[Dakki, is coming back from the clothesline in the backyard, laundry basket empty. The freshly-damp stuff has just been hung. And she heard a snip of the conversation.]
....ah?
[Oh, now this is interesting. On both their parts.]
Where we come from, Aurica, most people worship "The Holy Light". But... you go ahead, Gat.
[She smiles and stands in the doorway, basket lowered, waiting.]
I ain't normally human, Aurica. Where I'm from, I'm an android. A CAST.
More specifically, I was built on a planet called Coral, as a military android. So-religion wasn't somethin' I gave a lotta thought about. Wasn't part of what I was made to do.
[He looks down for a second, then back up to the former reyvateil.]
Definitely seen a lot in my life to make me wonder about it now, but I couldn't tell ya much about Coralian beliefs.
[Dakki's not sure if she's appreciating Gat's explanation, or his expressions more. She watches and listens, while moving more damp laundry into her laundry basket.]
I'm the same as Gat, Aurica. A military android. Different make, but same general idea. There wasn't much encouragement to be concerned about religion, so I didn't concern myself with it.
[She turns her eyes upwards, thinking for a moment.]
It wasn't until I got to Gurhal that I even gave it any thought. It wasn't until I got there that anyone cared to talk about it with me. Gat? That your experience?
[Before responding to Aurica, Gat answers Dakki's question.]
Naw, I started thinkin' about it back when Pioneer 2 arrived at Ragol. That ain't quite to say that I started thinkin' 'bout th' supernatural just from watchin' th' Pioneer 1 colony up an' vanish in that massive explosion, but once I got to see what was under th' colony th' whole time ...
[He trails off, leaving an uncomfortable pause as he glances downward. Aurica's questions redirect his focus, though, and he turns to look at the not-daughter.]
That we were. Coral was our homeworld. [A beat.] Things on Coral were goin' to Hell in a handbasket, frankly. Bein' a military android, I got to see it up close an' personal. I served a few tours of duty as part of th' Alliance of Nations' armed forces back then
( ... )
[Gat's answer honestly surprises her. And Aurica can see a similiar uncomfortable look on her face when talk of what was under the colony is mentioned.]
Gat spent time on Coral. I wasn't so... lucky? I was manufactured, put into storage on Pioneer 2, and only activated after arrival to Ragol when they needed more people to send down to the planet to try and clear out the hostiles. That ship and the madness on the planet below were the only things that I knew for nearly two years.
[She listens to the rest. Gat tells it so well, so clearly. She shakes the wrinkles out of a few more shirts, in the meanwhile.]
... Let's just say that there was somethin' ancient an' evil sealed away under th' colony. An' I ain't usin' "evil" lightly, here.
[Gat's expression is somewhere between disturbed recollection and frowning in indignation.]
... An' I think th' folks runnin' th' Pioneer Project knew it. I can't say for sure, though.
[Gat glances to Dakki, looking for confirmation. She'd logged a lot more time on Ragol than he ever did. Though, Aurica's continued questions about the Gurhal Faith regain his attention.It don't necessarily have to be from Neudaiz; th' Gurhal Faith has believers all over th' system. Hell, there's a lot of CASTs who believe in it. Just, not a whole lot of 'em live on Parum
( ... )
[It does not appear to be a topic that Dakki much cares for. Gat wants her opinion? ...her opinion? She grimaces for a moment, shakes out another shirt, then actually tries to think.]
I've been through the caverns, and the mines, and the ruins themselves. I've read Rico's messages, and I've skimmed things off of terminals in the mines. I don't believe everyone on Pioneer 1 was in on it. I think enough of them were. Enough of them either thought they could control what was down there, didn't understand what was down there, or wanted to let loose what was down there...
[She shakes another shirt, staring off into the distance.]
...you explain it so well, Gat.
[A pair of pants is picked up, then. She's still staring.]
If there's a Holy Light that's a part of everything, then the SEED-forms and whatever was in those ruins are some sort of... opposite.
... I'm sorry if it's a poor topic for you two. [She really could tell by now that there were things in the ruins that were beyond a casual understanding of life, in the bad sense.]
So a conflict between good and evil... photons though..what are those?
[It's then Aurica notices Dakki's staring off into space. She walks over to her, head tilted with a frown.] Are you okay, mom?
It's alright, Aurica. I'll say this much-th' kind of things I saw under th' surface of Ragol, an' what I've seen of th' SEED back in th' Gurhal System- it's enough to make me think there's somethin' bigger goin' on out there beyond th' scope of a single world. Like th' galaxy's one big show, an' everything I've seen an' done is jus' a side show.
[Normally the observation that one's own life is a drop in the bucket would be a no-brainer for a populated world, but Gat and castaways like him have crossed several worlds and fought several flavors of eldritch abominations.]
[Aurica's other question changes his train of thought, though.]
You know anything about th' particles that're a part of electromagnetic radiation? Photons're kind of th' same. Named th' same, even-but these kinda photons convert spiritual energies into other kinds
( ... )
...I'm alright. [Her case of the stares is shaken off when Aurica brings it to her attention, and Dakki plasters on a smile. Being mopey and moody in front of the entire household is just.... no.]
The side show helps support the big one, though.
[Well! Now she has a basket full of shaken-out damp clothes. It would be a good time to excuse herself. So she does, flashing another smile at Aurica on the way out.]
[She could only look on in a troubled frown as Dakki went on her way. She sighed inwardly as she knew she was faking it. Her attention turned back to Gat for the moment though.
Galaxy... Someone she met earlier today had told her about his own galaxy, a concept she didn't really imagine until then. It was still something to be easily overwhelmed by, as she listened on.]
Not really, but I think I can understand...back on my world we could use the Symphonic Power of materials and Song Magic to power things.
[Her own depression was beginning to set in though.] Did something happen to Dakki before..? I feel like I caused that reaction from her...
[Gat watches Dakki taking her leave to continue the laundry work, before looking back over to Aurica.]
... It ain't your fault, Aurica. Dakki an' I, we've both been through a lot. Crossin' worlds from Ragol to th' Gurhal System was-a bit traumatic, I s'pose you could say. As if what we'd found on Ragol weren't enough.
In th' Gurhal System, they call folks like us-former Hunters from Coral an' Ragol-"castaways." ... 'Least, to those in th' know. There's a gag order keepin' us from talkin' about it openly.
[Gat wants to ask about this Song Magic and Symphonic Power business, but he figures it's not a good point in the conversation to do so-yet.]
Eh-?
[He stops in mid-stride when Aurica asks that question, blinking a few times. Well, this is gonna get a whole lot of awkward in a hurry.]
I, uh ...
[He sets the basket down.]
Dakki told you what I am, right? Or-what I normally am.
Reply
....ah?
[Oh, now this is interesting. On both their parts.]
Where we come from, Aurica, most people worship "The Holy Light". But... you go ahead, Gat.
[She smiles and stands in the doorway, basket lowered, waiting.]
Reply
Does it have to do with "The Holy Light"?
Reply
[Gat rubs the back of his neck.]
I ain't normally human, Aurica. Where I'm from, I'm an android. A CAST.
More specifically, I was built on a planet called Coral, as a military android. So-religion wasn't somethin' I gave a lotta thought about. Wasn't part of what I was made to do.
[He looks down for a second, then back up to the former reyvateil.]
Definitely seen a lot in my life to make me wonder about it now, but I couldn't tell ya much about Coralian beliefs.
Reply
I'm the same as Gat, Aurica. A military android. Different make, but same general idea. There wasn't much encouragement to be concerned about religion, so I didn't concern myself with it.
[She turns her eyes upwards, thinking for a moment.]
It wasn't until I got to Gurhal that I even gave it any thought. It wasn't until I got there that anyone cared to talk about it with me. Gat? That your experience?
Reply
I see...I guess it would be a little weird for you two to know a lot about it.
So you two were somewhere else before you went to your current world? What were both worlds like?
And Gurhal is the world with "The Holy Light"?
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Naw, I started thinkin' about it back when Pioneer 2 arrived at Ragol. That ain't quite to say that I started thinkin' 'bout th' supernatural just from watchin' th' Pioneer 1 colony up an' vanish in that massive explosion, but once I got to see what was under th' colony th' whole time ...
[He trails off, leaving an uncomfortable pause as he glances downward. Aurica's questions redirect his focus, though, and he turns to look at the not-daughter.]
That we were. Coral was our homeworld. [A beat.] Things on Coral were goin' to Hell in a handbasket, frankly. Bein' a military android, I got to see it up close an' personal. I served a few tours of duty as part of th' Alliance of Nations' armed forces back then ( ... )
Reply
[Gat's answer honestly surprises her. And Aurica can see a similiar uncomfortable look on her face when talk of what was under the colony is mentioned.]
Gat spent time on Coral. I wasn't so... lucky? I was manufactured, put into storage on Pioneer 2, and only activated after arrival to Ragol when they needed more people to send down to the planet to try and clear out the hostiles. That ship and the madness on the planet below were the only things that I knew for nearly two years.
[She listens to the rest. Gat tells it so well, so clearly. She shakes the wrinkles out of a few more shirts, in the meanwhile.]
Reply
Mm... [She looked down in thought. The Apostles of Elemia had to deal with things similarly, patrolling and defeating Viruses on the tower, in a way.]
It sounds like what some of my friends had to do for a long time back on my world, Ar Ciel. It must have been a troubling experience for you both...
So I guess I'd be better off asking someone from Neudaiz about The Gurhal Faith instead?
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[Gat's expression is somewhere between disturbed recollection and frowning in indignation.]
... An' I think th' folks runnin' th' Pioneer Project knew it. I can't say for sure, though.
[Gat glances to Dakki, looking for confirmation. She'd logged a lot more time on Ragol than he ever did. Though, Aurica's continued questions about the Gurhal Faith regain his attention.It don't necessarily have to be from Neudaiz; th' Gurhal Faith has believers all over th' system. Hell, there's a lot of CASTs who believe in it. Just, not a whole lot of 'em live on Parum ( ... )
Reply
I've been through the caverns, and the mines, and the ruins themselves. I've read Rico's messages, and I've skimmed things off of terminals in the mines. I don't believe everyone on Pioneer 1 was in on it. I think enough of them were. Enough of them either thought they could control what was down there, didn't understand what was down there, or wanted to let loose what was down there...
[She shakes another shirt, staring off into the distance.]
...you explain it so well, Gat.
[A pair of pants is picked up, then. She's still staring.]
If there's a Holy Light that's a part of everything, then the SEED-forms and whatever was in those ruins are some sort of... opposite.
Reply
So a conflict between good and evil... photons though..what are those?
[It's then Aurica notices Dakki's staring off into space. She walks over to her, head tilted with a frown.] Are you okay, mom?
Reply
It's alright, Aurica. I'll say this much-th' kind of things I saw under th' surface of Ragol, an' what I've seen of th' SEED back in th' Gurhal System- it's enough to make me think there's somethin' bigger goin' on out there beyond th' scope of a single world. Like th' galaxy's one big show, an' everything I've seen an' done is jus' a side show.
[Normally the observation that one's own life is a drop in the bucket would be a no-brainer for a populated world, but Gat and castaways like him have crossed several worlds and fought several flavors of eldritch abominations.]
[Aurica's other question changes his train of thought, though.]
You know anything about th' particles that're a part of electromagnetic radiation? Photons're kind of th' same. Named th' same, even-but these kinda photons convert spiritual energies into other kinds ( ... )
Reply
The side show helps support the big one, though.
[Well! Now she has a basket full of shaken-out damp clothes. It would be a good time to excuse herself. So she does, flashing another smile at Aurica on the way out.]
Reply
[She could only look on in a troubled frown as Dakki went on her way. She sighed inwardly as she knew she was faking it. Her attention turned back to Gat for the moment though.
Galaxy... Someone she met earlier today had told her about his own galaxy, a concept she didn't really imagine until then. It was still something to be easily overwhelmed by, as she listened on.]
Not really, but I think I can understand...back on my world we could use the Symphonic Power of materials and Song Magic to power things.
[Her own depression was beginning to set in though.] Did something happen to Dakki before..? I feel like I caused that reaction from her...
Reply
... It ain't your fault, Aurica. Dakki an' I, we've both been through a lot. Crossin' worlds from Ragol to th' Gurhal System was-a bit traumatic, I s'pose you could say. As if what we'd found on Ragol weren't enough.
In th' Gurhal System, they call folks like us-former Hunters from Coral an' Ragol-"castaways." ... 'Least, to those in th' know. There's a gag order keepin' us from talkin' about it openly.
[Gat wants to ask about this Song Magic and Symphonic Power business, but he figures it's not a good point in the conversation to do so-yet.]
Reply
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