FJ Waking the Symbiont/In The Basement (Part 1)

	Arkalest	The staff lies on a small stand made out of smartmatter, in the middle of yoour living room.
	Arkalest	(Ball is in your court.)
	Sabina	takes a few moments to light a few sticks of incense before sitting down before the glaive. She reaches out with one hand to touch the handle, she gives the symbiont a gentle telepathic prod, just enough to hopefully rouse it form its slumber.
	Arkalest	Sabina You see the staff's handle segment- Tentacles that are a deep purple with black bleamishes slither out. There's a sort of peace to it, a sort of balance. They curve downwards and touch the sides of the staff.
	Sabina	smiles, and hums softly to the symbiont.
	Arkalest	Sabina It reacts by splintering out smaller tentacles, undulating them to the tune.
	Sabina	continues with the song for a time.
	Arkalest	Sabina The tentacles leave a thick curtain of resin-like material wherever they touch, slowly envelopng the parts closer to the port.
	Arkalest	-------
	Arkalest	(How do you attemtp to contact her?)
	Sabina	(First step would be to let Tuissant know that she's ready to contact the other instramentalist, probably get her thoughts on the matter.)
	Arkalest	[How did she feel to you? Combative? Aggressive?]
	Sabina	[Neither, she was somewhat confused, like I was, but she seemed friendly enough. . . If somewhat, crass.]
	Arkalest	[Considering she was running with a crime syndicate, I'd say it'd be par for the course.]
	Sabina	[She also expressed discomfort at her current situation as well, physicaly speaking.]
	Arkalest	[That is something I'd like to fix if possible, but do keep in mind she's basically wrapped around an Instrumental.]
	Sabina	[Yes, you wanted me to attempt to awaken her, is that still correct?]
	Arkalest	[Not fully, at this point. Try to contact her. Be on the lookout for possible attempts to escape.]
	Sabina	[I understand ma'am.]
	Arkalest	[If she proves reticent, we will train you in the art of psionic interrogation, courtesy of Tzerka- And then move on into more persuaive forms of communication]
	Sabina	[Tzerka already expressed interest in some joint-training with me, I haven't followed up on that yet however.]
	Arkalest	[Very well. You have my blessing.]
	Sabina	[Thank you ma'am.]
	Sabina	makes her way into where the other instrumentalist is being held.
	Arkalest	Sabina The pod-ride is silent, the silence almost deafening- A scent of rain and ozone clinging to the structure once again. The Instrumentalist has been mercifully covered with a tarp in the red room, the metallic walls exhuding an air of menace.
	Arkalest	If anything, this place almost looks like a morgue- Down to the table she is restrained to. A chair has been placed next to the table, and the door  hisses shut behind you as soon as you enter.
	Sabina	steps to the seat and sits down, hands folded over her lap.
	Arkalest	The air in the room is chilly, almost weirdly so. A dry type of cold, without any sort of humidity. You're pretty sure it's also soundproofed, since the only sound you can hear is your own quiet breathing
	Sabina	closes her eyes, taking a few moments to better center herself before she gently reaches out for the other girl, little more than a telepathic brush or tap on the shoulder.
	Arkalest	Sabina It's like being pulled forward. You feel something akin to a windblast- Pushing, picking you with an eery strenght- Then you're sitting cross-legged, legs against a ve3lvet cushion.
	Arkalest	The room smells of ozone and metal and old dust, books- Cared for, worn and moth-riddled. All of its circumference is covered in wooden shelves as tall as the ceiling, fileld with bound leather books. The writing on their spines is just black and white blocks.
	Arkalest	Sitting at the center of the room, cross-legged and holding a book, is  the Instrumentalist.
	Arkalest	Mirah would be just slightly taller than her right now, and she's clearly hunched forward.
	Arkalest	A tiny, forgotten animalistic part of your brain suddenly boots up, and there you are, holding two contrasting thoughts.
	Arkalest	She vaguely looks like a dog.
	Arkalest	And
	Arkalest	She's /big./
	Sabina	unperturbed, Sabina gives a small smile "Afternoon, I hope you do not mind me dropping in?"
	Arkalest	She lowers the book she was holding in one hand. It's...A pretty big hand. You have the feeling- No, the certainety it's big enough to crush your skull. In fact, her arms- The crimsn fur short and weirdly nmoving- Seems to be somewhat thick, less proportionate.
	Arkalest	A yellow-furred eyebrow raises- Her current clothing seems to be a black wetsuit of sorts, sleeves pulled up on her arms. A purple pullover thrown over her torso, a grey sash around her wiast.
	Arkalest	"I'd like some forewarning, next time."
	Sabina	"I apologize, I intended to "knock" so to speak first, but I am afriad I do not have much experience with this sort of thing."
	Arkalest	"It shows. "
	Arkalest	She quietly flings the book behind her shoulders with an arching, languid movement. You can see that her claws are a greyish, dull colour.
	Sabina	"I'm working on improving."
	Arkalest	Her voice is...Surprsingly pleasantly low and dulcet for someone her size.
	Sabina	I forget to introduce myself. Sabina Norland."
	Arkalest	She tilts her head, ample neck bending. "I figured that out as much."
	Sabina	"You have me at a disadvantage then, what would you have me call you?"
	Arkalest	"Nothing."
	Arkalest	"I am not particularly keen on this whole situation, as you may have understood."
	Sabina	nods.
	Arkalest	"So." She leans forward a bit, putting her hands on her knees. "What are you here for?"
	Sabina	"I came to see how you are doing."
	Arkalest	"Oh well, yes. I am doing pretty well, sitting inside my brain going slowly crazy from lack of external stimuli while nanometer probes crawl in my body and I shit down a tube the dregs of protein poaste they feed me."
	Sabina	"And that leads into the other reason I am here. You understand that we are deeply hesitant to awaken a Instrumentalist of a unknown temperament and mind-state."
	Arkalest	"Why, yes, I am. "
	Arkalest	She closes the  eyes. "I think it is far more geneous than simply popping open the top of my  skull and scooping my brains out."
	Sabina	"More generous, but still far from pleasant."
	Arkalest	"Yes."
	Arkalest	"So." She joins her large hands. "I  assume it's going to be like this. You come here a few times, you suss me out, and then you and your superiors work out a plan to get me to tattle on my fellows using the  info you got."
	Sabina	"I received no orders pertaining to your associates. I was asked to ascertain your temperament and condition. Nothing more."
	Arkalest	"It's  never nothing more, and I assume you understand it."
	Sabina	nods "Though the truth is I do not know what my superior's goal for you is."
	Sabina	"And she is not someone who's goals are ones I can guess at accurately."
	Arkalest	""That's  being the underling of megalomaniacs with too much power for you."
	Sabina	"If I truly thought, or had reason to think, that she was not acting in accordance with her duty, than I would not be serving her." She shrugs "Though I do not have much evidence to convince you save for my word either."
	Arkalest	"And is not in her duty to "Police" She airquotes with two calwed fingers. "The "illegal" use of Instrumentals."
	Sabina	"That is one of her duties, yes. It's not her only duty, nor is it even her most pressing duty I think either."
	Arkalest	"But I bet it would be nice to have another Instrumentalist under her wing. One which isn't a rookie."
	Sabina	"If such is her intent than she has not told me."
	Sabina	gives the other instrumentalist a small knowing smile
	Arkalest	"I am pretty sure she'd like to. You look remarkably weedy for someone who is a descendant of a warrior clade."
	Arkalest	She joins her hands. "I knnow that it's awful, being mistreated by everyone because you can read minds, but being too needed to be discarded."
	Sabina	"I would hardly presume to expect myself to be the only one." She admits
	Sabina	She can't hide the small nervous twitch of her finger.
	Arkalest	The other cottons into it. She half-lids her eyes. "And there's always that nagging doubt about being up to the task. An awful thing for someone..How old are you?"
	Arkalest	"No, let me guess. 20."
	Arkalest	She arches her hands. "Old enough to be responsible, still young enough to have lots of neuroplasticity."
	Sabina	"Off by almost a fifth actually."
	Arkalest	"And you inehrited it from the other Keepers."
	Sabina	"As is our custom. As it has been for generations."
	Arkalest	"See, I find this both depressing and very, ver enlightening."
	Sabina	"Oh?"
	Arkalest	She opens her  hands. "Why would someone want to keep such a thing with themselves, if not for power?"
	Sabina	awaits the answer.
	Sabina	awaits the answer through slightly lidded eyes
	Arkalest	"Security, maybe. Or pride. Or emotional reasons."
	Arkalest	"It certainly doesn't belong to the masses, and I feel you share the same sentiment- So does your boss."
	Sabina	"Go on."
	Arkalest	She spreads her arms. "I haven't got much to say. Who am I to comment on this?"
	Sabina	!"You have more right than most would, at least by my accounting."
	Arkalest	"Thanks."
	Arkalest	She seems to be genuinely grateful, nodding for a moment.
	Sabina	"What of yourself? I don't know anything of your history."
	Arkalest	"I am just someone trying to make ends met. No hard feelings on having shrapnel shot into me."
	Sabina	nods, not pressing the matter further.