{Animus}

[adstring_npc]

[There's the usual static hum on everyone's PCD, as the screen goes black. After a moment, a low flute tone starts up, continuing as a background melody throughout. For anyone who hears it, it would sound vaguely familiar, from their home world- though played inexpertly, as if they couldn't entirely remember how it was supposed to go.]

too soon,

Comments

[marsfireignite]

[Well. Time to give this a go.]

Tiamet.

Do you know that name?

[adstring_npc]

didn't do anything to it
it just couldn't follow along

someone else can pick up the slack

[marsfireignite]

Was Rebirth here?

[It's urgent.]

[adstring_npc]

no
I haven't seen it

and I would've noticed
(always making much of itself)

but it doesn't matter
I can't see the signs from here.
They keep changing. Nothing aligns.

rebirth would be useless

[marsfireignite]

[Destruction is present, but not Rebirth.]

... I can't see the signs, either.

Are you stuck here just like the rest of us? Who did this? Why is this place here?

[adstring_npc]

the sky isn't right

[The voice is hollow. Abruptly it cuts off. A recording of a violin plays- fragmented, stuttering, melancholic. Eventually that cuts off too, with a click-hum.]

you know who caused it

[marsfireignite]

[Her heart lodges in her throat. She had said the same thing to Tyki Mikk, months ago, when they were wandering by the lake together. The stars are wrong. The sky isn't right. And she opens her mouth to answer, but the music causes her to stop.

Before a different voice -- ?

Somehow, that unsettles her.]

The scientists aren't here anymore. I don't know where they are. I can't talk to them like I can talk to you, because they aren't in the Inner City anymore -- we couldn't even find them in the tunnels.

What happened to the one who controls fire?

[adstring_npc]

they're there
go deeper

we tried flooding them out
but it didn't work

don't mind it
it's unsociable
and not sure what it wants to be

[marsfireignite]

[Holy. Shit.]

Are the scientists the ones that trapped you here?

[adstring_npc]

you know they caused it
couldn't control it

even accidents have consequences

[marsfireignite]

[She stares.]

So you were pulled here just like the rest of us, because of the experiment?

[adstring_npc]

parts

more fragments combine on occasion
we don't know what the rest is

[marsfireignite]

[She is silent for a long moment.]

If I come to see you, to talk to you -- could I find out what the rest is?

[adstring_npc]

...
How? The rest isn't here.

[marsfireignite]

I used to be able to sense something from all of you -- and I can still sense something in that City. If anyone in this place can help you understand what happened, it's me. The worst that can happen is we're right back where we started, trying to figure out this place -- and the best is that I can try to figure out what happened so we can try to put you all back together.

[She narrows her eyes.]

It's just a talk. No weapons. No fights. No threats. Let me try to help you.

[adstring_npc]

it wouldn't let you in
don't tease the conflagration

You can talk to us here. The air is clearer this week, though it won't last long.