[plop] [crackle]
A drop of water hits the smooth surface of ominously cold blue water. A small crackling of electricity surges up slowly from the circular ripples, forming an upwards spiral that seems to climb up the path the drop was falling down.
Ripples expand over the surface of the underground pond. Over its center, with half a meter of distance, hovers a platform of natural rock, shining with glowing magical veins of a mysterious substance.
[plop] [crackle]
Water is continuing to drop into the pond in intervals, giving a feeling of how slowly time seems to pass. The way the sounds reverberate through the room indicate the sheer size of the space that is enshrouded in darkness.
[plop] [crackle]
Fixed in place on a metallic floor on top of the floating rock, a woman who’s beauty is shimmering in the otherwise faintly illuminated chamber. Forced into a kneeling position, her legs and feet bound down by thick metallic clamps, leaving no room for any movement. Her arms are pulled up sideways by massive chains with triangular links. The arms are deformed by surgical modification, cut through at 5 places by about three-fourth of their diameter from different angles, the cuts are held apart by small mechanical pistons, preventing the cuts to close by any healing ability and inhibits movement at the same time. The danger she poses for the organization that holds her prisoner would justify even greater measures of security.
[plop] [crackle]
Slowly and gracefully the woman is raising her head, an eerie presence has entered her space. Her eyes uncovered from her hair, steaming with an extremely determined look, showing here unbreakable strength. Footsteps resonate through the distance, closing in with heavy strides.
“I see you seem to enjoy your stay in our facilities, Sorceress of Creation.”
A man’s voice says in a tone that shows a mannered and resolute way of speaking. The sorceress’s face slowly exhibits a gentle smile.
“I see you haven’t lost any of your dignity, Andreaz. Even after such a long time of taking over the leadership of the Cabal of Bastards.”
[plop] [crackle]
“It’s good to see you again as well, Alchera. It’s just unfortunate we couldn’t meet in different circumstances, where we wouldn’t be standing on opposing sides.”
Alchera’s face started to brighten up and she smiled with an expression of delight.
“We both are powerful enough to know that we never would reject a good challenge, and you never disappointed me to provide me with one. So I assume this setup here is used to try keeping me here and my challenge is to break out?”
Andreaz burst out in laugher, holding his chest and arching backwards.
“That’s what I always loved about you, regardless of what you have to face, you never give up and always keep an enthusiastic and playful attitude.”
[plop] [crackle]
He turns to the side taking a few short steps, pointing out the chamber around them with a gesture of his hand.
“This place has been designed with the sole purpose to confine you. It’s in the lowest level of the most secure military bunker owned by The Cabal of Bastards. I know you would never cooperate with our cause, so we will use Tech of The Vanished to analyze your abilities and get all the information out of you.”
[Tech of the Vanished: Technology that is found in various places on different planets, in most cases in secret or hidden places. It is technology created by a race that vanished in history eighty-eight thousand years ago for mysterious reasons. Modern scientists and engineers were able to find ways to operate some of the technology, but are far away from actually creating machinery that can reproduce similar functions.]
“So just hold still for a moment, this won’t take too long.”
In several locations in the darkness behind Andreaz, holographic screens floating in mid-air start to appear. They give off a purple light which is projected from a terminal below it, and reflects off the faces of the operators. Swift and precise hand movements start swirling through the air and initiate the analysis process.
Operator K: “Booting core modules.”
Operator D: “Memory sector preparing for fragmentation.”
Operator S: “Energy pulses initiated, continuing impelling the space with sensory particles.”
Operator E: “Pulling up skills overview.”
A big display is projected above their heads, emanating from long shiny slots on both sides of the room. Letters are popping up one after the other in random positions.
====================================
SKILLS
———
[… corrupted …]
????? ????????? ??? ????? ????????
?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ??? ???
????? ?????????? ????? ??
???????????? ???? ??????? ?????
[… corrupted …]
====================================
The letters start to flicker savagely, and the terminals start to make howling noises like the Tech of the Vanished is suffering.
Operator T: “What the hell is that!? We never ran into something like this before.”
[SYSTEM ALERT: Interference detected]
[SKILL: ACTIVE]
Andreaz turns his head away from the monitor, staring with wide open eyes at Alchera. There was an unmistakable smirk on her face, patiently developing into a cheeky grin.
“You didn’t really think I would make it that easy for you, didn’t you?”
Andreaz, who just realized that he accidentally exhibited a rather confused expression, gets his composure back, and, with one arm behind his back, clears his throat.
“I see, we have a little unforeseen barrier to overcome. It does not matter, even if it takes several years we will keep on it. The only difference is that you prolong the time were you will be able to enjoy our hospitality.”
“Aaaah, is that soo…” Alchera replied.
[SKILL: ACTIVATED]
Operator Z: “Impossible! This place is filled to the brim with skill blocking particles, how is she able to activate her abilities!?”
[plop] … [craaackle]
Andreaz: “What skill did you activate!?”
Alchera: “That’s my little secret, it wouldn’t be any fun if I would just tell you. Haven’t you just said your little system will get any and all information out of me?”
[plop] … [CRAAACKLE!]
“I will make sure we squeeze every little drop of data out of you! Nobody will ever find your location and come to your rescue.” Andreaz utters to assure her of her demise, or probably trying to convince himself of that fact.
“Well …”, Alchera replies in a calm voice, “… let’s see if my crafty little daughter will come pay me a visit.”
[plop] … … [CRAAACKLEEE!!!] The changes in the intensity of electric surges have gone by Andreaz and his men unnoticed, thanks to all the commotion.