had affected him the day before. He realized that it got worse the farther away he got from Kerana. It wasn't as bad as then, but it still caused him some concern.

He set up the keyboard between himself and Kerana then turned it on. He set the music type to "chiptune," adjusted a few of the keys to a sound he liked, and sat into his chair. He wrung his hands together anxiously in an attempt to calm his nerves and stammered, "Uh. do, eh, do you know anything about playing the, uh, the keyboard? It's okay if you don't! I just think this might be a bit more fun if you can, em, j-join in."  

[PixelMuse]

Rikki Tikki Travi

…
"The master, um, heee said that...what was it? OH! He said that he'd go to the moon at the next egg lips and free the big monster, and that Prism would make a giant crystal to make that happen." she said bluntly.

She then put her left hand out with her palm open and looked at Trinity expectantly.

“Very good Chariot, that’s very helpful.” It seemed like her loyalty toward Eclipse had vanished for now. She handed her reward a purple lollipop. She rubbed her head as Sill responded.

Rikki Tikki Travi

…
"The moon...I-I think it's very important. Damnit! I can't remember! Whatever it is, it has to be something that he doesn't want me to know."

Do you think Alexavier and Rydia will be able to help address this? To help with piecing together your memory?

She looked to Chariot. “I’m going to need to take care of something. Healers will be coming in to address your wounds and your head. They have me on speed dial if I don’t hear anything from them other than you have been a good patient I will take you to a place where you can try all kinds of delicious things. Okay?” Hoping this would be enough to motivate her to co-operate with the medical team.  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Alec chuckled while he started to program a rhythm into the keyboard. "Heh, most people don't. The majority of people that come here are so focused on attaining a sense of normalcy that they tend to ignore old hobbies. I've never had a sense of normalcy. I'd come here after everyone was asleep so I wouldn't be bothered. Between this and my writing, I had an outlet for my frustrations."

"That is...until they found out. Once they knew where they could find me regularly I stopped coming here. I had no peace outside of my room. Hell, half the time I didn't bother going to classes. I had gone from a demon possessed abomination to a freakish eyesore in a matter of weeks. I hated everyone and everything that they stood for. But then there was you."

He finished his keyboard prep and scoot the instrument closer to Kerana. He decided to switch topics since remembering his tormentors darkened his mood. "Anyway, between all of my poetry, I had been working on a song that actually didn't have a tune rooted entirely in negativity. It was my first and only, which was fitting because you were my first real and only friend. I had almost finished it before...well, y'know. Then when I was bed ridden I had all the free time in the world to work it all out...then, y'know. I've waited two years to share this with you, and I'm not going to waste another moment."

He adjusted his seat so that he was closer to the kitsune girl and set the guitar in his lap. He quickly tuned the instrument by ear alone. "Now, I know you said you were more a woodwind girl, but I remember you saying that you loved to sing. So here's what we're gonna to do. When I tap the top of your foot with mine, press this button right here. That'll start and stop the rhythm I programmed in. I'm going to sing the first chorus alone. When I get to the second and third time around I'll tap the side of your foot. That'll be your cue to harmonize with me. It should be super easy between your skill and our connection."

Alec slung the guitar strap over his shoulder and took a deep breath. He didn't really need it there, but he felt better having it. He took a few more deep breathes to steady his nerves. This was it.

*PlUnK*

"s**t! Sorry! Sorry. It's been a bit. *huff* Okay. Ooookay. I've got this. *Whew* I got this."

Alec starts strumming a slow and simple guitar melody. About fifteen seconds in he taps the top of Kerana's foot softly. A quiet chiptune accompaniment hums out of the keyboard. When Kerana presses the button. He tapped her foot fifteen seconds after that and began to sing.

"You say look outside
Rain is pouring down
Let's stay and hide
I say
What the hell?
We've got things to do
We might as well stay and rebel

Maybe we will be everything we say
Maybe all that we dream will fade to gray
Either way
I will stay
With you"

He taps the top of her foot again. After another fifteen seconds he taps once more and continues into the second verse.

"They say pay your bills
Earn your daily bread
Take all your pills
We say look around
At the heart of things
Share what you found
Stand your ground"

He nudges her foot to signal joining in on the chorus.

"Maybe we will be everything we say
Maybe all that we dream will fade to gray
Either way
I will stay
With you"

He begins a prolong vocalization of the words "with you" twice to serve as the bridge.

"Ohh"

Foot nudge.

"Maybe we will be everything we say
Maybe all that we dream will fade to gray
Either way
I will stay"

Rest

"With you."

He taps her foot and plays the song to it's conclusion with a light vocal harmony.  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Chariot rolled her eyes at first, but when she heard the prospect of being given more food she quickly straightened up and beamed with two lollipop sticks between her teeth. She chirped, "Yeah! Okay! I can do that! I just need to do what they say, right?! I can do that!"

Silhouette grumbled, "I don't think the psychic will be able to help. The memories aren't just buried, they're gone. You can feel hints of a buried memory, but there is nothing there when I try to remember. It's like he took them from me."

"But Rydia's infinite eye might be able to see the truth of things. That with any knowledge Alec got from Crosis should be enough to piece together my brother's intent along with what we need to do to stop him."  

[PixelMuse]

"Good. I'll be back to check on you later." she left within the shadow of the open door. After listening to Silhouette in her head she texted a few texts out to Gidget, Theonis, Kerana, and Alec.

Text from Trinity

I got some intel regarding Eclipse's next move. We need to meet up in the R&D Lab.

She sent a follow-up text to Theonis…

Text from Trinity

I got some intel regarding Eclipse's next move. We need to meet up in the R&D Lab.
Let me know when Rydia is done with your father we need her in this meeting as well. I'll pick you and her up. I'll gather the others.

She went to Alec and Kerana first then brought them to the R&D Lab where Gidget and Ako were.  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Alec was about to thank Kerana for her compliment when his phone buzzed just a breath after her's. He looked down at the clock on his phone and sighed. It was time for the debriefing he had mentioned earlier. At least he got his chance to have some quality alone time with Kerana.

He tucked his phone away, laid his guitar down, and turned off the keyboard. He then looked over the shadow Trinity emerged from a few seconds before she actually did.

"I know it's probably the right thing to do, but it's been home for so many of us for so long. I just don't know if a full shut down would be the best thing to do. Especially for the metas that can't leave because they depend on a specialized environment to survive."

"You don't have to try and figure it all out at once, Gidge. We'll all support you no matter what you decide, and we'll help you piece it all together if you need it. I just don't know how I feel about trying to raise our kid in a place that's got a target on it's back."

Gidget was about to reply when she felt her phone vibrate. She held a finger up to Ako and checked the message. She smiled a little and chirped, "We've got some good news. Trinity should be here soon with some of the others to work something out."

Gidget and Ako both looked in the direction of Trinity, Alec, and Kerana when they arrived. Gidget ran to them and gave them as much of a group hug as she could manage with her small arms. "I'm so glad you're all okay!"

Ako chuckled, "She's been a little worried since landing Valhalla accidentally knocked out the system that relays vital signs."

Gidget then leaned in close to Trinity's ear and whispered, "I've got something important to tell you when we're done. So don't disappear too quick."  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Damien led the children of Acula to a training room since the medical ward was becoming filled to beyond capacity. He let them have a moment to themselves and made no action to rush them at all. When Theresa stepped away from Theonis Damien offered his hands to her and explained what was about to happen in regards to her power. Who she may see, what she'll feel, and what to expect when it's all done.

"At the same time, I'm going to do my best to make sure your minds are no longer split. You will all experience life, as you were meant to."

When she was ready he took her hands, merged his with hers, and began the process of awakening her power, connecting her with an ancient, and repairing her fractured mind. The light enveloped her.

Time slowed to a stop around Theresa. Sat atop a flattened stalagmite was a tall and stout man who resembled a lumberjack in Mesopotamian robes. He looked down at her and scoffed, "This is the best the boy could bring me? A frail girl with a shattered mind. Hmph. At least he is undoing what those monsters have done to you...most of it at least."

"Listen closely child. I am Vale, aspect of steadfast Earth. While your resolve may be true, your constitution leaves much to be desired. I will now grant you my boon so that you may be better prepared to face the coming horror. Prepare yourself over the coming months...and appreciate your short life."

Damien disconnected himself from her and took a few steps back. "How do you feel?" he asked.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rydia approached the doctor and produced her spirit claw. "As you surmised, sir, this will not be pleasant. Please do your best to remain still, Alexavier will assist you in that endeavor."

Rydia passed her ethereal hand through the doctor and began to gather the malevolent presence into his head. She knit her brow as she realized it would not be as easy as it was with the girl.

Leonard held his eyes shut and did his best to remain still. When the princess began to focus on his mind he strained and groaned in pain.

"Damnit...this is going to-"

She could actually feel the thing fighting her. Her hands trembled as she gathered it closer to Leonard's forehead.

"One more, Alexavier! Three...two...one!"  

[BeaMichelle]

Theresa was uncomfortably apprehensive the whole time Damien was describing the process. The idea that she was going to be crazy powerful was okay, but what really shook her was the idea that she wouldn't be separated from the stupid one and the insane. She wasn't sure how that would feel. She did like the idea of never having to sleep again. Regardless, she new that it was important that she have the boon Damien spoke of. She put her hands in his and hoped she'd still be able to recognize herself when it was all done. She closed her eyes and gasped as the light enveloped her.

Theresa felt like she was standing beside Thea and the crazy one. They watched as the world became still until they fixed their eyes on the large man on the rock. They greatly disliked the way the big hairy man spoke to them, but their annoyance was quickly overshadowed by a sense of weightlessness. It was time for them to become one.

The light dissipated, and she stood whole. Her hair was the only evidence of any physical change. The velvet red right and navy blue left blended into a vibrant magenta in the center. She blinked a few times and looked around to make sure that the world was moving again. She looked down and examined her hands. She then touched her face and smiled cautiously. She felt alone in her head for the first time since she was a few months old. There was no longer a fear of losing herself. Above all...she felt good.

She could feel joy and love because Thea knew it. There was also tempered fear in the back of her mind that came from the unnamed personality. There was also the hardened determination of Theresa. Her eyes welled with tears when she made a startling and welcome realization. She still recognized herself as Theresa.

The others were there, but no more there than any emotion or feeling. Thea was there, as was the third girl, but Theresa was the dominant identity. She hugged herself and caught her breath in the middle of a giggle. A giggle! She felt like she could laugh!

She turned to Theonis and smiled brightly while her eyes wept freely. "Theonis. I...I'm still here! I'm still Theresa! But I feel...I feel happy! I can feel happy!"

She threw herself into her brother's arms and held onto him as tightly as she could. Her tears of joy were only outdone by the echoes of her fulfilling laughter on the walls of the training room.  

[PixelMuse]

Rikki Tikki Travi

Gidget and Ako both looked in the direction of Trinity, Alec, and Kerana when they arrived. Gidget ran to them and gave them as much of a group hug as she could manage with her small arms. "I'm so glad you're all okay!"

Ako chuckled, "She's been a little worried since landing Valhalla accidentally knocked out the system that relays vital signs."

Gidget then leaned in close to Trinity's ear and whispered, "I've got something important to tell you when we're done. So don't disappear too quick."

Trinity smiled at the warm welcoming. She nodded at Gidget’s whispered request unknown to her what could this be about.

“Theonis and Rydia will join us after she and Alexavier are done addressing whatever Eclipse has planted in Dr. Acula’s head. We may need Rydia to figure something out and a full debrief is on hold for now.”

“I brought you all here to help fill in some gaps regarding Eclipse’s next steps. Chariot said he is going to the moon at the next eclipse. Prism will make a giant crystal to free a big monster (which I’m guessing the Hell Star). This triggered a fractured memory in Sil. She said Crosis may have shared something with you about the moon?”  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Alec stepped forward and replied, "He did, but he only ever talked about the spire twice. Every time I tried to bring up the subject he'd tell me not to concern myself with it and change the subject. But I'll share what little I know."

"First, the lunar spire is the final destination for those he called, 'the eight.' The eight are humans that have been given a direct connection to the eight surus, or poles."

Alec's eyes glowed as he traced his fingers in the air and drew an eight point compass out of ghostly blue flames that suspended itself in midair. He drew eight symbols at each point that would seem alien to all but two people in that room. Himself and Silhouette.

"These connections are what we call boons." He then waved his hands through the compass and caused it to dissipate.

"Second, it is up to the eight to travel to the lunar spire and destroy the Hellstar when the barrier is at it's weakest. Unfortunately, he never elaborated on how we're supposed to do that."

"Third, the spire is hidden within the shadow realm on the side of the moon that faces earth."

"That must be why he was so intent on enacting this plan when there was a lunar eclipse. The side with the spire would be accessible." Gidget verbally theorized.

"Right."

Ako asked, "So then why didn't Eclipse just fly to the moon and make the crystal up there? Why did he stay on Earth?"

"That's the one thing Crosis brought up the second time he mentioned the spire. He told me that there was a massive focusing crystal that was being guarded by the decedents of Anima."

Silhouette gasped, "Soul and Vivi! I remember them! Vivi was insistent that something be kept safe until the time came. It had something to do with a vision Eutha had. If the crystal was kept with her decedents it would have been with the elves. That must've been the one we saw in Eclipse's mirror lair."

Gidget looked to Trinity and asked, "Trin, did Silhouette remember something?"  

[Nova Blancke]

"Nah, the screaming was just because I didn't turn of her pain receptors. Gotta have some fun in this. You'll be fine...'Dad' "Alexavier responded to Leonard. In a sense he was sort of a dad since he did help create him and Cassandra.

Theo shot a glare a him.

"Don't worry bossman. He'll be fine. It'd be my a** on the line here too."

"I'm holding you to that. He's not gonna die any time soon." With that Theo left.

They began. He shut off Leonards ability to feel pain to make it a bit easier. Meanwhile he linked Rydia's mind with his for perfect synchronization. On her mark he opened Leonard's forehead up.

When Damian merged hands with Theresa it reminded him a lot of what happened to him. Only that didn't invite in an Ancient. Perhaps because it was still bound to Larry? Her hair shifted and became three colors. A strange thing to see....had he not have 2 colors himself. Must be a family thing.
She seemed to be....happy? Her hug was quite tight but nothing he couldn't manage. He returned the hug. Theo was happy for her. Nobody deserves to know only pain.  

[Nova Blancke]

Legio watched with interest as Fenris constructed this new power in front of his eyes. As she did, he too would know how to do it. After all, it was his flesh that she was using. They shared a deeper connection then she might be aware of. Being his spawn gave him a benefit he did not anticipate.

While she was focusing he had hardened his biomass. The aura however incomplete would penetrate Cassandra's defense even if it was a little. Even if she did get past it now, the increased density would prove it harder to break this time around. Now he was not using his mental link to her to predict her movements. He could but it felt...disrespectful to her. Not something he would willingly do to her for some reason. Odd that he felt that way.

Legio switched to a low stance. It was one of his more favorable stances. Low to the ground left less room for your foe to strike you. But...she wasn't fighting. Or it didn't seem like it. It was a dance. More like Capoeira than anything she used before. Now that wouldn't make it hard to counter. Just need to ge the rythm of it. No, the aura made it ...a challenge. It was tangible energy that could deliver the same amount of damage as she could. It moved before AND after her but it was so random.

Legio got hit a few times by this free flowing form. But there WAS a pattern. He reached out and grabbed where he believed the next aura strike would hit.  

[PixelMuse]

Rikki Tikki Travi

Gidget looked to Trinity and asked, "Trin, did Silhouette remember something?"

Trinity listened to what Alec had to say about what Crosis had shared with him. She rubbed her head as Silhouette spoke then she heard Gidget's question and nodded. " She said she remembers Soul and Vivi. Vivi was insistent that something be kept safe until the time came. It had something to do with Eutha's vision. If the crystal was kept with her descendants it would have been with the elves. That must've been the one that was in Eclipse's lair." she narrowed her eyes as she spoke the last part remembering where she saw it. Is it still there? Or did he take it with him?

"In the shadow realm on the moon, huh? For some reason, I didn't think it could reach other planets… I can't help but wonder where else I could go."