PSLs - Jikan continuations

[lightduties]

That night when Rhea'li had revealed to Dionysos all that had lead to the Final Days, he had also offered his memories while they are in Nippon. Between their Echo and the skills to dreamwalk through their bond using the local magic, it was not difficult to show each other their lived experiences. It's much more intimate than what Rhea'li would usually tolerate -- there's still much that he keeps close to his chest, even amongst his boon friends -- but it's strangely easy to be more open with Dionysos, especially now that the secret is out of the bag.

Rhea'li may have also been using these memory walking sessions to get a second opinion on his cooking.

And if sometimes they got a bit handsy with each other afterwards, well, he's certainly not complaining.

This time, they would be walking in Rhea'li's memory of Ultima Thule. If he honest about it, Ultima Thule regularly weighed on his thoughts ever since he left it, so close to death that he genuinely hasn't been certain that he had not passed into the Lifestream when he regained consciousness. There was something hauntingly captivating about the place, a morbidly fascinating series of cautionary tales.

And now he is showing Dionysos it.

When they enter his memory, they begin at the charred remains of the Dragonstar. The dragons' beautiful mountain, blackened from the Omicron's attacks, all vegetation burnt to a crisp. The lake looks polluted, unfit for consumption. And in the distance, shades of dragons lay on the ground, wasting away as they awaited their end.

Turning to Dionysos, Rhea'li says, "This is Ultima Thule, where we chased Meteion to. It's entirely made of dynamis that she shaped into partial recreations of stars visited by the collective Meteia." He cocks his head to the side. "This area is the star that dragons like bahamut came from. It fell into despair when another space faring race waged war upon them, but one dragon was able to flee with a clutch of eggs to Etheirys and start life anew."

Comments

[starshepard]

Azem's adventures through Rhea'li's memories have been nothing short of exciting. So many new locations, things they would never see back on their Etheirys.

This memory, however, saddens them. To see a world so ravaged by war and the inhabitants left behind in desolation. They wish they could do something to help but this is like a memory within a memory. A world that is long gone, but there's something about that bugs them.

"For creations that have found no point in life they sure do seem to cling to the worlds they visited. Letting them live on in a memory." It's strange.

[lightduties]

By contrast, Rhea'li's feelings are more distant. He has the experience of the Garlean Empire's war machines marching across the land and the swathes of destruction that Eorzeans had rained down in response, so the desolation doesn't strike him quite so keenly. But he wonders if these dead stars could have averted their fates.

"Aye. 'Tis a form of life, is it not, to be so vividly captured in memory?" Rhea'li nods in agreement before huffing and shaking his head. "Truthfully, oft I wonder if it would be possible to give hope back to these remnants. The nature of this location, that which is replete with dynamis, suggests that which would ordinarily be impossible may in fact be within reach."

Could the seeds of life be breathed back into these peoples, once long lost?

[starshepard]

Azem hums in thought at the prospect as they begin to move forward through the desolate landscape. "I don't see why not. If dynamis is so powerful here then if one with fervent hope were to try to change the area, I believe they could do just that."

They smile at him. Someone like Rhea'li could surely do it, after all, he shares many of their qualities, hope amongst them.

[lightduties]

Ought he be spending his time with recreations of stars whose candle of hope was long snuffed out over aiding those of his own star? The uncertainty pinches his brow beneath his fringe, but Dionysos' confidence in him is reassuring nonetheless.

"Aye, I suppose they could," he replies with a small smile of his own, falling into step beside Dionysos.

As they walk together, other dragons can be spotted, their scales darkened as they lay unmoving, having drawn their final breaths long ago. Eggs can be espied, many cracked open with dragonet corpses lying still upon the shell.

"Dragons have long lives much like yourself, and I am told their perception of past grief is as though it is now." Rhea'li nods towards the shattered eggs. "In midst of their despair in face of war, some dragons chose to destroy their clutches to spare their children the pain of experiencing death."

Now that he thinks about it, Meteion had a very similar train of thought, hadn't she?

"These dragons knew of the one who fled to Etheirys, Midgardsormr, but believed there was no chance he would escape alive. But he did and was granted succor by Venat as Hydaelyn." Would the spark of hope have been lit if the dragons knew? A cheeky grin curls the corner of Rhea'li's mouth as he shakes a finger at Dionysos. "When he arrives in your time, you had better welcome him properly."

That is, perhaps, one thing that worries him. Whether the ancients would perceive Midgardsormr as a people like themselves, or like a creature or familiar.

[starshepard]

Perhaps he should focus on his star, but if he can help others in his downtime why not? Azem absolutely would if they could. Though, that's assuming he wants to.

There's so much sadness around them that Azem can't help but keenly feel it. But the thought that there's a chance it could be made better in this place lightens that heavy feeling.

"What a painful way to live." They say softly. They can't say they don't view time in a similar matter unlike the dragons, however, they can't say they perceive past grief as it was in the moment. Then again, their lives are more ideal.

Azem smiles and gives a little bob of their head. "I'll do what I can to ensure they find a new home." They don't doubt that Venat will help with that.

[lightduties]

Focus? Unheard of! There's a reason he is often the last to arrive at a meeting, having been distracted by yet another request for his assistance.

"I'm certain you will." And he leaves the discussion of dragons at that; why spoil the joy of cultural exchange for Dionysos?

Rhea'li points up into the distance, where he knows the Omicron remnants exist. "Midgardsormr was followed, however. The race that waged war upon the dragons were also recreated here, for they, too, eventually fell to despair."

He glances over at Dionysos, a small smile curling his lip. "If you were to rate your expertise and understanding of machines out of ten, where would you place yourself?"

Personally he considers himself a bit of dud in that regard.

[starshepard]

Azem can understand that. It's so easy to get distracted by people when they require aid.

Meeting the dragons is an exciting prospect. They can think of many places that would be suitable for them to live, places that aren't already too populated by man so they can have plenty of land to themselves.

"Huh..." It's interesting how the race that brought the downfall of another has also ended up here.

Azem thinks for a moment, tilting their head. "I would say it's rather low." Sure, they understand how to use some devices but they still don't quite grasp how they work.

[lightduties]

Even knowing that they share (part of) the same soul, Dionysos' similarities with himself never fails to surprise him. With a huff of a laugh, he says, "We are the same in that regard, then." He continues to explain, "The Omicrons shed their flesh in favour of machine. I'm afraid I find them rather more difficult to understand, for their lines of logic are... quaint."

To say the least.

Clasping his hands together, he forms a replica of his beloved steed, a black chocobo. The nature of dream walking means that the conveniences of constructing creations that aid in their traversal is merely a concentrated thought away.

Sitting astride his feathered steed, he points up at the silhouette of the area outside Base Omicron, all dimly glowing lights and metal in perfectly geometric shapes. "Let us pay them a visit."

He remembers how some Omicron units had immediately engaged in combat upon arrival, and he expects it to be no different this time.

[starshepard]

To be fair, technology in Azem's time is purely magic-based and runs on aetherically charged crystals. It's nothing like the technology they've encountered since arriving in this place.

"How strange!" They scrunch up their nose, they couldn't imagine giving up their flesh to be some machine. They enjoy being flesh a little too much for that!

"Very well." Azem takes a moment to summon a steed of their own, a six-legged, silver-armored horse with feathered wings. They saddle up and follow after Rhea'li.

[lightduties]

Rhea'li, too, would struggle to give up the pleasures of the flesh...

Rhea'li had seen Hades' steed - a majestic horse(?) - and Venat's significantly less majestic dog (he would never say that aloud) so he wonders what Dionysos' chosen mode of transport would be. Somehow, another horse is somewhat of a surprise. But he doesn't let that show, instead turning to lead the way up and up.

Soon, the outskirts of the Omicron outpost comes into view and Rhea'li slows as they draw near the platform he, G'raha and the twins had originally arrived upon. In the distance, many of the machine-like beings are patrolling. Some he knows are malfunctioning and are eager to obtain combat data. So he extends an invitation to Dionysos.

"You should go ahead and dismount here. It would be best to have your hands free."

So they can, you know, more easily defend themselves from attack. And if they do indeed dismount, the three nearest patrolling Omicron will immediately make for a bee-line to them and attack without provocation, blades whirring and lasers firing.

[starshepard]

While Azem's steed may seem a bit boring, it makes sense when one takes into account their angelic yet monstrous true form. The majestic nature and color scheme of the beast is familiar.

"Should I go ahead and summon my weapon?" They ask as they move to dismount. They don't know if the Omicron will take that as a threat or not.

However, that question is answered nearly immediately after the words leave their mouth. They let out a soft laugh, grinning as they summon their axe.

"My, they are eager for a fight!" They shout as they jump right in, their large blade moving in a whirlwind around them.

[lightduties]

Rhea'li simply smiles and stays mounted. These malfunctioning Omicron aren't likely to pose much of a threat to Azem, so he feels no particular urge to assist.

Intruder alert.

Eliminate.

The Omicron do put up a fight -- their tough metal bodies are not so easily cleaved or punctured and their blades and lasers are as deadly as they look -- but sufficient blunt force applied their weaker components eventually leave them powered down in a messy pile of scrap. These aren't their war units, so their swift defeat is no surprise.

Guiding his chocobo down to the metal surface, Rhea'li hops down and pets the bird before dismissing it in a shower of light.

"Believe it or not, these are not automatons, but members of the Omicron race." Rhea'li taps one inactive metal limb of the defeated Omicron with the toe of his boot. "Why do you suppose they would trade flesh for metal?"

[starshepard]

While the Omicron are tough they are also surprisingly fragile until Azem's enthusiastic attacks. They make quick work of the mechanical beings, almost looking disappointed when there are none left to fight against.

"Huh? These are?" Well, now they feel a little bad they smashed them to pieces.

"I don't know, it doesn't seem to have made them any better as fighters." They push aside a metal limb with the toe of their shoe. "It also seems like a sad existence."

[lightduties]

Rhea'li lets out a chuckle. "These are not the units they use for war and the data gained from their battle with you will be analysed and incorporated into their combat units. But even their most mundane of labourers have bodies of metal. I wonder if it feels safe to them, knowing if they are damaged, repair is easily at hand."

He gestures for Azem to follow him as he walks towards the outpost where he knows the Omicron that maintain it will not attack unless provoked.

"I am told their original bodies of flesh were weak and frail. What were they to do when faced with subjugation from another, more powerful species?"

[starshepard]

"I see, scouts. That makes more sense." Though it makes them a little sad that scouts would considered so disposable, it doesn't matter if they can be rebuilt.

Azem follows after him, not letting their gaze wander around the area. They recognize some of the build from back in the dragon's part of Ultima Thule. It's easy to put together what happened. Interesting how two worlds and peoples with an entwined history would be immortalized in a place like this.

"I don't think I would want to give up my body." They rather like their body, even if they change it on occasion. "But I suppose I can see why they would go to that extent."

[lightduties]

Rhea'li hums.

"Mayhap you would be interested in fighting one of their frames built for war? Test your mettle against they who had conquered many stars? Midgardsormr did not come alone when he travelled to Etheirys, chased across the sea of stars by a lone Omicron."

He taps the side of his head.

"And I happen to know the measure of its strength."

[starshepard]

Azem's expression lights up in excitement.

"That does sound fun." Such a fight would be exciting but knowing that Rhea'li has the knowledge of such a fight is even more so interesting.

"Oh? I take that to mean you've fought that Omicron?"

[lightduties]

Rhea'li lets out a huff of laughter. "Indeed I have. As a matter of fact, its dogged pursuit of Midgardsormr to Etheirys saved it from the despair that awaited the rest of its people."

He raises a hand and snaps his fingers -- much like how he had seen Hades do so in a time that seemed so long ago -- and the frame of Omega as he had first seen it coalesces into existence. Mayhaps if Azem were their normal size, Omega would not seem very large. But since Omega had been large compared to Rhea'li, so too is it larger than both Rhea'li and Azem in this dreamscape.

"In our language, its name is Omega."

And like the real thing, this constructed Omega does not make the first move; like all the other Omicron he's encountered, it is completely confident in its superiority even as it wished to dismantle him to analyse his source of strength.

[starshepard]

"I see." So that Omicron simply lucked out when it came to its survival.

Azem eyes widen in response to seeing Rhea'li snap before letting out a chuckle. "I see you've picked up a certain flourish."

They don't focus too long on that as their gaze turns to this Omega. "My! They're a big one, aren't they?"

Azem slowly approaches Omega, looking up at the hulking machine. "Are you more talkative than the scouts?"