Cath

Song Reference time

One more now and I'm out the door
Three more down and I become the floor
I've been keen on burning out
I'm leaning harder on you now
Going on and on about the world
I'm begging, begging for more

Think fast, don't look back
Coming at you like a heart attack
Move slow, head low
Gonna feel the pain from head to toe
Three more down and I become the floor
Thoughts of a second chance have got me begging
Begging for more

Begging for more

The Cradle

Freyr chuckled humorlessly with Vreta, looking surreptitiously around her. There was no sign of Agent 595; Freyr supposed she was packing her things. Dr Lang then fixed Vreta with a steely stare.

“Lets just say i have a bad feeling about this. I need to return to my division headquarters in New Antioch, where we have the best possible view of any changes to the Cradle macrocosm. There is a risk of disentanglement if this new object decides to try and escape with it, but we’re completely powerless on the outside. I can use more people I trust on the inside. People with...nerve.”

Freyr didn’t quite know how to word the Rothian’s surprisingly competent handling of stressful situations. It was certainly something she could use more of - her hand still shook from their descent down the side of that mountain. She supposed 595 was right that he must be some kind of secret agent; at least that might mean the two of them would cancel each other out.

The Barbarossa pulled up slowly alongside a geo-sync docking station and they latched together. Only the slightest vibration registered in the lab. “Ladies and gentlemen, we need to go! Freyr, Dr Khatri packed your bag and sent it on. You were never going to do it anyway.” Dr Wetherall called from across the lab, slipping his coat on.

The Cradle

Freyr almost didn’t respond to Vreta. His words ran down her neck like warm rain, completely unnoticeable until they hit a dry patch. After a couple of seconds, she looked up and turned slightly to look at the Rothian. The feedback loop in her mind replayed his question to her. “Oh, thank you. That’s very kind, but I think I can manage.”

She smiled at him distractedly, then sighed. “It seems we’re in the middle of a labyrinth, Vreta’Sori. Every step we take just seems to muddle the way through even further. And now, we’re introducing the biggest change to the Cradle’s conditions in potentially millions of years, and I’m still not clear on what exactly will happen. I was close to piecing some things together in the simulation, but now we're out of time...How do you feel about re-entering the Cradle, after what happened last time?”

Runt's 1x1 Interest Check - CLOSED!

Sure, lets parle .

My Discord is Catharyn#7204. I'm working right now but should be free in a couple hours. Whisper RP things in my ear pls.

Runt's 1x1 Interest Check - CLOSED!

Oh hey. I like the first idea and love the interactive map! But I'm afraid I'll go missing - i don't know how i'm going to feel when i'm not allowed to work from home full time

The Cradle

Freyr fainted at least twice in between their last expedition inside the Object, and the proposed date of its return to Outremer. The Barb’s physicians scanned her out of an abundance of caution, but found nothing wrong with her. The Rothian brain scans also came back inconclusive. Dr Lang was stressed, tired and grieving still, but those were all normal, Human responses.

Freyr pushed her team as hard as she pushed herself. They had an enormous reservoir of information to make sense of from their expedition, and very little time to make an impact. She tried not to resent Nirann for forcing her to leave the Rübezahl’s final uplink inside the Object. She had programmed it in secret to aggressively mine data bearing similarities to the galactic signposts left inside the Rothian DNA.

Nevertheless, Freyr held out hope that something else would come up. The analysis of Human DNA hadn’t yielded any clues as to the location of other Objects. The team used a second range of samples from scientists and crew members after hers had been misplaced.

Dr Lang was still working as the Barbarossa's lab was stripped of anything the team might need while operating from Outremer again. Technicians and academics flitted about her as she stared intently at the map they’d started to draw of the Object’s innards. Freyr was so engrossed that she jumped when Dr Wetherall placed a hand on her shoulder. “Time to pack your things, Freyr. We’re going through the gateway now, won’t be long until we’re home.”

“Mmmm. Fine.” Freyr admitted absently, waving him away.

The Cradle

595’s skin crawled again as Vreta described parts of what was supposed to be her memory. She restrained herself from validating what the Rothian said on that front - it was still just a vision. There was nothing that could prove it was real.

The Agent bit her lip as Vreta carried on. Digging down in this mystery with the squids would almost certainly compromise her mission even further. But she was starting to question even those parameters now; was it not her duty to read between the lines of Outremer’s divine plan?

That being said, 595 still greatly distrusted the offer of an excursion on the planet below. The entire apparatus had clearly aligned on the goal of extracting information from her. ”I don’t know...i kind of like it up here.” she answered. ”Why don't you cancel everything and come see us?”

The Cradle

The Agent pulled absently at the tight blonde plait down the back of her neck. “No, i think it’ll want to work very closely with you.” She sent back, with a smirk on her face. ”Something tells me this thing keeps its young close, unlike yourselves.”

A cargo droid shooed 595 off of the crate she’d sat down on. She started moving again, weaving through the throngs of people. “How are you feeling, Vreta’Sori? You’ve been through a lot. Do you feel anything out of the ordinary?”

The Cradle

595 grimaced as she emerged onto a central causeway joining each of the Barbarossa’s levels. Streams of personnel broke around her like water around a rock. She switched to talking via her implant, while trying to make her way to the side of the passage so she could have a bit of privacy.

“That’s not my decision to make, Vreta’Sori. I’m just the instrument, remember?” She replied internally, pushing past a gaggle of off-duty crew. She sighed. She had a pool of dreadful excitement bubbling in her chest at the prospect of her meeting with the DG later. He’d be equal measures furious when he found out what she’d done, and proud when he found out what she’d gained.

”Outremer is resilient. We have contingency plans in motion even as we speak, believe me. It’s just a shame our politicians see fit to argue in public; we might even project strength at a time like this. What was it that you wanted to talk out, exactly?"

The Cradle

595 hid at the back of the conference floor, leaning against the wall with her arms folded. The tiny grimace on her face could’ve been a smile. She didn’t have the whole plan, but from what she knew, things appeared to be progressing as expected.

She hadn’t been able to contact the Director-General since the simulation, and noted that a subordinate had spoken of the Cradle in his stead. In some ways she was relieved; it gave her more time to deliberate on what she’d found. But it was concerning that she was effectively pushing from the inside with no equal external pressure - more risk that way. She resolved to try him again this morning.

After the meeting, 595 weaved through the clusters of conversation bubbling up throughout the room and checked in with Freyr. She looked pale and tired, so the Agent kept her company while they walked from the room. 595 half-heartedly agreed to go back through events again, but fortunately was saved by an incoming call from committing to a time. She ground her teeth when she realised who was calling, though. “Sorry, I guess I should take this.” 595 apologised to Freyr, before stalking off and accepting to call.

“Contrary to what our shared experience may have you believing...we aren’t pals, Vreta’Sori.” 595 growled. “I’m a government agent charged with protecting a VIP while she and her team conduct vital research which may decide the fate of both our species. I’ve given verbal testimony regarding our run-in with the Hegemon - I suggest we leave the actual analysis to experts, ok?”