Momentarily stunned by the beautiful, otherworldly sight of so many spirits and their combined psychic presence, it took Izumi a second to process what the man had said.
Stepping right up to the glass on the airlock door, she concentrated hard on thinking friendly, benevolent thoughts, though she couldn't totally suppress undertones of curiosity and slight nervousness from creeping in.
Izumi stared out at the circling mass of spirits, both looking and mentally listening for any responses.
A group of nomad bodies seem to resonate slightly at the thoughts, swimming around space a little more faster, or erratically. The devotion through the thoughts felt, especially brings a reaction from them.
She begins to 'feel' some small bits of what the nomads are talking about. Small waves of curiosity, wonder, surprise, skepticism, and even some confusion.
A small group flies off, leaving the station proximity, but a medium size amount still remains, the smaller group still acting a little more stirred up.
After gauging the reactions her initial thoughts had gotten, Izumi switched to thinking about the process itself, allowing a sense of purpose and conviction to seep along with it. The mental chatter from the group of spirits was lessened by the departure of some, but it was still like listening to a crowded room all talking at once. The experience was therapeutic, as interaction with the divine always was, and Izumi felt herself relax in the mental contact.
Slowly, in Izumi's mind, the feelings of the Nomad bodies start to filter out. Some becoming quieter than the others.
This process takes a good fifteen minutes. But in the end, there were only three which remained as loud in her mind as before, the others background noise now.
Three possible choices. The three feel this, slowly making their way closer to the airlock window. Each and every one of the three curious of a human willing to join them. Something almost unheard of except for a select past few occurrences.
Looking at each of the three in turn, Izumi finally focused on the reasons behind her coming here. The message of tolerance and unity between species. The backlash reported in the news articles; hatred and rejection of the Oracles' teaching, combined with the ensuing persecution and imprisonment. And, last of all, her own anguish at realising that there was only one way forwards, both for the spirits and for Izumi herself.
To Izumi, both the remaining spirits looked suitable. The fact that they still had interest and were willing to accept her was proof enough of that. The spirit and subject must choose one another; both must make a choice, not solely one or the other.
It was her turn to choose. Flicking her gaze from one to the other, she sensed a feeling of clarity and understanding from one, whereas the link she felt with the second seemed more tenuous and fragile, although still benevolent.
Carefully, Izumi thought positive thoughts at both spirits, but ultimately focused on sending a concept of acceptance to the spirit with the sharp, pure telepathic presence. Such a clear contact could only be fortuitous.
The spirit she directed her thoughts and energy to stops moving. Only floating there, the second slowly starting to leave. the group has been narrowed down to one.
The man who stood patiently a good ten feet away moved forwards at seeing this.
"It seems you have made your decision. A spirit has chosen you, and you have chosen the spirit. Let us hope you have chosen which is truly correct for you."
Stepping back, closer to the tube, a glass opening visible at the side of it. "When you are ready, please undress and enter the chamber."
Some of the technicians are carefully setting out some Nomad Artifacts in a place near the machine, each one symbolizing something important to the Nomads, glowing slightly as they are placed in their slot.
The nomad body outside continues to float, not moving much, only seeming to observe.
Shrugging off her all-in-one flight jumpsuit, Izumi stepped into the central chamber, gazing out at the floating spirit even as the glass door shut again. She could still feel its mental presence, and the thought of it watching over her gave her hope.
One of the technicians step forward and places a flexible oxygen mask over her mouth, making sure it was secure, he steps back, only for another holding a needle push an IV into her arm.
Above her, she can see a strange glowing orb removed from a case, carefully placed into the machine above her, the technicians almost seeming worried that the sphere would act up.
"We will be beginning Miss Izumi. Best of luck to you."
The glass doorway seals shut, the area slowly starting to fill up with a strange liquid. Immediately, the orb housed above her starts to glow, causing her body to tingle uncomfortably.
__
One of the technicians turns to the man that brought her in. "Everything seems to be in place." Eyeing the nomad outside "Let us hope she has an understanding with the great spirit."
The man glances inside at Izumi. "Give her thirty seconds. Then lets begin."
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