dsatfacetroid

[dsatfacetroid]

*As the chaotic form emerges and roars into the sky, J-Mos tightens her grip on her hammer, holding it at the ready while U-Mos floats into the air, holding his hands out to form a sphere of golden light around him. His eyes are drawn to his hands, however, where he finds that, even over his light suit, veins of darkness linger on him, pulsing a deep, sickly purple. He clenches his hands into fists and looks back up at the abomination before him.*

U-Mos: I don't understand... How did they manage to summon this?

J-Mos: Does it matter?

*With that, J-Mos lifts herself off of the ground and charges forward, swinging the full weight of her hammer toward the being's head.*

[dsatfacetroid]

*Metroid Prime remains motionless even as lasers start to strike her shell, given that they bounce off, flying in other directions. As one primid starts to get too close, she reaches forward with one of her claws and snaps the creature in half, causing it to disintegrate into more shadow bugs. She takes a step back, once again siphoning the life out of any creatures within proximity, though after a minute, she lets out an annoyed series of clicking sounds.*

This isn’t enough... I need-

*Something catches her attention, and she strafes to one side, barely dodging a black laser that flies past her. She looks toward the direction from which the laser came, emitting a low, ominous growl. Ignoring the other creatures around her, she begins to creep toward the source of the laser, the two appendages on her back glowing blue with phazon before morphing, growing longer and more complex. She starts to speed up, and the appendages on her back start to form massive wings. Finally, as the phazon glow dies down, these new wings twitch slightly, unfolding into pointed, insectoid wings glowing phazon blue. Two soon split into four, and these wings all begin to vibrate, creating a deep buzzing sound as the whole form of Metroid Prime begins to lift off of the ground.

Soon enough, she starts careening toward the source of the laser even though she cannot see who is there, and she once again lets out a resonant roar.*

[dsatfacetroid]

*The form of Metroid Prime floats slightly toward the massive castle before her, red glowing eyes watching the sprawl of life that inhabits the structure. In particular, she tries to find any sign of Tabuu, only to be met with silence. Claws on her front appendages fidget slightly as she loses herself in thought for a moment.

Where once there were occasional veins of phazon visible underneath her exoskeleton, now there are veins carrying liquid zebetite, glowing slightly in regular pulses, like the dim embers hidden among smoldering charcoal.

Metroid Prime floats forward again, opening her gaping maw to the sky, releasing a chilling roar before firing a beam of plasma toward the main entrance to the castle.*

Come now, you fools. It's been too long since I've eaten like a metroid...

*Just as the shadow bugs and primids start to gather, looking toward the source of the attack, the spidery form of Metroid Prime throws another beam toward the group, but this time starts to siphon life from them. Shadow bugs dissolve into dust, primids start to freeze as their bodies are dried into mere husks, but the robots remain unaffected. In only moments, a small horde of creatures lay dead at the entry to the castle, and the metroid starts to fidget impatiently.*

Pitiful...

[dsatfacetroid]

*J-Mos stands with her hammer ready, her small visor hiding the nervousness in her eyes. When the beast finally charges, she swings her hammer, successfully bashing the weighted end into the side of the beast just as it latches onto her arm, knocking her over. The creature lets out a pained yelp, but continues to sink its teeth into J-Mos’s metal armor. Just as another of the creatures starts to lunge forward, U-Mos flies forward, holding both hands toward the collection of beasts. From his hands, a blinding light erupts forth, not only revealing the presence of several other creatures they hadn’t seen, but causing them to shriek in pain as the light begins to sear their flesh. Wisps of black smoke rise off of their bodies, and they start to back away, growling in frustration.

However, J-Mos manages to pin down the beast that attacked her, pressing the full weight of her armor down on top of it. She reaches for her hammer, which had been resting beside her, and the light crystal in its end begins to hum as it glows gold. Using both hands, she brings the hammer down onto the beast’s head, and almost instantaneously, the creature dissolves away into golden dust that blows away with the gentle breeze. J-Mos gets to her feet, looking at the multiple scratches on her armor, then off into the direction where the other beasts fled.*

J-Mos: I don’t like this place...

[dsatfacetroid]

*U-Mos looks down at Martin, gesturing toward him.*

U-Mos: That’s why I gave you a light suit. I can’t say for certain if this air is poisonous, but I know that if it is, you won’t last long without protection.

*J-Mos turns to Arius, stepping toward him.*

J-Mos: This hammer has a light crystal. Stay close to me.

[dsatfacetroid]

*U-Mos lifts himself up first, trying to brush wet sand off of his armor and visor, with little success.*

U-Mos: That responsibility is not yours alone to bear. This place concerns me, too.

*He looks over at J-Mos, who still rests on her hands and knees, and goes over to her, taking her hands and helping her back to her feet in the less than ideally balanced armor.*

U-Mos: Now, my wife here, on the other hand, doesn't trust me to do this alone.

J-Mos: Of course not. Don't be a martyr.

*While the Sentinel still holds onto her hands, her gaze darkens.*

J-Mos: ... Don't be an Ing either.

*After a few silent moments, U-Mos turns to face Elyria*

U-Mos: Where do we go from here?

[dsatfacetroid]

*While J-Mos stares with concern toward U-Mos, the two soon put their differences aside once more knights appear. The Sentinel in particular lifts himself off of the floor, floating toward the center of the group and holding his arms to either side. Elyria's barrier is soon supplemented with U-Mos's own, and J-Mos grabs her hammer in both hands.*

U-Mos: Now!

*J-Mos lifts the massive hammer high above her head, and then with a violent swing, brings the weapon crashing to the floor. A metallic echo, like the sound of a blacksmith's hammer forming molten steel, reverberates through the room as the floor beneath the group cracks apart, sending them all falling toward the ocean.

A large bubble appears around them, and while U-Mos clearly begins using psychic energy to try and slow the group's descent, it isn't quite enough. He guides the collection of people toward the shore, trying to move as fast as he can, but his psychic barrier starts flickering after a minute before finally giving out, sending the group plummeting into the sea.*

[dsatfacetroid]

*U-Mos relaxes slightly, looking toward the woman and the knights.*

U-Mos: I don't wish to stay here any longer than necessary. But if you can help us find those who were taken here, and determine what the darklings want with our world, then I will go wherever you wish.

J-Mos: ... U-Mos.

U-Mos: What?

J-Mos: Why are you tainted with darkness?

U-Mos: This isn't really the time-

J-Mos: Of course this is the time! This matters! Just tell me!

*The Sentinel looks toward her for a moment, then stares off into the distance.*

U-Mos: Fine. I absorbed the previous Emperor Ing.

*J-Mos actually drops her hammer, backing away from him.*

J-Mos: Wh..at..

U-Mos: Rather than fight a possession attempt by repelling it, I took control of it. It's granted me better control over dark energy, which is useful.

J-Mos: How long... have you..?

U-Mos: Years, Jay. This Ing has decayed significantly from what it was. It now only remains a core of dark energy I can use when necessary.

*He turns to look at the woman as he generates a light bubble around himself.*

U-Mos: I still serve the Light of Aether, and denounce the darkness.

[dsatfacetroid]

*U-Mos floats forward, holding his hands at the ready. J-Mos follows close, looking almost bogged down by the weight of the hammer she holds. The Sentinel spins around, trying to analyze his surroundings.*

U-Mos: Where... is everyone?

[dsatfacetroid]

*U-Mos notices the approaching threat just as Elira does, but as he starts throwing bursts of light energy around the room to try and stop the others from being taken, he finds a smoky wall absorbing his attacks. J-Mos runs back into the room upon hearing the commotion and, seeing the situation, draws her sword, running at and slicing through a vague, wispy form, only to find it reappearing a short distance away. The Sentinel looks down at Martin, finding him to be the only one left. Without another word, his hands become enveloped in black smoke, and he forces this energy forward. As though striking an invisible wall, the smoke flattens out and is pushed away, drifting down to the floor. As he forces more and more dark energy into it, however, cracks begin to appear in the space itself, like glowing fractures in a glass wall. U-Mos lets out a quiet sound of pain as black tendrils start to consume his arms again, but he keeps going, finding that the cracks in the invisible wall grow more numerous.*

U-Mos: Jay... Your sword...

*J-Mos steps up to the wall and swings downward with her katana. The cracks flash red for a split second before the dimensional wall finally shatters, fragments of space falling and disappearing into black smoke. What is left is a small portal filled with purple and black.*

U-Mos: Martin, bring the light crystal. We'll need it.

*J-Mos grabs onto his arm.*

J-Mos: Wait a minute, you're going?

U-Mos: As of now, the undying lands have declared war on us. I have to.

J-Mos: Not without me.

U-Mos: That armor's not dark resistant.

*The Sentinel begins to glow, and is soon covered in thin, sleek light armor.*

J-Mos: Oh really?

*As her lightweight armor begins to fold away, she backs over to a corner of the room and grabs a large medallion, placing it around her neck before holding her hands to it. New armor begins to fold out around her, stone gray in color but heavy, yet somehow streamlined. Her helmet obscures her head, leaving only a glowing red line for a visor, and a long horn protruding from the front. She reaches back, grabbing a long, two-handed warhammer with a light crystal embedded in the center. Finally, she steps over beside U-Mos.*

U-Mos: Do you even know how to use Ingsmasher armor?

J-Mos: Nope.

U-Mos: I'm not sure if you're brave, overconfident or just stupid... Oh, Martin, you should use this.

*He hands Martin a similar medallion, though it stores collapsed light armor rather than the juggernaut armor J-Mos wears.*

U-Mos: Let's go.

*He floats off of the ground and disappears into the portal, followed in turn by J-Mos.*

[dsatfacetroid]

*J-Mos steps over toward the Sentinel, hesitantly placing her hands on his shoulders as he speaks.*

U-Mos: You've certainly tested my patience a lot in ten minutes... But a connection between your world and this one is definitely something I would be against. Possibly enough to...

*He glances back toward the other luminoth, who merely shakes her head.*

U-Mos: Isolation might have saved the Bryyonians from the Chozo's arrogance, but that doesn't mean we should be selfish and let others suffer.

*U-Mos stands up as the other luminoth responds.*

J-Mos: Who are we to decide galactic policy? Who are we to intervene in other people's politics?

U-Mos: You would just let darklings invade this world and do nothing about it?

J-Mos You let the Ing attack the damn federation! At least make up your mind!

U-Mos: I wanted to do something! I wanted to go there and kill Emperor Ing! He's a clone of Dark Samus! But everyone around me is so... understandably... terrified from the war that if he started corrupting a planet that wasn't ours, that they'd all just sit back and drink nectar and pretend that nothing was wrong.

J-Mos We can't be intervening in every single problem out there though... We don't have the people, or the resources, or the right. You mean well but this is exactly the same logic that led to the Chozo's downfall.

*U-Mos points toward Elira, looking toward J-Mos and stepping almost threateningly toward her.*

U-Mos: Then what the hell am I supposed to do with her, huh? If she's as powerful as she claims, she could corrupt all of us, and yet I want to help! But as soon as it involves things outside your safe little bubble, you would just back down and decide not to intervene.

*J-Mos actually shoves him away with both hands.*

J-Mos: Maybe you just want to help her because you are corrupted! Pulling dark energy out of your hands, huh?

U-Mos: Don't you dare accuse me of being corrupted.

J-Mos: Then just tell me how you do it!

U-Mos: I can't.

J-Mos: See!? How do I respond to that!?

U-Mos: I asked for your opinion and now you're accusing me of being corrupted by dark energy!?

J-Mos: How am I supposed to believe you're not?

U-Mos: If I was truly corrupted, I'd be trying to kill you right now.

J-Mos: That's possession, that's different.

U-Mos: I'm not corrupted. Learning to control dark energy is a useful skill. Even the Ing had some control over light.

J-Mos: Then show me how you do it.

U-Mos: Not now...

*J-Mos lets out an irritated shout, holding her head in frustration before finally storming out of the room. U-Mos looks over at the door, then down at everyone else in the room, kneeling down beside Elira again, looking away as though not wanting to be seen.*

U-Mos: I'm... sorry you had to hear that.

[dsatfacetroid]

*The two luminoth start to react, J-Mos taking out her sword again, but U-Mos merely holds out a hand to one side.*

U-Mos: Don’t... J-Mos: What? U-Mos: We don’t know who they are...

*As the fighting comes to an end, however, U-Mos steps forward, looking down at Arius when he speaks. Rather than immediately responding, however, he kneels down beside Elira, holding out his hands. Her body lifts off of the floor, and as small wisps of dark energy begin to seep from the Sentinel’s hands into her, some of her wounds begin to heal. U-Mos looks toward everyone else as he speaks.*

U-Mos: Revenge is a poison that helps no one. J-Mos: How are you... doing that? U-Mos: I would suggest, Elira, that you return to your home. You clearly don’t belong here.

*He looks instead toward Alice.*

U-Mos: Know that I will not tolerate such violence here.

*Finally he glances at Martin and Arius.*

U-Mos: In my limited knowledge of you, I believe you both to be well-meaning but misguided. J-Mos: Your hands-!

*U-Mos looks at his hands, finding that as he supplies dark energy to Elira, they’ve begun to turn purple, and black tendrils grow across his exoskeleton. He stops, setting Elira down onto the floor once more.*

U-Mos: I doubt you’ll heed my advice, but I nonetheless recommend that you return to your world and don’t come back. I only have a glimpse of what you are, and I know it to be... ill-fated here.

[dsatfacetroid]

*The two luminoth just stare at each other for a moment before U-Mos speaks.*

U-Mos: Very well then. You are... exceedingly unpleasant, but not worth killing.

J-Mos: So long as the Ing and the Undying Lands stay hidden as they are, I see no reason for concern.

*She sheaths her sword, but keeps her armor on.*

[dsatfacetroid]

U-Mos: I'm afraid you don't have that choice, Elira. You will be kept here until you either prove that you are not a threat to innocent people, or until you die.

J-Mos: We still hold control over the dark version of the Fortress as well. Even there, our mechs and Ingsmashers will attack you on sight.

U-Mos: I don't enjoy discussing death.

*He holds out his hands toward Elira*

U-Mos: We wish to help you - all of you, if you'll let us.

[dsatfacetroid]

*When Elira strikes the glass, U-Mos envelops himself in a psychic bubble, fragments of light falling from his hands, ready to fire, while J-Mos reacts by striking her wrists together, causing a sleek, lightweight armorsuit to fold out across her body, comprised merely of a skeleton frame in which panels of force shields are held. She draws a sword from her back, its hilt glowing with a light crystal, and stands ready. But as Elira finally calms down, her posture grows more relaxed, and U-Mos's shield fades.*

J-Mos: Beyond our comprehension!? How dare you! We have technology rivaling the Chozo's, but unlike them we lived through our ordeal!

U-Mos: Jay...

J-Mos: ... That... came out wrong.

*U-Mos crosses his arms as he stares at Elira, his red eyes seeming to peer into her soul.*

U-Mos: Letting you go free is the ideal goal, but I am not willing to do so if this dark energy that consumes you drives you to violence. If you are truly worse than the Ing, then you will die like them. You are deep within the fortress designed to fight creatures of the darkness like you.

*His feathery antennae perk up slightly.*

U-Mos: However, if you can mend your ways, whether it be by purging you of your dark corruption, or whatever holds your will, then I will allow you to leave. You are here by the grace of the Luminoth, child, so choose your words carefully.

[dsatfacetroid]

*U-Mos steps up to the glass as J-Mos speaks in his stead.*

J-Mos: If she's possessed, then she's likely innocent.

U-Mos: Something's... pulling at me.

J-Mos: Something from her?

*As soon as U-Mos puts his hand to the glass, a dark portal opens up beneath his fingers, pulling his arm into it until he braces himself against the cell. Tendrils of darkness crawl up his arm, and his eyes go wide as they start to turn purple. J-Mos holds up the weapon she was about to use earlier, and holds it toward the dark growths.*

U-Mos: Wait!

*J-Mos activates it anyway, turning her face away as the "blade" of the device, one large light crystal, becomes supercharged, surrounding the area with a golden dome. The portal closes, and U-Mos manages to pull his arm out, though he starts to fall backward until J-Mos catches him, lowering him to the floor. The Sentinel's eyes remain purple, even as the tendrils on his arm shrivel up and disintegrate. He looks up at her, otherwise limp.*

U-Mos: I thought I told you to wait.

*J-Mos slaps him across the face, and when he opens his eyes again, they return to their normal red.*

U-Mos: You're abusive.

J-Mos: Why'd you tell me to wait?

U-Mos: I caught a glimpse of her mind... I don't know if Elira is truly possessed, but even if she is, it's not against her will.

J-Mos: So our predicament still stands.

*U-Mos briefly raises one hand to hold to the side of J-Mos's face before getting back to his feet.*

U-Mos: And now she's clearly a threat. I suppose we have no choice but to try and purge her now.

*He gestures over toward one of the scientists in the room, and he backs away from Elira's containment cell just as the light crystals begin to glow.*

[dsatfacetroid]

*U-Mos's eyes seem to gloss over as he floats up into the air, holding his hands out to either side, charging shots of energy for merely a second before throwing his hands forward, sending a burst of white light toward the cell, searing the dark portals in the glow, and closing them. J-Mos, holding something resembling a dagger toward the portals just as they close, looks over at the Sentinel before lowering her weapon and sighing.*

J-Mos: Show off.

U-Mos: Summoning dimensional rifts while unconscious...

*He looks over at Martin with concerned eyes that merely stare for a moment before he speaks.*

U-Mos: Is this human...

*He looks away as he trails off, shaking his head.*

U-Mos: You've put me in something of a conundrum here, Martin. I want to help whomever I can help, but I fear that she may either be beyond our capacity to help, or may actively resist it, in which case... I'm afraid I cannot allow her to leave Aether corrupted.

*U-Mos stares back at Martin.*

U-Mos: Either her corruption is cleansed against her will, or I will be forced to kill her. I realize these options are far from the altruism you would expect from the luminoth, but... I cannot allow the scourge of darkness to remain.

*He glances toward J-Mos*

U-Mos: Am I being too harsh?

*J-Mos stares at Elira for a moment*

J-Mos: ... I don't believe so. Though I do wonder why you're so invested in pursuing these undying lands while the Ing are still alive.

U-Mos: Both are atrocities, though the Ing have not seemed interested in attacking us.

J-Mos: Maybe they're preparing to.

U-Mos: That's not the point! The point is I feel as though I have no other options but to kill this woman, either by a hopeless attempt to purge her, or by combat! She's done nothing so far to warrant this!

J-Mos: Then maybe you should just let her go.

U-Mos: And risk her corrupting others?

J-Mos: That all depends on her intentions, which we can't know while she's unconscious.