-/~ ... Do you see me?
-/~ ... Do you feel me?
-/~ Witness my pain... and together, we'll rock this hell scape to it foundations. Burn it all down and feel... its... warmth.
__________________________________________________________
- Allurus's other candidates meet in the rec hall to discuss the arriving member.
- They are all somewhat on edge.
1?: Hey, did you all hear about the new guy? Talk about a real nut case. Heard he chomped some sorry bastard's fingers off.
2?: Is he even sane enough to here? Are WE even sane enough to be having him come here? Mmm... ππͺππ΅π΄ π©π¦π’π₯ πΆπ± π’π―π₯ πΈπͺπ―π€π¦π΄ πͺπ― π’π―π―π°πΊπ’π―π€π¦. No, no, no, no. Why does he have to come here?
3?: Allurus is bringing him here so he can test to find that out I suppose, but damn... it's crazy how he still thinks that guy is conduit potential. Maybe he's got something going on that we don't yet know of? Can't see why Allurus would just tolerate what happened otherwise.
1?: Maybe he just wants to pick at his brain? Heh, heh.
- Aya enters the rec hall and announces everyone to line up.
Aya: "Jasper, are we ready to greet the new candidate?"
Jasper: Yes ma'am. We're all set, but uh...
2?: We just think it's too dangerous, and that his presence won't really be all that welcoming.
- Aya aproaches Eu-Meh and gently caresses head in reassurance.
Aya: "Allurus, and I won't let him hurt you or anyone else, I promise. We're gonna keep a close eye on him, okay?"
- Eu-Meh looks up at Aya and smiles softly.
Eu-Meh: Mmm... Okay.
Aya: "And what about you Ganda?"
Ganda: I will respect Allurus's judgment, but... why him?
- Aya lets out a long sigh and expresses a look of distress.
Aya: "All I can say is that Allurus saw something in him that he thinks is worth exploring. But to be honest, I'm not so sure."
Jasper: Is it true that he bit off a guard's fingerβclean off, bone and all?
Aya: "Ugh, Jasper... yes, and it was horrible."
Jasper: Ah, ha, haβwicked!
Eu-Meh: Ew...
Ganda: Oh, Void...
Aya: "Don't worry everyone, everything will be okay. Like I said, we got our eyes on him."
- Allurus soon enters the rec hall to inform everyone that the potential conduit/Abomination will be arriving soon.
Allurus: Alright everyone, listen up! The new candidate will be arriving soon. I need you all to go with Aya to the training arena and wait for me while I go fetch him.
Jasper: The training arena? You wanna toss him into the fryer already? No initiation, no nothing? That's weird.
Allurus: I'm making an exception, Jasper. Now, everyone please go with Aya, and I'll be there soon with the new candidate.
Ganda: But... this isn't tradition. Aya?
- Aya only shakes her head as she instructs Ganda and the others to follow her to the training arena.
Ganda: This is strange...
Jasper: Eh, is what it is, I guess.
Eu-Meh: I hope he is not staying here long.
__________________________________________________________
- Allurus awaits outside The Starfield Bureau of Convergence Holding Facility with armed guards standing along side him.
- As the van gradually approches, thunder booms from afar, and the crashing of sea waves can be heard from along the clifsides.
- The van approaches the entrance, then curves forward before slowly reversing toward Allurus and the guards, who ready their weapons.
- The latch clicks open, and the door swings wide as two guards quickly jump out, followed closely by the potential conduit and two more guards.
- Allurus immediately notices the wet stain on the potential conduit's trousers and looks up to wince at him.
β "Not... one... fucking... word."
β Actually, can I shower and change first?
Allurus: ππͺπ¨π©... Alright, but we need to be quick because the others are inside waiting for us.
β "God, I hope they aren't as much of prick as you are, Cosmic Fuck."
- Allurus ignores the Thing and instructs everyone inside.
__________________________________________________________
- Aya and the other candidates patiently wait inside the training arena, but soon become increasingly irritable as Allurus has not yet returned.
Jasper: You think he got loose?
Eu-Meh: Jasper, no. Please don't say such terrible things.
- Eu-Meh begins to shutter at the thought.
Ganda: Would you be ready to fight him if that was the case, Jasper?
Jasper: Fuck yeah, I would! Newbie doesn't have shit on us. We've been training for years, and this crazy punk just got here. He stands no chance against one of us, let alone all three, plus Aya. Besides, Allurus is with 'em, so I doubt he'd get that far. He'd blow him up into little red chunks just like thatβπ΄π―π’π±π΄ π§πͺπ―π¨π¦π³. Ha, ha, ha!
Aya: "ππͺπ¨π©βThat's enough Jasper. Everything is going to be fine. Allurus has informed me that there's just been a delay, but it won't take that much longer, so just be patient please."
- Eu-Meh sighs in relief as Jasper scoffs.
Jasper: No action today, I guess.
Ganda: Do not be so sure Jasper. There must be a reason Allurus wanted us to gather here instead of the meeting hall. The candidate could be more advanced than we realize. Why else would there be such an effort to contain him? Be ready for anything.
Aya: "Ganda has a point. I wasn't able to get a good look at him during the incident, but his presence was... heavy."
Jasper: Mmm... guess we'll find out what the newbie can do soon enough.
Eu-Meh: You promise this is safe, Aya?
Aya: "Mhmm, I promise."
- Aya felt a deep guilt as she continued to lie to the other candidates, for she and Allurus both knew that this was not just a another candidate.
- It was to become an abomination/savior, and to do so, the others would serve as fodder/sacrifices to initiate this terrible/necessary plan.
- Allurus walked alongside the freshly cleaned potential conduit/abomination down the corridor leading towards the training arena with armed gaurds following close behind.
- Allurus's heart grew heavy for what was to come. He then consoled with Aya.
Allurus: Aya, are you listening?
Aya: "Yes, what is it?"
Allurus: The candidate and I are nearly there, so please get the others present.
Aya: Okay Allurus, and one more thing.
Allurus: Yes?
Aya: I'm... I'm scared about what you told me regarding Dream. The Board will wonder why a log was terminated without consultation.
Allurus: I know. I'm scared too.
Aya: should we really be doing this?
Allurus: I... I'm beginning to question if this is the path, but if they can actually hear Dream, then this must be a sign for us to continue pushing through no matter how ugly it gets. Tell the other conduits about our discovery. They should know.
Aya: I will. ππͺπ¨π©... Together till the end, right, partner?
Allurus: Always.