Afina

Shattering The Crystal Silence - Closed

@Markofkri it wouldn't be at this point, alarms went off, announcments were made, people in the tower gossiping, chatting about it, etc. Sorry if it got clouded in the posts, they've been coming kind of fast. No worries though, hold any edit, I'll just have her filled in personally my next post.

Shattering The Crystal Silence - Closed

@Markofkri Just to let you know, Silvia is kind of trapped in a mine shaft right now, but if you want to have Ashala go to the Mor and leave it with Gwen, who is running the Tower right now, feel free.

Shattering The Crystal Silence - Closed

The Mor

Leaning back in the chair Gwen looked around, this was not where she wanted to be. She had the ability to run the tower, she was fully trained but the mines were always more comfortable to her for some odd reason. She was one of the few singers out there that wasn’t insane, perhaps it was because she had chosen to go to them instead of breaking and being forced to. It wasn’t a life many could handle but she had for several decades now. It was hard work, dirty and even heart breaking but in the end she did love it.

“Ailen, Criag has locked them up and there are guards for now. Just grab some food and come back up here. Maybe we can get a few things done around here while we wait for the storm to pass now that we know that Silvia is at least alive right now.”

Looking over towards Ailen she perked a brow at the mention a plan that Craig had had and commed him. “So what is this plan you have in the works?” she asked.

“It’s a long story, I will let you know as soon as I make contact with someone. Till then I will be in my quarters catching up on some much needed rest so I can relieve Ailen in a few hours. Right now I am about to pass out after a nearly 48 hour shift,” he said before cutting the com and lying down on his bed. He knew he would be no good to them if he didn’t get at least a few hours’ sleep before continuing anything else. The storm should be passed them by then and then things can return to normal. Whatever that is.

Safe Room

“Nowhere for now, we have to wait for the storm to pass,” Silvia said as she looked over to him. “When the humming stops it will be safe to move,” she added as she stepped away from him and turned to look around the room. She needed to change but there wasn’t exactly a place to do that, it was a single room with no sectioned off area. Sighing she figured she just would have to suck it up, they were both adults and she had undergarments on. It wasn’t like they were two teen agers that had never seen anything in their lives.

Stepping over to the clothing she went through what was there and she sighed slightly. There was nothing there that was small enough for her but it wasn’t something she wasn’t used to. She had a feeling that Gaia had a worse time of it than she did finding clothing that fit. Finding the smallest Singer jumper she could she kept her back to Karras and kicked her boots off before unzipping the jumper she was wearing and slipping out of it; leaving herself in her undergarments. Holding up the jumper she took off she sighed, it was ripped to shreds but she figured better it than her.

Stepping one foot at a time she pulled the jumper up and secured it back at her waist, thinking that it was better than putting it on fully since it would just swallow her whole. Once she finished tying the sleeves around her waist she sat down on the ground and pulled her boots back on. “I know you probably hate the GTC as much as many of us and I won’t lie. Your people may be caught in the middle of this but I want you to know I am not just doing this for talents. The Brax’Na shouldn’t be in the position where they are now. Having to survive off of what the GTC gives them. On Earth the talents makes three times as much that work for the mines than you do here and your mine produces much better crystals than Earth does,” she said as she finished lacing up her boots.

“I know, my personal crystal was from this mine,” she said as she turned around and smiled over to him. “I doubt you realize how valuable your mining rights are and what the GTC would do to be rid of your race,” she added as her smiled failed. Standing up and brushing herself off she walked over to him. “It’s one of the reasons I came here first. There are rumors of what the GTC plans to do to get those rights. I don’t want your people annihilated. No race should have to live in fear,” she said as she looked up at him and rested her hand on his arm. “I can’t say it will be an easy road but I will do everything I can to protect your people. I promise.”

The Plague (Dead)

Danica sat up and unzipped her hoodie, shrugging it off her shoulders before laying it over her lap and taking a moment to enjoy the air. Feeling a touch to her shoulder she glanced over to see Armend there and tilted her head at his words before glancing over towards the armory building before looking back over to him. “That sounds like a good idea, the Swartz is strong with you,” she said with a laugh before standing up and tying the hoodie around her waist and retrieving the gun he had given her. “I need something I can put this in other than my pack anyways. A holster or something would be a lot better than a jacket pocket,” she said as she picked up her pack and slung it over her shoulder.

Turning she made her way towards the armory before glancing over towards Sean. “You may want to trade out that tripod for something a bit more durable,” she said before continuing on her way. Sean looked over to her and nodded as he began to follow suit.

“Looks like you won’t be able to add to your ink work for a while,” Sean quipped as he walked up next to her and touched her back; narrowing her eyes slightly as she reached back and grabbed his hand twisting it around and pushing him away. “Bloody hell woman!”

“I have told you for six years, your mits don’t touch me Irish,” she snapped before looking over to Armend and pointing to Sean. “Darth Helmet,” she said with a smirk before patting him on the shoulder. “And your Lonestar,” she said chuckling slightly and pushing her way into the armory and glancing around. Stopping in her tracks as she heard Otis and perking a brow. “Wow, we got Scarface in here. Should we say hello to your little friend?” she said as she laughed before walking further into the armory and taking a look around.

Shattering The Crystal Silence - Closed

Safe Room

Silvia looked over to Karras and just pushed the supplies away. “I’m fine,” she said quickly as she slowly and with a bit more sure footedness than before pushed past him to see what was under the canvas. Pulling it back her face lit up, it was a Black Crystal. “That sneaky old bitch, god I love her!” she exclaimed as she pulled it off completely. It was unique, cut in the oddest shape, sharp edges instead of rounded ones but she could tell it had been cut and she knew the lines of the cutting. “Gwen did this,” she said as she placed her hand on the crystal and leaned in to get a better look at it. Her eyes widening somewhat as she looked deeper past the surface. Her eyes closing for a moment as she let out a soft note from her vocal cords and the crystal sang back to her softly.

Removing her hand slowly she smiled. “Well, I’ll be damned,” she said as she just stood there looking at it. “This must be the crystal she sent me the sample of. I wonder,” she said as thoughts began running through her mind before looking over at Karras. “Okay, give me an hour or two to recuperate and then we are going to get the hell out of here,” she said as she walked over to the table and grabbed the water bottle and some rags, cleaning the blood and dirt off her skin that was exposed. Once she was cleaned up she looked to be in decent condition, the wounds were closed and the bleeding had stopped.

She would have some bruises and scratches for a day or two and one rather large hand print sized bruise on her flesh from where Karras had grabbed her to pull her into the safe room. Her fingers trailed over the bruise as she looked over to him. “Seems you left your mark on me,” she said with a laugh to him and smirked as she watched him with the weapon. “Don’t worry I won’t tell, long as you keep your mouth closed about me looking like this. We both have a reputation to keep up,” she said as she reached out and placed one hand on the weapon and the other over his.

“Like this,” she said as she flipped a few switches on it and it powered up. Stepping closer to him she explained how it worked, her fingers trailing over the gun, his hands and up his arms to his shoulders to show how to handle it. “See,” she said before powering it back down. “Maybe once we get out of here you can show me how to use a blade, you know, in exchange for this lesson,” she said as she looked up at him slowly. “Would only be fair,” she said with a faint smile. She found herself feeling slightly over heated again and looked away quickly. “So, yeah, you got it or need to me go over it again?” she asked as she looked back over to him and tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear.

The Mor

Gwen leaned back in her seat and nodded to Ailens words, waiting for the channel to be opened. “I see, well that could come in handy,” she said with a wink towards Ailens mention of the bounty that was taken. Placing her hands on the crystal receivers she powered up Silvias crystal and went silent for a moment as her eyes closed. Her expression was blank for a time before a smile came to her lips. “She’s alive, the crystal still sings to her,” she said quietly before opening her eyes once again and taking a deep sigh of relief. Marx jumping up with a fist pump in the air.

“That’s my Angel!” he shouted.

Turning her attention to the screen Gwen motioned for Ailen to hit the upload and broadcast button as a rather odd looking fellow popped up on the screen. His skin was pink and orange with a diamond shaped head and no hair.

“Afternoon Magistrate Velium,” Gwen said quickly.

“Gwen? Wow, I didn’t expect a call from you. What brings you out of the mines?” the man asked, seemingly slightly confused.

“Long story, I am just filling in a place that was already temporary as it was. You should be receiving some files as we speak. I need to make one position permanent and remove a problem from this Tower once and for all,” she said as she rose from her chair. Velium looked over the files and his eyes widened before quickly shaking off the expression.

“I see, well it will take time you know.”

“No it won’t,” she said cutting him off.

“And why is that?” he asked in a huff.

“Check the broadcast,” she said as she crossed her arms over her chest.

“You old bat you,” he said laughing. “You always knew how to cut through the red tape, alright, alright, but you owe me,” he said as her ran tentacle like fingers over his sharp jawline.

“I mined your crystal; you still owe me for that. Let’s call it even,” she said with a stern voice.

“Done!” he said with a bit a glee in his voice. “Give me a few minutes,” he said before he looked down and went to work. After around five minutes of silence and a lot of noise from key strokes he looked back over to her.

“Alright, per GTC emergency regulations and rules governing T-1 Tower Leads the following has been granted. The Tower is now Silvias, you are to be her back up until if and when she replaces you with someone else. Tristan is to be moved off world and will take over the prison planet until his formal tribunal and restricted from ever setting foot back on Altenia. The Twins are to remain in lock down until the mine is cleared and Silvia recovered except for when needed in the Mor, when they are in the Mor they will be under strict supervision of second in command of security,” he said as he looked to Gwen.

“I take it that is it our job to get Tristan off world,” she quipped.

“He’s your problem,” the man responded before cutting transmission. Gwen smirked and looked over towards Ailen.

“He ain’t our problem for long. Now we just need a ship and a pilot that can transport his ass. Got any ideas?” she said to Ailen as she sat back down in the chair.

The Sands of Blood (Dead)

Sana waited as the elf she had addressed held up a hand and went off for a moment, when he came back he handed her a quiver of arrows unlike any that she had seen before. Reaching out she took them gingerly from his hand and pulled one of the arrows from the quiver as he explained that they were silver arrows. She thanked him as she slung the quiver across her back, opposite of her other quiver. She wanted them for quick reach but knew that she could still use her regular arrows for lesser creatures. “Thank you again,” she said before turning as she heard Vivian and nodded. “Sorry for the short thanks but I have to run,” she said before waving and running off back to the wagon.

Jumping in the back she smiled over towards Hugh and took a seat next to him, leaning close as she rested her head on his shoulder and lacing her fingers with his. “Seems Roger has some help now,” she said motioning to the new addition of horses. “At least now he can relax a bit,” she said as she sat there. Tilting her head back she looked up at Hugh and smiled softly, he seemed to have a calming effect on her that she was enjoying immensely. Even with the world seeming on the verge of collapse around them she felt relaxed and at ease when she was around him. Oddly she wasn’t worried. She knew full and well that everything could make a turn for the worst and they could all end up dead in the end but even that thought didn’t seem to bother her right then.

There, in the wagon, there was some peace for now. Sana figured that she might as well enjoy what peace they could steal away right now instead of dreading what might happen. It never did well to worry about what if’s. Turning her body slightly she rested her free hand in the crook of his elbow and pulled herself slightly closer. She wanted to curl up in his lap right then but figured he may just need to relax a bit himself, so she opted to just rest next to him for now. She just sat there against him, gazing up at him and taking in his features, letting each one sear into her memory.

The Forests of Death (Dead)

Ramara

Ramara perked a brow as Ishmael said they were to make camp for the night and shrugged as she followed him off the road and into the forest somewhat until he had chosen a camp site. Dismounting her horse she tied him to a tree and looked around. “Yeah, no thanks,” she said as she looked at the tents and climbed up high into a tree, making herself comfortable as she sat down, straddling a branch as she did and leaning back against the trunk of the tree.

Over the years she had found she rested better if she was off the ground and separated from the group a bit. Sighing to herself she pulled some food from her side pack and ate quietly as she watched the rest below her, taking a small sip of water from her skin every so often. They were an interesting bunch but she wondered if with so few they could really take care of things. The squire seemed all but helpless and the young corsair tended to run into situations without thinking. Oh well, she thought to herself, they are Ishmaels and Regalias problems, not mine.

Regalia

Regalia followed the group, chuckling somewhat at what Inyata had said towards the Orc, cheering him on. The girl had spirit; she had to give her that. Once Inyata was back safely in the saddle she pressed on, following Ishmael to the chosen camp site and waited for Inyata to dismount before she did. She pushed her hair out of her face as she looked around. She had a tent but left it be for now since Ishmael had seemed to go ahead and take care of one for her and the rest of the group. “Thank you,” she said kindly towards Ishmael and had a seat by the fire.

This was just the first of many long days ahead of them. Pulling out her sword she rested it in her lap as she pulled out a polishing cloth. It didn’t seem to need any tending to but she did so nonetheless, the sword had been passed to her from her father and it was the one thing she had left of him these days. Sighing slightly as she worked she would look up from the blade every so often to take a look at the group before going back to work. Laughing somewhat at Cecerias reaction to the Orcs jerky and making a mental note that perhaps she should stay away from anything that he cooked up.

The Plague (Dead)

Danica nodded towards Armend and then looked over towards Otis. “Well I’m Danica, follow us if you want to live type thing,” she said before turning back to Armend and placing her hand on his shoulder. “Come on, the inquisition is over for now,” she said with a smile before she walked over to Sean and took his hand, pulling him to his feet. “You have got to toughen up or I won’t be the only one laying into you,” she remarked before picking up his tripod and shoving it into his chest.

Sean grumbled under his breath and Danica snapped around to look at him. “What was that?” she asked as she rose a brow.

“Nothing,” he answered and went back to mumbling. Danica just shook her head and followed Zomura to the compound; looking up at the walls and the gate. “Wonder if the gate is strong enough to hold out a horde or if it would be better to reinforce it somehow,” she muttered to herself before walking through the gate with Sean in tow; letting out a low whistle as she looked around. “Got yourselves your own little paradise here, nice,” she said as she continued to follow.

Nodding towards Zomura as he said to make themselves at home; she found a place to sit down and took off her shoes, shaking out some gravel that had worked their way into them. Sighing she looked over to the group. Compounds were great, but they always seemed to be either over run by someone else later on or by Zombies that popped up within as people died from anything from illness to a trip down the stairs. At least that was how it worked in the movies and the shows.

Leaning back Danica looked up for a bit, she had a lot of nervous energy running through her from the jump earlier in the day and everything else that had happened. Right now she wanted to find a rock face and just climb but she knew it wasn’t an option. Sliding her shoes back on she looked around again, seeing Sean pacing and decided to just leave him alone for now.

Shattering The Crystal Silence - Closed

Okay, at end of my last post we are roughly at 4 pm Altenia Time

Gaia - Infirmary as minor injuries and one body to process for the morgue.
Srath - Craig is awaiting contact from Srath once he reaches his personal quarters, overrides for entrance have been granted.
Ailen - Say hello to a new T-1
Jeremiah - you are back at the Tower now - engineering won't be needed for a little bit, so your cool to do your own thing.
Ashala - You are open to do your own thing still or if you want have the Roughnecks supply up the Miners and Singers for when the storm passes - They are going to be in the docks.

Shattering The Crystal Silence - Closed

Docks Of The Altenia Tower

Lou pulled the main vehicle in with the rest of them following close behind. Gwen hopped out quickly and ran over to the com. “Craig, enacting emergency procedures for the Mine, report to the Mor, I will meet you there,” Gwen said quickly before looking over at Marx. “You come with me, the rest of you, regear. We need the mines, once the storm passes I want everyone back out there and find a new place to create an entrance. Grab the Singers once the storm has passed. We’ve dug out a new mine before, we will again.”

“And what about Silvia?” Marx yelled as he climbed out of the transport.

“Either she is dead or they made it to safety. We don’t have time to dig out a body. If they made it to where I think they were headed, she’ll figure it out,” Gwen said as she walked towards the Elevator. Marx ran after her and grabbed her arm.

“I am not just going to give up on getting her out,” he snapped as he spun her around. Gwen narrowed her eyes and ripped her arm away from him.

“I’m not giving up on her, I am having faith in her,” she said quickly before entering the elevator and heading towards the Mor.

[b][/center]The Altenia Tower[/center][/b]

Craig sighed deeply as he listened to Ailen. ”Just breath man, okay? If anyone can get out of this mess Silvia and that Jun’Krama can. Brains and Brawn. And we have another option, I was just messaged by Gwen to meet her in the Mor, if she is up to what I think she is, we just found option C,” Craig said before receiving the com from Srath.

“Srath man, good to hear from you. Been waiting for your call. Listen I have a job for you but with everything going on in the Mines I cannot risk sending any security off world for Transport. So I will need your unique skills. Soon as you can please head to my quarters, I have you keyed in for access. Let me know when you get there and I will head down do we can speak in person,” Craig answered quickly as he headed to the elevator and up to the Mor.

Craig arrived in the Mor a few moments before Gwen and Marx did. Gwen stepped in and looked around, walking over to the main computer before sitting down. Marx sighed deeply as he stepped over to Ailen but didn’t say anything, he didn’t know what to say at this point. After a few minutes at the computer working in silence Gwen raised the Tower Com.

“Attention all personnel; this is Singer Gwen Ravous. Due to a collapse at the mine our current Tower Lead is M.I.A., since there are no available T-1’s ones left I regret to inform you that your temporary Tower Lead will be,” Gwen said before pausing for a moment. The Twins eyes got wide and a large smile came over their features. Their usual casual demeanor about never wanting a tower fading away and showing that this was something they truly wanted.

“Me, clearance has been granted by GTC,” Gwen finished as she turned around and flung a crystal drive towards Ailen. “Silvia gave this copy to me in the Mines before everything happened,” she said as she looked over towards Marx.

“Same thing she sent me?” Marx asked as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“Bingo,” Gwen said. “The woman knew how to cover her bases.”

“Knows how to cover her bases,” Marx correctly quickly.

“Ailen, hail GTC Justice Division, we have a report to make, open all frequencies to a joining Tower. I don’t want this one getting lost in the static,” she said quickly before looking over at Craig. “Get these bitches out of my Mor until Silvia gets back. They’re off duty for the next 18 hours at least,” Gwen said as the Twins faces went from happy to fury filled.
“Sorry girls, with the mine and the storm, we cannot risk you get hurt as well. Craig, make sure they are confined to quarters for their own safety until their next shift and then escort them back personally. Give them the Tristan Treatment, you know, just to shield them from anything bad that someone may try to do to them,” Gwen added with a wink. Craig smiled and motioned for the Twins to follow him. Both of them huffed but followed.

”We should just make a break for it now”, Gemini said telepathically to her sister.

”No, it will make them suspect,” Gemine replied.

”Well we didn’t have a thing to do with the Mine!”

”I know but we had other matters to attend to, so just go with it for now.”

Craig lead them out of the tower and Gwen sighed deeply as she took a seat in the Tower Lead Chair, retracting the spare one for the Twins. “Marx, I need Silvias crystal unlocked, keep the rest locked down,” she said as she rubbed her temples.

“Why Silvias? You aren’t bonded to it,” Marx said as he looked at Gwen confused. A T-1 using a black crystal that had bonded with another was deadly.

“Yes, I am. I was the singer that cut it,” Gwen remarked as she looked over to him. “I was the first to bond with it and it has a link with her. I need it to see if she is still alive,” she added as she waited.

Marx turned and went to override the security protocol. “Ailen, please, fill me in on what has been happening here since Silvia left,” Gwen said as she looked over to him, waiting on Marx to take care of his assigned task.

Infirmary Of Altenia Tower

Lou had the Moles bring the remains of Trevor to the infirmary for processing before he was to be moved to the morgue as well as the injured. There we about half a dozen people that needed tending to for minor cuts and some empathic mental restoration due to the mines humming before they could get out. It was nothing major thankfully.

Safe Room in the Mines

Silvia sat there on the ground and drew a long deep breath. The reason she was more physically fit than most high level talents was because she had lived on Earth and been cross trained in so many things as she grew up. Cave-ins happened, power was lost, things went wrong and crystals that could act as the physical side to keep stamina and strength going were not always available. What she had done took as much physical fortitude as mental. As Karras pulled her over to him she looked at him oddly. What in the world was he doing? Why wasn’t he looking for supplies? Or an exit? He was holding her, this was yet another thing she wasn’t expecting.

Leaning back against him she smirked slightly at his words. “Yeah, I really don’t want to have our dead bodies found down here,” she said. “I think both our reputations would be ruined if we died with me in your arms,” she said and laughed weakly. She sighed slightly and let herself rest against him, she wanted to get up and look around but she knew better than to push it at this point. The bleeding had stopped but it could start again if she tried too much too soon. She wasn’t exactly sure what was in the room, she had been busy talking to Gwen last time she was in there to take notice of anything but the maps.

“The maps!” she suddenly exclaimed as she looked up at him. “I need to look at the maps,” she added quickly before rolling out of his lap and stumbling to her feet. She barely managed to get upright, an arm wrapped around her waist as she walked, wobbling from left to right as she did before she nearly crashed into the table and rested down on a stool as she began to examine the maps of the dug out portions of the mine that were not in the GTC files.

If one were to look around they would see basic emergency supplies, first aid for basics as well as Talents. Manuals, food supplies, clothing, water, etc; as well as weapons. “Oh I might kiss you,” she said as she looked over the maps and papers that were on the make shift table. “When we get out of here,” she added as she turned her head and smiled faintly. “I guess I need to explain somethings though,” she said before looking back over the maps. As she studied them she filled Karras in on the resistance, what she was hoping to accomplish and why she chose this planet to start. “So you see,” she said once she was finished explaining why they were in a room that wasn’t on the map. “I have to get out of here,” she said as she looked up and across from her, her eyes widening as she spotted something peeking out from under a canvas sheet. “Holy shit….”