STQK: EP.10 (Dinner is Xorn...)
New to the ongoing blog series called STQK "Would you like to know more?"
Hello there,
We continue with the last episode in the Suldokar's Wake system.
(Content Warning: Violence, Traumatic Events)
Scene 1
As the terminal door swings open, Ysah hears the alarms go off Intruder Alert, Intruder Alert. 3 lifeless bodies lay on the cold metal floor, all facing a giant computer screen. Understanding that time is of the essence and sooner or later he will be caught, Ysah decides to act fast.
Grabbing the physical softstick from the shell of what was once Ashka and inserting it into the terminal he was able1 to copy all BIOS and files to the softstick. Realizing that the drunk caretaker isn't the mastermind of this turn of events; Ysah runs back into the dining room to try to get answers for his friends.
As the alarm over head was still blaring Intruder Alert, Intruder Alert; Ysah pulls the caretaker by the collar, shaking him for answers. He was quick to give something even though it was in a drunk stupor.
The sharp edges, the altitude, it's so magnificent. No one's technology2 can out match ours.... Ugh, says the caretaker as he passes out..
As Ysah starts to climb down the stairwell, before more security arrives an image of a mountain temple appears in his mind. He decides that split second that going north towards the mountain range would be his best bet.
Ysah steps down on to the first floor and hears the stomps of the Mec Unit patrolling the area. Quietly he sneaks passed3 it, thanking that some of the machines here aren't as smart as the terminal. The station door slams shut behind him as a gust of snow blows past. Seeing that the mountain range is a quick jog, Ysah decides to gun it.
The quick jog became a long stroll, since the snow started to accumulate. Perched on the station roof, the same sniper from the previous battle sees4 the moving target and lines it in his sight. One bullet zooms pass Ysah's head, as another lands directly in front of him. Ysah was able5 to dodge the onslaught but for how long, with not a moment to lose he bolts towards a nearby ridge, clearing the sniper's range.
Scene 2
As Ysah rests next to a nice boulder he hears some footsteps6 coming upon his location. Grabbing his instrument ready for a fight, he suddenly realizes it was the other traveler that arrived with Nathal(⇟∲⇟) and Onfi(∫⋢≬). Even though it looked human, this feral creature acted like an animal wanting and craving a snack. Seeing it's hurt leg from the dimension jump and the wires sticking out, he knew it was some kind of android. Unfortunately, Nathal(⇟∲⇟) and Onfi(∫⋢≬) were limited on information about the other traveler, it seemed like it wanted something in his pocket. The physical softstick!
Ysah thought, "better not do this alone, I'll delicately watch over this hungry zombie android and have it accompany7 me, to try to save my friends.
Ysah leading the charge with the limbing android closely behind, they see in the distance of what appears to be another mountain temple. Upon each steep step a bizarre hazy8 starts to roll in like a mist. Ysah unknowingly starts marching almost like a solider in military formation towards the temple doors. The mist seemed to have the citizens of this world put in a trance, but to where? The android seemingly unaffected, limped steadily behind Ysah as they walked through the temple doors.
Scene 3
Inside the temple was a spiral staircase going in one direction. As the stairs lead deeper down the hole, rooms on either side gave off a glimmer of sparkle, rare and natural9 artifacts like precious gems seemed to be stacked side by side. Ysah still dazed and confused kept walking towards a never-ending pit.
The energy from the softstick had made the android blindly follow Ysah deeper and deeper down as well. The sound of screams starts to become not a nightmare but a distant reality. Ysah's conscious questioned if they became an offering? Have they walked into the human sacrifice temple?
As Ysah drags his feet toward his almost impending doom, the android feels another form of energy. A room that seemed to be offset and forgotten was walked by and passed over. For one reason or another10 the android felt this was the way to go. The hunger of energy pulled the android in both directions one towards the forgotten room and the other towards Ysah. Caring only about hunger the android felt it could have both. Groan after Groan the android used its shoulders to push Ysah off the beaten path.
The mist seemed to dissipate the further down the path they went. Ysah slowly became lucid enough to question how they got here, but all he heard back was a mixture of groans. The hungry android finally had enough and pushed Ysah to an alcove filled with trinkets. His face landed headfirst as pieces of rock11 started to move in front of the pair.
Something had just been awakened or at least waiting for the right person to arrive. As Ysah and the android peered forward, the items in the room started to shift as if the room itself was closing in on them. Wondering what peril will bestow upon them now as a rock wall seemed to shut them off from the outside world.
The path that was once there no longer stood, then something happened that has not been documented before on this planet. The Collosi the rock creatures of old, made itself known to Ysah and the android. Almost causing a rockalanche and crushing the two adventurers, the giant monster yells out "You must Choose!"
In that split instance, it seemed like a telepathic film played through Ysah's mind, answering any and all questions he was about to ask of the Collosi that stood before them.
We Collosi were once a race of mighty beings, one would call us Titans. Legends foretold of our mighty strength; an alien race was stronger and had destroyed our civilization looking for the way of dimensional travel. Sentient Collosi died a long time ago, I am the only one that remains. This alien race received word that one Collosi still exists and is coming to finally find our secrets. The race on this planet intercepted a message of an offering and they thought human sacrifice was the answer. I am leaving this dimension, you possess something the alien race might crave, if you are worthy enough to follow, then you must choose!
As the android peered on to the vast number of items to choose, it was a like a dog still left on his lease. Ysah not knowing what choice to make, allowed the android that seemed to smell energy like a blood hound give it a try. As the zombie like android limbed slowly between items, it started to bang his hands against his ears. Groaning about what appeared to be a metronome as the moving pendulum was causing the android distress. This could be the clue12 they were looking for.
As the two touch the ticking metronome, a voice from the rock states, "You have chosen, wisely."
Stay tuned for another episode in the STQK blog series.
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