Relic Safari (Closed w/ Paddy)

[Paddy]

She continued scanning in the low-light, but she found focus difficult to grasp. The further into the dark the quartz carried her, the more her skin crawled. The chill she'd had since she came into possession of this prototype fragment grew over her, and a sickening feeling seemed to radiate from every point that the previously abandoned technology contacted her skin. She'd never encountered an alloy that seemed to sap the natural heat from her form like this, though she didn't often deal with such things in the first place. Maybe it was all in her head, just her anxiety about the darkness getting the better of her-- she decided to keep quiet about it, as 7XB already had enough things to worry about right now.

Even from her vantage point, the dim light made it difficult to ascertain the location of things like the original entrance of the area, the climate control ducts, or cargo lifts, that could be otherwise useful to keep track of in this tense situation. The air was laden with the choleric threat the team had been presented with, and she wanted to fill in as many blanks as she could before that threat could strike.

As she continued to attempt to search the area, her eyes trailed down, mostly to look for indications about the soldier's own mental state. But something else caught her gaze. The floor seemed to be in stark contrast to what little light came through the opening behind them-- as if none of the light reached it at all. The dark clung after each step her trusted companion made.

"Uh..." She swallowed,"7XB..." Her free hand moved, and with a gesture, she brought a bulb of plasma into existence. She wanted to believe that there was something wrong with her eyes, or her head, rather than the floor.

[7XB]

Padparadscha was not alone in this odd feeling, 7XB too felt this strange and alien chill: something deeper, darker and much more condensed than what swirled all around the pair of them. The only difference for the Quartz, though, was that this dreadful malignancy seemed to be radiating, dripping, downward from above them. Not having yet associated this with the incomplete artefact, 7XB wrote it off as their own frayed nerves, trudging onward.

Her little orb of light appeared first out of the corner of their eye, following it downward as she spoke, “What?..Oh, sweet stars above!” They exclaimed quietly, watching the dark substance cling to them even as they took the step they found themselves in the middle of. It wasn't able to trap them completely due to the Sheer size of the gem, but it's clear that was the intent. “This..stuff..” they begun quietly, turning their gaze upward..”It's meant to trap us, like some kind of snare.” There was a pause, allowing their words to settle in the humid air. “Whatever created this..must've been on the ceiling..” just how high WAS the ceiling?

[Paddy]

Her brows floated up as she gathered the implications, and she tilted her head to peer toward the ceiling. Though it came as a relief that this tactic wasn't going to work on 7XB, part of her wondered what the ultimate goal of this trap really was. Had the rubies been trapped by it, and if so, what had happened to them since? Her nausea only escalated as she tried to contemplate it. 

If something was above, she would want to reveal it as soon as possible, and she knew the quartz would be ready to react to whatever it was. She would be ready as well, as she prepared to expend more energy to conjure her plasma for defensive purposes. The little orb of light floated upward, directly above the two gems. It had to float up quite a ways, and it was too far for her to bring the light straight to the top.

But, she managed to shed some light onto what appeared to be a normal looking ceiling, nothing seemed to be off about it. That only made her feel more uncomfortable-- there were no clues to be had. "Hold on, going to scout a bit," She bit her cheek as she moved the little light along her range, reaching out in front of them until the light began to dim and become harder for her to control. Still, nothing. She pulled the light back, charged it up, and swiveled around so she could begin to track it along the ceiling behind them. The light had only just floated up when she caught a shadow, just behind them, as it flickered out of the illuminated zone. 

"Ah!" She jumped, nearly losing her strained grip on the prototype before she grabbed it with both hands and stabilized herself,"S-something...maybe..." As she spoke, she tried to allocate more power to her light, searching for whatever she'd seen. No sound but that of the draft, and she didn't catch any more movement. She felt a bit woozy and out of sorts; maybe her fear really was getting the better of her. "I-I think...we should keep moving...I'll keep an eye out,"  

[7XB]

There was no way for the quartz to see what she had uncovered up on the ceiling above them, seeing as it was not only overtop of, but behind them, but whatever it was must not have been good, their steely gaze cutting skyward more on instinct than actual ability to see anything. “It's going to be okay, “ they insisted with a sudden quiet, as if some plan to uncover the true nature of this creature was already brewing in their mind, “Just trust me, alright? Whatever this thing is, it's following us.”

They said this not to frighten or panic the little Sapphire, but to prepare her for what was to come. They didn't bother lowering their voice- there was little chance this corruption was intelligent enough to comprehend them. “I'm going to find a way to lure it, I bet it has the rubies.” or one of them, at the very least.

[Paddy]

Being reassured by them gave her a surge of warmth to hold onto, but her head still swam with doubts. There was something in the dark to confront, that she didn't want to face. She wanted to think it wasn't there at all, that she'd imagined it, but that was wishful thinking.

"Lure it?" Padpara echoed, her tone betraying a hint of her inner lament,"I-- of course I trust you," Her words hung there for a moment, as if to imply but...though, she didn't continue along that vein. Revealing this pursuer would ultimately be best, as that would bring it out into the open, erasing the doubt about its abilities, and its possible possession of the missing teammates. But the idea of intentionally bringing this potential attacker onto them burned at her already thoroughly seared nerves.  

"If you have a plan...I'll...I'll do whatever I have to, to help," She uttered quietly-- her soft, breathy pitch brought on by her faded energy rather than a conscious choice to conceal her voice. Speaking seemed to be more difficult than it should've been for her fraying focus. Her jittery fingers drummed the metal surface of the prototype, and her weary eyes trailed around the surroundings looking for signs of this mystery foe. As she searched, she hoped to herself that she would be able to hold out through during this crucial phase of the mission. 

[7XB]

Padparadscha continued to astound them, a grim smile carved across their face for a handful seconds. “I believe in you, Padparadscha,” they admitted, their clear voice ringing out crisply across the unseen surfaces in the inky darkness around them, trying to further reassure the trembling Sapphire, “I know you won't let me down.” And they meant that whole heartedly, as she would well know, and anyone who was familiar with 7XB even casually would know that they didn't say that lightly. Almost any gem, regardless of whether they were designed for combat or not, was prone to this quartz gem’s unyielding scrutiny. Constantly searching for a weakness to defend against before any enemy could exploit it- a fallacy

But Padparadscha..well, her determination was remarkable. How many times had she been so afraid, and yet carried despite of it? Though that has feared for her, never once had the quartz doubted her conviction. They stopped then, taking a deep breath..”Cut the light,” they said suddenly, a bit of concern in their voice, “but be ready to light it again when..I give the signal.”

[Paddy]

The sapphire had a hard time believing in herself at times, especially in situations like this-- but an accomplished, dedicated gem thought she was worth their trust. 7XB's genuine words struck the sapphire in a manner that they perhaps couldn't have expected. Her brows drew up as her lip quivered, her eyes began to mist over. To hear them say it, and to know they meant it, conjured a swell of conflicted emotions in her exhausted heart. All she wanted was to put her arms around the quartz, but she felt a hint of frustration at the fact that she had to hold onto this menacing object instead. 

"7XB...thank you..." She managed through wavering words, and blinked away the moisture welling on the rim of her eyes. She wished she could have expressed the scope of her gratitude more eloquently, but for now, she had to put her focus elsewhere. Their plan was risky, but she gave a curt nod as she understood the course they intended. "I'll look out for your signal then," There was more strength in her voice now. The soldier hadn't let her down a single time; throughout the mission they'd proved their trustworthiness time and time again. She couldn't see them falling through now. They trusted her too, and she wanted to continue to earn that. Risks would have to be taken.

Though, her own attachment to the light gave her a moment of hesitation. "Get ready," She warned, though she knew the quartz had probably already prepared themselves for what would come next. Her nerves sizzled as she tried to take her own advice to prepare herself.  

Then, she drew the light away, sapping the point of illumination back into the ether it came from until the air was blotted out. She hunkered down, pressed by the darkness. Her shoulders hiked as she tried to hide herself from whatever lurked around them, and she shifted to bring herself closer to the gem she relied upon to protect her.

[7XB]

The slow dying of the ever-watchful gaze of the plasma’s light, and warmth, saw every muscle in the quartz gem's body coiling like a tightly wound spring of steel, skin prickling at the icy chill that melded so seamlessly with the blanket of inordinate darkness that tried to swallow them so hungrily. The trusting words of their fragile companion act as a double edged sword- Both laying a great burden of responsibility upon their brow and uplifting 7XB’s spirits, and confidence in their abilities.

Feeling Padparadscha burrowing herself into their shoulders in an attempt to use them as a shield, the Quartz was reminded of one, crucial fact: They could not afford to fail this gem they had sworn to protect.

Those first few moments in the darkness were agonizing, only the sound of a steady dripping that echoed throughout the ship..and then it came. A wet thump, like a titanic footstep colliding with the sticky solution underfoot somewhere close to them..

[Paddy]

Sharp chills razed her spine as the momentary quiet was disturbed. She still didn't want to believe her senses; the sound revolted her, eliciting shivers across her entire form. Then, the sound struck the air again, and again. The combination of the heavy, abyssal dark, and the lumbering advance of their unseen pursuer, sent her head spinning. All of her limbs tensed, as if she were ready to spring into any direction, though she logically knew it would be better to stay as close as possible to the quartz. But, logic drowned in her increasing horror, any color that had been left in her drained further with each thud. Inwardly she wished the soldier would take her as far as possible from it, as quickly as possible.  

Her sense for direction was muddled as she tried to hold herself together, and wait for the signal. The only thing she could be sure of was that 7XB was there, poised to react, and that she could spawn her plasma at any moment-- but she had to wait for the signal. The plan was already risky enough without her allowing her panic to get the better of her. 

As the entity slogged ever closer through the ooze, she felt that panic broiling just beneath the surface. Any sudden action would send her into a spiral, but the shrouded foe only seemed to plod onward, it's steps increasing in proximity at a painfully measured pace. Until, it didn't. It stopped. 

In a different situation, perhaps that would have been a relief-- but now, it was enough to send her panic over the edge. Her fingers dug at the metal prototype, teeth clenched as any thought in her mind seemed to be replaced by static white noise. Something cold dripped over her arm, and the sapphire seized up, paralyzed. 

[7XB]

Tenser and tenser their grew as the sound of the moist approach grew louder and louder- closer. Even 7XB’s instinct told them to flee this situation rather than fight, but that was not an option for them, not now. Not only was Padparadscha putting her trust in them to ensure that this trap went off without a hitch, but the Rubies depended on them as well; There was a shame there, a shame that they had not been able to prevent this search for their team in the first place.

Those last moments of utter stillness in this abysmal darkness were truly the most agonizing. But then they felt her shift against them again, heard a noise just in front of them..

“Now!” The Quartz soldier bellowed, their gauntlets flashing to life in the same moment light would. The creature, an arachnid creature with countless tiny eyes and a gigantic mouth, shrieked as they aimed an uppercut into their bottom jaw, smashing it into their upper.

[Paddy]

As soon as the word left 7XB's lips, white light burst over the area, illuminating the corruption's sinister visage just in time. Padpara's panic had spilled over into the shaking that rattled her body, her eyes wide at the sight of the creature who had been lurking around them for however long. The only thing that held her together was the fact that the quartz had managed to rapidly deliver a punishing blow to their enemy, sending it into a stupor as it reeled back. It's eyes shut, stung by the light, and it continued to screech as it attempted to retreat back into the darkness. The momentary victory was enough to clear her head; she focused on keeping the light up, and waiting for the next phase of this plan to unfold. 

Though she'd still been terrified by the sight of it, the sapphire almost felt that she'd over estimated this foe simply because it had been hidden. But she noticed something strange about the shrieks it let out; there was an almost discernible pattern in its subtle changes of pitch, clicks and snarls. It sounded suspiciously like a primitive sort of communication to her ears. That thought gave her adrenaline a new rush, and she swiveled around trying to keep her eyes peeled for another attacker.  

Before her eyes could catch anything, she felt that cold drip against her skin again. Her head tilted up as four spindly legs reached around the prototype in her hands. Its jaws parted to let a noxious ooze drip again onto the object, and it slipped down over her hand, sticking her grip to it. Her mouth worked wordlessly in those seconds as she tried to say something, but before she could, the creature lurched upward, seemingly in an attempt to tear the fragment away from her-- but her hands were firmly plastered to the thing, and she was yanked up with it. 

[7XB]

It was just as the Quartz slung their fist back to aim a devestating strike at the reeling beast that they felt a weight lifting up and off of their shoulders..and not in a good way! Panic splashes over the quartz, not because of the appearance of yet another of this medium, spider-like corruptions, but because it had grabbed Padparadscha. As fast as 7XB had realized this, they turned, just barely able to wrap their densely armored fingers around the little gem’s ankle before the beast absconded with her.

They grimaced at the thought of hurting her, but refused to let her be taken- so they pulled her as hard as they could, hopefully dislodging her hand from between the corruption’s jowls with minimal hard, if not the artefact. “I gotcha!” They said, despite the creature behind them, jagged teeth primed to attack.

[Paddy]

Though relieved that 7XB had noticed and caught her in the nick of time, the sapphire now found herself stretched between two strong forces-- the ooze that connected her hand to the prototype fragment, and the full sized gem soldier attempting to rescue her. "Hngh," She grimaced as she was pulled in both directions over the span of seconds. 

Seeing where this was going as her hands began to pull away from the dark ooze, she managed to stick a bit of plasma to the device; though this fragment was one destined to be destroyed, her records would be incomplete if she couldn't gather direct evidence of its destruction as per her instructions from her authority. Having the bit of plasma stuck to it would mean being able to track it down in the event that this corruption managed to escape-- and, perhaps, if these creatures really did have the rubies, letting this one escape could lead them back to wherever the little soldiers had been taken.

Then, her hands broke free of the viscous trap and she swung downward, a gasp leaving her lips as she lost her orientation. As she'd predicted, the spider-like corruption kept its hold on the device, zipping up toward the ceiling. In the same moment, the other corruption lurched at the back of the solider's legs, with its vicious mandibles parted, looking to get revenge for the massive hit it had sustained before.   

[7XB]

This time, the quartz soldier was too slow to protect themselves. Their eyes widened in silent agony as those razor sharp mandibles dig into the back of their right leg. A noise of pain, barely muffled, bubbled up in their chest, the large gem aiming a backwards kick with their free leg in an attempt to dislodge the monster from their calf, wincing as they did.

The creature shrieked, their newly-agape jaws oozing with that same caustic slime as before. 7XB knew now, having been bitten by this monster, that it's saliva not only burned, but it was fairly acidic. Letting Padparadscha drop that last foot or so, they turned to drive their fist into the side of it's jagged jowls. It was then that they heard a muffled cry from.. within the beast? Upon close inspection it would become clear that the corruption's belly was quite bloated.

[Paddy]

The sapphire who had been dangling by her foot moments ago dropped right into the ooze that had been laid along the floor. Though she hadn't seen what happened to 7XB, their vocalization shot through her like a bullet, and she knew that they wouldn't have discarded her in such a hasty manner if they hadn't needed the immediate use of their weapons. Not being sure where their upper limit was, she mulled over the damage she'd seen them take, and hoped that she would be able to do something to prevent the toll from rising. 

Then, the other muffled voice hit her ears. Having the experience of being swallowed whole by a corruption, Padpara knew that it was one of the most unpleasant things one could undergo; her core twisted as she made the connection, realizing that at least one of the team had ended up in that particularly nerve racking predicament. 

She had struggled against the ooze with only her mechanical strength, but the sapphire's slender arms weren't enough to get her freed. With it surrounding her, she noticed the prickling sensation that began to numb her sense of touch, pushing her panic to new heights as she tried to escape from the trap. Then, she had the idea to use her pyrokinetic powers to try to melt off the glue. The air around her began to steam off as she tried to surround herself with plasma, but she found that it was having the opposite affect that she'd hoped; the ooze began to harden in response to the heat. Though, this also made the substance more brittle. 

Before the creature could recover from the second heavy blow to its face, the smaller gem had been able to break free just enough to get a visual on the creature. "Stay clear," She uttered, and slung an arrow of super heated plasma as fast as it could fly toward the creature's face, hopefully with enough precision to subdue or blind the arachnid without damaging the other gem or gems it had taken hostage.