//This was supposed to have been posted ages ago.. Meh, no time like today..//
The hangar is nearly abandoned as Aj'enel exits her ship, with only a couple techs working on a gunboat at the far end. Picaro had arranged for it to be so the prior to the arrangement, leaving as little room for error as possible. Now, only a couple sabres, a falcata, the gunboat, and Kri'en's vessel occupy it. She looks at the few ships, easily spotting his 'Stinger' a few spaces down, him sitting on the wing not seeing her.
She takes a moment to gather herself, then begins walking towards him, trying to look up-beat.
The hangar was nearly empty and as everyone stood there, only a few knowing that the so called: Enclave would arrive soon.
The Hangar doors where closing when a transmission came in to the Hangar Control area. And the hangar Control commander seamed to keep them open.
The Hangar bay made a hushing sound as "something" came trough the field keeping the air outside the area.
A few moments later an shimmering was seen from one off the Empty dock ports and a transport, looking completely alien to all Outcast Personnel, carrying a white symbol, with a strange v in the middle off it, appeared. It's cloak turning off.
Aj'enel pauses to watch this, Kri'en soon noticing her and turning to see what she was looking at. After a moment she continues walking, stopping a meter from him. He turns back to her. "You can't let them do this. You don't understand."
She sighs, looking up at him, his feet dangling from the wing. "It has to be done. We've already talked about this. You know I wouldn't let anything bad happen to you."
"But that's exactly what you are doing! It's like I said it's..." He trails off seeing the look on her face, knowing her mind was made up. "I won't go along with this..."
The doors off the transports, suddenly appears by the dock bridge leading to the transport, the doors just... Built themselves there.
As they opened a rather bright blue light shines outside, coming from within the ship.
Two figures emerges, one off these, reaching 6 feet and the other 5, both cloaked and there faces covered with a lowered hood.
Behind the two, two additional figures emerges, but these reach 7 and a half feet, theyre heavily built and cloaked as the ones before them, but the weird thing was that both off the last ones seams to be almost identical in size and width.
The four make their way, only stopping to bow at the storage workers and are making their way towards Aj'enel and the group..
She turns to face them, standing and waiting for them to reach her, trying to look calm, but really feeling very nervous. "Everything will be alright." She says quietly to Kri'en.
He turns his head to watch them as well, looking slightly surprised at the size of the two in back. "I hate it when you say that.." He says in an angry tone.
The two, un-identical people reach them and the shorter one shows feminine forms under her robes. And her face is.. Visible, except for a mask, but her face, it has circuitry in it, covering her skin and her eyes glows in a slight shimmer off red.
The other, obviously a man (lacking any feminine forms), had his cloak over his head but his face, it was covered in a.. Dark, static like blackness. At first one would think it it was a black mask over the face, but as he came closer the darkness was a void, it actually had a static filled blackness in it, under the hood.
The two bowed low at Aj'enel, and bowed to each and everyone..
The two others remained behind the others, but off them nothing could be seen. Except their black cloaks with hoods covering their faces. They looked as if they where in a constant prayer.
Aj'enel bows her head slightly at them, moving away a stray strand of her dark brown hair as she raises it again. "Greetings. I'm Aj'enel."
Kri'en says nothing, and doesn't bother with greeting as he sits on the wing above them. Aj'enel shoots him an annoyed look before turning back to them. "That would be Kri'en...I apologize for his...lack of manners."
The women bows at Aj'enel and speak with a monotone voice "I am Acolyte Zeni, off the Virulian Enclave" She motions to the man standing next to him "This is Arch Priest Jacheam off the Virulian Council, our leading government. He is also the one that will handle.. The progress and as his speech would be harmful for your ears, i will speak in his stead.. " She motioned with her right hand towards the two behind her and Arch Priest Jacheam "These two are simple followers that will assist in any way during the.. Procedure.. They are harmless.. But they are vital to our efforts as they carry the equipment necessary"
The man called: Arch Priest Jacheam bows low and the the two figures behind the two "priests" bow slightly as well.
She nods towards them, turning her gaze back to Zeni. "A pleasure..."
"Like hell." Kri'en says under his breath, too low for Aj'enel to hear.
"...thank you for coming. I assume you have been fully informed of the situation?"
Zeni nods and speaks, yet again with a monotone voice, impossible to sense any emotional difference. But she obviously carries it within her as she also smiles as she says: "We have been informed off.. Everything, and we've managed to make some conclusions on our own" She stops and looks at the Arch priest as if she was listening to something he said, but nothing was heard, by any party. She continued:
"We are positive that it will work out. Well. We would dare to say, perfect."
She smiles as she removes the mask to show a pretty face, all tough covered with blue circuitry under the skin. She looks about 18 years old.
Aj'enel examines her face with her green eyes, looking to be in her twenties, but her true age much older than that. She returns a half-heartened smile, being used to strict formalities. "Glad to hear you are so confident. I myself, have my doubts." She gives Kri'en another glance, her eyes conveying a warning.
He grins and looks innocent, holding his hands a few inches above his legs for a moment, palms upward before dropping them back down.
Zeni quickly nods and looks directly up at Kri'en, she smiles at him and says; "So, how does it feel with an AI within your head?"
She says it, matter off factly, as if it was an obvious question to ask.
His grins quickly fades as he looks back at her. "It's not an AI...hence it feels no different than not having one there at all." He says in a slightly angered tone.
She nods and her smile vanishes "Of course not, it is.. Something else, isn't it? Well tell us; Why do you want to keep it?"
He hesitates, running a hand through his short cut light blonde, almost white, hair. After a moment he responds, manner not changing, but seeming less angered.
"Because it's more of an extension of myself. I'm sure you would understand that...unlike others present." He says, not looking towards Aj'enel.
The "Arch Priest" nods and looks up at him, his.. Void seams to probe Kri'en and Zeni speaks, as before: "Well, your friends does not understand and they are concerned. Very concerned and they ought to be. And so should you."
"We where asked to take it out and so we shall, unless the Assassins squad have changed their minds" Looks at Aj'enel with a curious look.
Kri'en gets an odd look on his face as he mentally feels the priest's probing, not responding to her.
Aj'enel gives a slightly confused look as he does, turning back to Zeni. "No, Picaro made it very clear."
Zeni quickly nods and the arch priest does as well, she speaks again: "Then shall we move somewhere a bit more quiet?"
She smiles unnervingly, a smile that doesn't fit with her strange monotone voice.
Kri'en shakes his head, pulling his legs up and standing upright on the wing of his ship. "No, I won't go along with this."
Aj'enel sighs. "Knew that was coming." She says to herself.
Zeni looks at Aj'enel and speaks with a soft voice: "May we, incapacitate him? It would make it easier, we promise no harm will be done" she looks sincere.
Kri'en looks down at Aj'enel. "Don't you dare..."
She hesitates obviously worried, but not looking at him. "I see no other options."
As the words leaves Aj'enel's mouth, the Arch Priest makes a surprisingly swift hand gesture and millions off invisible nano machines surrounds Kri'en. Compressing him so he cant move or speak. Hovering in the air where he sat, only a bit over the tip off the ship.
Aj'enel looks shocked as this happens, turning back to Zeni slightly angered. "What did you do?"
She nodded sympathetic and said with a calm tone "Incapacitated him... Do not not worry, hes just unable to move, to insure any.. Attempts to hinder what you've asked us"
The Arch priest holds out his hand still towards Kri'en, but the invisible little machines doesnt harm Kri'en, only holds him.
Aj'enel nods in understanding, staring at the Arch Priest for a moment before speaking to Zeni.
"Alright, well, Picaro has already arranged an area for this. He failed to tell me where, assuming he'd be here."
Zeni nods and speaks "We can find it for you miss Aj'enel"
She nods at the two behind them, and they in turn bow and lowers their heads real low. Showing that their spines are bulky and pointy.
"They will search for a fitting location on the base, a simple scan nothing else"
"Good. Seems you are as capable as you say..."
She turns to Aj'enel with a unnerving smile and says matter off factly:
"We dont lie.. Or exaggerate our capabilities. We are here to help, nothing more"
The two servants stand up and Zeni nods and turns back to Aj'enel and says with a slightly happier tone:
"They've located the area miss. It's in the corridors behind the medical bay. Three doors down that hallway, we'll follow your lead, with Kri'en" She bows and smiles.
She glances in the indicated direction, then turns back to them, surprised by their abilities. "Very good..." She hesitates, then nods and moves off down the hall, stopping at the correct door and inputting a code Picaro had given her.
All four (with Kri'en) goes inside the room, and stand awaiting for Aj'enel to enter as well.
She walks in, stopping just inside the door to glance at the assortment of medical equipment around the room. "Everything here?"
Zeni looks around, the two servants each moves to a corner and awaits patiently, The Arch priest moves with his hand the now hovering Kri'en onto an examination table. Still being held by the small invisible machines.
Zeni walks in and looks around and states: "We brought our own equipment for this, but it will do, would you please shut the door?" She smiles and bows politely at Aj'enel.
"Oh, of course." She says as she turns, quickly closing the door. "Whatever you wish to use, it's at your disposal. I don't know your methods, but will do my best to assist."
She smiles and bows her head again, it seams to be a custom of theirs.
She turns around towards the Arch Priest who moves his head in a nod at Zeni.
"He is ready"
Zeni looks at Aj'enel and says in a serious tone: "This, will look painful, and it may even be that in someway for the young man, but no permanent damage will be done. Unless something unexpected happens, but we do not belive that it will".
She sighs, glancing at Kri'en. "There's no way to keep it from being painful for him?"
Zeni looks at the Arch Priest and then back at Aj'enel and says with a low voice "The AI in him is.. Strong.. We hope it wont come to it, we really do"
Aj'enel stares at Zeni for a moment. "I see...but it must be done."
The arch priest nods at Aj'enel and then, nothing. Even time itself seams to have stopped, Kri'en stopped moving around in his invisible grasp.
//The nanites starts to multiply and enter his body, hundreds off them, all programmed to attach itself with the Alien AI and direct info back to the Arch Priest//
A slight look of confusion is on her face as she slowly walks towards the Arch Priest and Kri'en.
Zeni stands lowering her head in respect at the Arch Priest as he works, and suddenly the two robed men standing in the corners drop their cloaks and show their robotic forms.
Their chest areas transforms into a device that glows slowly.
Kri'en lies still on the table, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.
Aj'enel stops next to the table, looking at him then glancing at the two men, before turning towards Zeni. "What is happening?"
Zeni smiles and nods at her, her voice now speaks in a human sounds "The procedure has started, right now the Arch Priest is.. Well, examining Kri'el's entire body, mind and spirit for the AI's prescense."
She then gestures her hand towards the two machines whos chests now reminds off two portable shield generators, the energies now flowing from them starts to encircle the Arch Priest.
"These forms are now trying to resupply the Arch Priest with energies to make the procedure more endurable for both parts"
She nods, looking back towards the Arch Priest. "I see..."
The Arch priest continues his work, but it seams that his mind is working harder, a slight blue shimmer is seen around his body. And a energy flow can be seen around his hands.
Kri'en continues to lie still, a look of pain and fear on his face.
The Arch Priest flinches, reacts and then continues only moving his hand slightly while gathering more power.
Zeni at this time walks over to Aj'enel and puts a hand on her shoulder and says: "Do not worry, this is the hard part. But he will be fine" She smiles at her.
She turns to Zeni. "I hope so. I'd never be able to forgive myself if something bad happened to him."
The Arch Priest stops and looks at Zeni, zeni then looks at Aj'enel with a disturbed look on her face:
"We have successfully destroyed the AI's presence within the physical self of Kri'en... But... The AI and his mind has merged, and neither is willing to let go.. We can how ever.. Fully destroy the AI's presence.. If it's your wish.. But there might be.. Complications with Kri'els mind.. We are trying to be honest and do what we can without the Enclaves help.. If we could bring the boy to the Hive, the others could assist.. But.. It's still a slight possibility.."
She Lowers her head as if in disgrace..
Aj'enel stops for a moment, not sure what to say. She turns to the Priest, then Zeni, a look of disbelief on her face.
"I...don't know...how likely is it that complications will occur if he stays here?"
She looks at the Arch Priest and he in turn nods at her. "At best. 30% chance, complications will arise. If you agree with this, we want your word that nothing will happen with our agreement.. We must think off our own as well.. " She looks as if she has the whole galaxy's problems wrapped around her, her face turns with a sad gaze as she remembers where she grew up, with her parents in the Enclave and off her friends running to the Hall off learning to listen to the teachers.. "We.. Don't want to go away.. "
"No, no...it won't effect the agreement...what if you were to take him to your...hive you said?"
She glances back at Kri'en for a moment.
Zeni looks at Kri'en aswell and says confidently: "Then the Arch Priest will have six or seven more off his group off priests assisting him. The percentage will go up to 14%" She looks at Aj'enel again.. "Is this better?"
Aj'enel looks back to Zeni, not answering for a few moments as she thinks it over in her mind.
"Still not the best odds....and I don't know about sending him off to this place..."
Zeni looks.. A bit offended actually.. But quickly retains her stature. "It's safer then any place in Sirius.. That I swear.. You may join of course.." She looks directly at Aj'enel
Aj'enel notices Zeni's look. "Sorry if I offended you...but you have to understand my position. This is not an easy descision..." She pauses a moment. "How far away is this 'hive'?"
She nods "Meani Desert on Malta, hidden under the sand is a bute, there is the entrance to the Hive" she smiles. "Home, to the Enclave"
"Hmm...on Malta..." She glances at the Arch priest again. "Alright, but only if I can stay with him." She hesitates a moment, realizing something. "Damn, Picaro...he should be informed..."
The Arch Priest looks directly at Zeni, she in turn nods and says: "The Arch Priest says that we can freeze Kri'en here, until Picaro returns?" She looks at the Arch Priest again and yet again nods:
"He will stay for weeks if necessary, we have given our word."
"No...this needs to be done. Picaro will just have to be informed later."
Zeni nods and the two machines starts to go into the middle off the room, at first it seams as if they are to hug each other, but after a second their interchangeable parts starts to rebuild themselves into something else. The whole transformation is impressive, with little ease the two machines (within a few minutes) have rebuild them self into a containment unit, approximately the size of a human body (little more). It has four legs and a glass window, so one could see in.
"This will freeze Kri'en until we reach the Hive"
Aj'enel watches, obviously impressed. "Impressive..." She turns back to Zeni. "I'm putting a lot of trust in you in going there."
Zeni nods and so does the Arch Priest as he moves Kri'en into the containment unit, it hushes closed and he is nano freezed (All nanites in his body just holds on to every part of his body and freezes them) He moves towards Aj'enel and then looks at Zeni and she in turn says; "We are ready to leave, will you go with us on our transport, we will of course return you here with kri'en when the procedure is completed"
Aj'enel nods. "Will be faster than taking my ship as well."
Zeni cant help but let out a chuckle and say: "You have no idea" Then the Arch Priest makes a hand movement at the door and it swishes open.
Aj'enel looks at Zeni oddly as she says this, then the Arch Priest as the door opens. "I'll just follow you this time."
The Arch Priest this time let's out a chuckle, but it doesn't sound anything like one would expect from a man who's voice could kill one. It sounds almost human, but with a distorted background sound. They quickly arrive at the Hangar where the doors off the strange transport stands, dock workers are still looking at the ship when the now three and a walking containment unit enters the ship.
The inside of the ship is at first glance as alien as one would expect from the Virulians, green conduits with a strange liquid traveling trough them, but a hull that has a blue hue to it. It seams very clean and extremely durable.
Zeni shows Aj'enel into the bridge where two men in red cloaks sits in the chairs, the Arch Priest sits down and Zeni motions towards a empty seat next to the Arch Priest. "Please have a seat"
Aj'enel nods, slowly taking the seat as she examines the ship's interior with interest. "Thank you."
The Arch Priest nods at the two pilots who directly speaks into a com unit: "This is VE-Transport 12 asking permission to launch" A few moments later a word on the other side says: "Go ahead 12.."
The ship shuddered, only slightly until the gravitational stabilizers kick in, then it was a smooth ride out off the Hangar. One off the pilots says: "Activating cloak" and the ships interior lighting (which is a blue color) dims and the ship takes a smooth ride a bit outside the station, then, as if a thunder strike struck, the ship lurched forward, Malta increased from being a big planet to become the only thing one saw on the view screen, and almost a moment later, a huge desert presented itself for the transport. They had just traveled what would normally take; 10-15 minutes in less then one. Zeni smiled at Aj'enel "Sub-light speed was perfected some years ago by our scientists"
She nods. "Surprising." hesitating a moment, she adds "...no offense meant. I'm just used to seeing the sirian tech."
Zeni nods "We understand, this isnt your world, this isnt your tech, we understand completely.."
In a moment, the ship circled over a large stone circle in the desert, almost not visible cause off the sand and the color off the stone circle, but as they hovered above it, the stone circle started to split up in millions of pieces to form a huge hole into the ground, this whole could with ease fit a Storta. The Transport then lowered down into the ground, into an tunnel with conduits and walkways crossing it, every bit or so, they descended for about 4 minutes and by anyone estimate they where lowered about 2 kilometers under the ground.
The Transport shuddered as it landed on a pad, inside the huge tunnel that they just where in.
Zeni smiled and said with a comfortable tone; "We are here.. Welcome Aj'enel, to the Haven off the Enclave"
"Thank you..." She says, looking around at the architecture of the base outside the ship.
The Arch Priest and Zeni shows her out, followed by the two pilots and their walking containment chamber. Outside the ship, its a smooth coldness that neither chills you or makes you want to wear a jacket, it just is comfortable, around them people in white and grey robes walk around talking with each other and with different looking machines. Just around this area there is at least twenty people, it would seam that the Enclave is a bit larger then one would think from what is known to the outside. One could see how different people from mostly Outcast origin is around, but also Libertonians and Bretonian are here.
Zeni lowers her head at a man in black robes, which seams to have devices attached to it, wich has energy stored inside. Zeni says to the man approaching:
"Greetings Arch Bishop Noral.. This is Aj'enel and that -points at the containment unit- is Kri'en. As Arch Priest Jacheam transmitted to you earlier we need help.. " She says this last part with hesitation.
The man, has no face, it is just a black static inside off it.. He speaks, but it is a mans voice, nothing artificial; "As I thought.. Well, the others are waiting.. And welcome Miss Aj'enel.. To the haven" he bows slightly at her.
Aj'enel bows her head slowly, looking into what would be his face. "Thank you sir. An honor."
She rises slowly. "I didn't make the choice to come here lightly, but I have been told that the odds are much greater if it's done here."
The man's hood and "face" turns to the Containment unit that is walking away to a room not far from the platform they are standing at he slowly turns back towards Aj'enel; "We thank you for your confidence, I believe that it was the best course off action, even if the Priesthood wanted to handle this without the Bishops. -he looks at Jacheam and chuckles slightly- We will do our very best. That we swear"
Jacheam takes a look at Zeni and says; "Please follow me.." Here it seams his voice isn't the same.. It almost sounds metallic. And doesn't seam dangerous at all, Zeni puts a hand on her shoulder and nods "Let's go Miss Aj'enel"
Aj'enel looks at Zeni before giving a quick nod and following. As they walk she speaks to Zeni. "So you know we aren't from Sirius?"
Zeni smiles "We knew it off the Cybernetic implants in Kri'en" Then she motions to a door that the others have passed trough and she says with a firm voice: "In there is the ritual chamber, its a place off worship and where we bless our members with the gift off the creator and the originators.. Please, what ever happens, if there's anything your wondering, don't ask out loud, just ask me, we will be standing close to the door... The Elders need to concentrate" She smiles yet again and motions towards the door
"Understood." She says, walking through the door, stopping a short ways in.
Inside the door was a round room, with two levels, the upper level was where they where standing after going trough the door, in the middle, in another circle 10 priests stood around the containment unit. The inner circle was a meter or so below where Zeni and Aj'enel was standing. The priests began to take out Kri'en our off the unit and places him on the ground. All 10 off the priests began almost directly to send waves off invisible nanites and energies at him. Kri'en started to hover a few feet off the ground.
Aj'enel watches nervously, moving forward next to Zeni.
The 10 priests, in unison begins to speak in an unfamiliar language, and continues the chant; "Hrah Nurah, Terh, makh" as Kri'el is hovering, a dark red cloud begins to envelop him. And as the priests and chants, the air around the room fills with static.
After some hours, the ritual is completed.
Kri'en was returned, unconscious but alive.
The priests assures Aj'enel that he will recover, his mind will eventually become normal again, his mind just needed time to go back to what it once was.
Both of them where guided trough hallways, back to the hangar, and back to the station.
The deed was completed, the Enclave had shown their worth...
![[Image: Serpentis.gif]](https://sig.grumpybumpers.com/host/Serpentis.gif)