[Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World

[Cyberia GM]

It was a songline.

+++++

Dot listened intently as she recognized it for what it was, trying to divine
the soul it spoke of.
 
+++++

The answer was not long in coming, though it seemed reluctantly given.  Asha
stood motionless for a long moment, then reached out her hand, pulling
through what seemed to be an apparition- something to frighten children as
they prepared to sleep at night with the tales of ghosties and ghoulies.

"Shirow," Grey said, his eyes narrowing as Asha returned the bow, slightly
shallower.
 
As he straightened, the demands of honour fulfilled, he looked around the
room, assessing everyone with a glance, his eyes missing nothing as he
catalogued all that was in the room.  Even in repose, there was a dark
violence about him that seemed inbred- one that was unsettling.

"Shirow, this is Dot.  She will be your charge, and I believe in keeping her
safe and helping her meet her goals, you can reach your own."  He said
nothing, merely regarding her with intense scrutiny.  "Dot, this is Shirow.
I believe that you have a lot in common, and can help him, even as he helps
you."
 
She regarded Shirow, even as she continued to talk to Dot.  "He is currently
pledged to me by bonds of loyalty, but I believe that what he is bound to
you by bonds transcend mere loyalty to Blood.  If you accept this, you will
have a more potent weapon than you can ever imagine."

+++++

"I... I accept," she said as she watched Shirow move. 

A thousand questions rose in her mind ~how are we related?  How will I help
you?~ She subdued them in favor of her goals.

"When do we leave?"

"Now," Asha replied.  "Grey- you have command.  We might be coming back hot,
so be prepared."  She looked towards Shirow and Dot, and nodded.  For his
part, Shirow was quiet, his too intent gaze never settling on anything, but
absorbing everything as he followed Asha from the room.

Taking the elevator again, they proceeded upward in the structure- but this
time they didn't stop at the observation level, instead, heading even
higher.  After a few moments, the lift stopped.  "This is as high as it can
still go- we'll have to proceed on foot to get to the roof," Asha explained.

Stepping from the lift, they emerged on a floor that might as well have been
the roof- it was completely exposed to the elements other than the immediate
area around the lift.  The windows had been blown out in some long ago
conflict, leaving only glass shards as testament that it was ever sealed.
Taking the stairs to the next level, it proved to be worse.

"Watch your step," Asha cautioned as she trailblazed the path for them to
follow.  The structure of the floor had been weakened, and in places, wires
and pipes stuck up at odd angles, strangely resembling fingerbones, as if
those who had died here thrust their hands up in revenge.  They bypassed the
stairs on this level, and it was plain to see why- the stairwell was open to
the sparse sunlight- the stairs themselves obliterated by whatever had
caused the gaping hole. Instead, they came to a ladder that had been propped
up to access an old hatch to the roof.

Climbing the ladder proved to be a challenge in and of itself- it swayed
precariously as their weight tested
its mettle- thankfully it proved to hold up, and soon they found themselves
on the roof.  A spectacular view awaited them- you could literally see for
miles.  There were only a couple of buildings in the tatters as tall as this
one- and skyscraper fit as a description very well.  They could almost taste
the moisture in the air as they walked through the clouds towards the AV.
Asha and Shirow both stayed low, and motioned for Dot to do the same- soon
it was apparent why, as a sudden gust of wind blew over the rooftop,
chilling them to the bone.

They hurried towards the Merlin, it's sleek form awaiting them on the roof.
It's matte black surface seemed to absorb the spare sunlight rather than
reflect it, it's lines aerodynamic in the extreme, disturbed only by the
vector-thrust nacelles.  Asha inputted the sec-codes for the vehicle's rear
entrance ramp; waiting as it slowly descended.  Once inside, she closed the
door, shutting out the world behind them.  The control panels rezzed to
life, casting the interior in the bare
glow of their screens.

"Shirow, take the pilot's seat," Asha commanded, turning to Dot.

"Choose one of the rear seats," she said to her, even as she took another.
The smart-seats reconfigured themselves to the their occupants, even as a
low growl reverberated through the Merlin as Shirow fired up the engines.
The vector-thrust vehicle had been styled after its namesake to be sure.
Compact as it was, the sleek aircraft still hummed with predatory strength.
Shirow slipped on his HUD headset and interface gloves.

The Merlin immediately responded, shuddering and shifting as if ready to
pounce.  A sensual female voice echoed the positive results of a rapid
series of weapon and system.  

Shirow grunted as he heard the voice.

"I didn't get the chance to reprogram it yet," Asha said in way of
explaination.  "Besides, Rook..."  

She faltered, and Shirow completed the line.  "...might be back," he said.

"Lillith," he continued, his voice low.  "All systems ready?"

"All systems nominal," the Nav-Com purred.

Shirow lifted off and piloted the aircraft into the air, arcing towards the
far away Serenity Towers.

"We'll be in broadcast range in 90 minutes," he said, then lapsed into
silence, concentrating on piloting the
craft.

"90 minutes," Asha echoed.  "Did you have any other questions?  If not,
we'll jack in locally, so I can transfer some utilities to you.  We can
stage from there- I'll tether you as you make your way into the Deep Ether."

Dot shook her head, "no questions."  She quietly jacked in, thinking vaguely
as she did, "Lillith?  Odd name."