thebastion | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Who: Ax, Osahar, and eventually open
When: Day 67
Where: Starting on the Skyway, then interactions in the Bastion.
What: Blue centaur alien shows up on the Skyway, then explores the Bastion.
Format: Action
Warnings: None yet

[Skyway

Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill, aristh of the Andalite military, brother of Elfangor-Sirinial-Shamtul, sole Andalite of the Animorphs, is having what his human friends would call a "very bad day".

He dispatches a quick blow with his tailblade to an attacking Squirt, trotting past it and picking up his pace. He's got to keep moving, and he's moved up to a full run, hooves clattering on the stones of the Skyway as he races forward, jumping over another Squirt that's trying to attack him.]

[Bastion

There are no monsters in the Bastion. That means the odd-looking creature trotting around the Bastion is not a monster. A blue-furred centaur-like creature with a lower body like a deer and the torso of a teenage boy, with too many fingers on his hands and an extra set of eyes on stalks coming off of his head. His tail is thick and muscled, ending in a wicked-looking blade, something like a scorpion's tail, curled so the blade is held over one shoulder.

There are humans here, and he trots up to one of them, and addresses the person. He doesn't actually have a mouth, and so his words are projected directly into the person's mind.]

≪Hello? May I speak with you?≫

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[A human, a living human! Ax skids to a stop, main eyes focused on the human with a gun, eyestalks turned backwards to check behind for approaching enemies.

He raises up his hands in what he has come to learn is a fairly universal human body movement for "I have no weapons and I do not intend to harm you". This motion of peace might be a bit undercut by his tail, so he lowers it to a position less suitable for attacking from.]

≪I have stopped! Do not shoot me!≫

[The gun is a threat, but the human did give a warning and has not started shouting about "Andalite bandits", so Ax is optimistic.]

≪I am not your opponent, human.≫

[Okay... this person has to have interacted with humans before. That's clearly an 'I'm not armed' gesture, which is a little odd coming from a creature like him, but he'll go with it.

Then a voice rings out in Osahar's head, and he glances around, confused, before his gaze fixes back on the creature. Was that... it wasn't anything vocal... The engineer's brow furrows at that, and he keeps his weapon trained on the newcomer. Albeit, naturally, a hair's-breadth away, since he now wasn't sure if he wanted to shoot or not.

But what to do now? This is a survivor, clearly, but... No, no 'buts'. He's a survivor, no matter how odd.] If that was you, and you have no hostile intentions... then come with me. There's a safe place, we can talk there.

[Those stalk eyes keep looking around, but Ax trots forward politely.]

≪It is me. My name is Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill but my human friends call me Ax, since my full name is difficult for you to pronounce with your mouthsounds.≫

[Ax is rambling a bit, mostly because he's nervous.]

≪Perhaps you could stop pointing your gun at me. If it accidentally goes off, I may be injured.≫

Aximili... [Yeah, that is a mouthful. 'Ax' is much easier, and Osahar is happy to use it. But ah... that could be a problem. Human friends.] Come on, we can talk while we move.

[Which is why he takes the lead, moving at a quick march toward Bastion. Those creatures are starting to get too close for comfort, and he doesn't want to get swarmed. This also solves the gun problem rather neatly.] You haven't seen any of them, have you? Your friends?

[Ax follows, keeping pace easily with the human.]

≪I have not, but that does not mean they are not here. However, none of them have attempted to contact me.≫

≪... You are not concerned by my appearance, though you did not recognize my species. That is unusual among humans.≫

It's... possible that they might not be here. It's complicated. [He doesn't want to send Ax running back to the monsters, but he just isn't comfortable with not telling the truth, either. It's frustrating that way.

As for what Ax says, Osahar quietly laughs.] Among some humans, I suppose. But I've seen... well, a lot of things. You're unusual, and I've never seen anything like you, but... there's a lot that can be done. That is done, I should say.

[Though he does have to look over his shoulder, contemplative.] ...so you belong to a unique species? What do you call yourselves?

[It would take a lot more than that to make Ax run.

Osahar's questions are more than a bit offensive to Ax.]

≪Of course I am from a different species than humans. Andalites had developed interstellar travel before humans discovered fire.≫

[...Looks like someone has a bit of an ego problem. The strange thing is that he can feel that offense in the words, just as thought it was normal speech. Quite the interesting effect.

Still, he rolled his eyes as he stopped and turned toward Ax. He'd better defuse this situation.] I'm almost certain I'm not like any human you know. This pistol uses charged plasma, and interstellar travel is a fact of life for me and mine. I've never even been on earth- it's a very distant memory for all of us, and I bet you know more about it than I do.

All of this to say that I'm fairly sure that this place- the Skyway- is a multiversal nexus, and your universe collided with mine, and a lot of others, here.

[A pause, as he considers Ax, and then he continues.] Where I come from, bioengineering is advanced enough, in some places, that they could probably make something like you out of spliced DNA. One of my friends looked almost inhuman himself, but he was, or at least he had been. So... for me, it's a reasonable question.

[Though he does have to hasten to add something.] Which means that I didn't mean any offense in asking it.

≪Charged plasma is inefficient, but a good early stage in weapons technology.≫

[Ax nods at the explanation of bioengineering.]

≪Humans are small and slow and clumsy and posses only two legs and two eyes and no natural physical defenses. I understand why members of your species would use genetic modification to improve themselves.≫

[...oh. Oh no he didn't. He did not just go there. Osahar knows that he should just let it go. He should focus on getting them to the Bastion safely. They can argue there- or more precisely, he can straighten the Andalite out on his misconception about the tech level.

Indeed, Osahar manages to make it four strides before he finally stops. His pride as an engineer is wounded, and so he has to give a defense.] Actually, I use charged plasma because it's cheap and it tends to burn more than vaporize. If I wanted to use something more powerful, I'd go for a baryonic annihilator, but... that's overkill. Risky, too.

[That's right, Andalite. They can take the basic building blocks of reality and smash them together for ludicrous amounts of energy. It's like having a nuclear reactor in weaponized for, only even more hilariously unstable and ludicrously powerful. When it comes to destructive devices that can only end badly, Osahar will put human foolishness up against Andalite any time.

He does have to smirk a little at the charge of the genetics. Now that Ax has made it personal, he shoots right back.] That's because we don't need natural defenses. Our minds are what we rely on. It's unfortunate that some of our colonies believe that the external additions matter more, but... most of us are enlightened enough to take pride in the person we are, not the individual components.

≪Oh! You are beginning to develop Shredder beams! Perhaps you could show me how far you have progressed with the technology.≫

[It's not even patronizing. He's genuinely impressed and curious.

But that comment about human intellect gets the faintest thought-sound of amusement, like a quickly-stifled laugh.]

≪Andalites also take great pride in our intellect, though we are not as... individualistic as humans.≫

...Shredder beams...? [He can't help it, the name just... no. Maybe it got lost in translation somehow, but that's what a holonovel would call it.] And no, it's pretty much set. I just can't show you because... another universe.

[And that amusement earns a quiet huff. Osahar loves him the individualistic nature, even if he, by teaching, is not exactly a loner.] That's... interesting. How does that work in your culture?

[Andalites are... pretty bad at not being completely literal. A Shredder Beam literally shreds objects apart at the atomic level.]

≪So you do not have the ability to replicate it. That is unfortunate.≫

≪Humans have evolved from primates traveling alone or in family groups. Andalites did not, and we have different instincts.≫

Not with what I have to work with here. But I'll improvise, it's what we're good at.

[That response earns a roll of his eyes. This, really?] We've also managed to move beyond dancing to our gene sequence. There's not a lot of comparison between us and monkeys anymore. Of course, I'm not sure what you descended from, so I can't say the same for certain.

[Though, granted, it seemed like some cultures rather enjoyed being enslaved to their genetic determinism, and some others found entirely new tunes to dance to. But for Osahar and his... not so much.]

[Also, in the midst of all of this, those creatures which Ax had managed to get away from are starting to catch up to them. Not that Osahar notices, since Ax rather effectively blocks his view.]

[Ax is still keeping his stalk eyes turned backwards to observe the Skyway, but he's distracted enough by the conversation to not really notice the slimes.]

≪You have reached a stage of development where you have overcome your instincts, but have not yet realized the role that genetic background plays in your thought processes and personalities. Are you not in contact with other species?≫

Nah, we're at the stage of development where we don't try to analyze without information. [He rolls his eyes at Ax's statement. By necessity, if they have enough control over their genetics to effect the changes they want, then they know what impact that has on them. Osahar just happens to disagree with how much that background matters. After all, they are children of the Singularity, not just brute animals.

But ah, there's that question, and even though he can guess what the response is going to be, Osahar still shakes his head firmly.] You mean with sapient, non-human-engineered species, right? No. And there are none in our galaxy, not in my universe.

[That being said, there is a species or two starting to approach. Just a little bit longer, and they'll be completely surrounded... not that either of them notice their impending danger, not yet.]

≪That is a pity. Humans could learn much from other species.≫

[Any second now, the monsters are going to attack, and they don't exactly care about important discussions.]

I think that other species could learn a lot from us, too. [There is, naturally, a huffy tone to his voice. Ax was making a great deal of noise about how underdeveloped humanity was, and how much they could learn... Osahar knew that Ax could learn a lot from humanity, too. Like how to listen to other people, and how to avoid pontificating when one doesn't have all of the information.

But he doesn't get a chance to say anything more. It's at that moment that the monsters attack, and Osahar shouts a warning- too late, and likely at the same belated moment that Ax does- and stumbles back, pulling his pistol and starting to aim. But quite the crowd has gathered around them, far too many to take down with plasma...]

[Ax whirls around, hooves clicking on the stones of the Skyway.

His tail flicks forward, the blade moving lighting-quick to strike at the monsters, slashing and cutting.]

≪We should attempt to retreat.≫

Get out of the... [Darn it! He can't get a clear shot off! Osahar scowls, and then starts backing off. Aximili can run a lot faster than he can, so he might as well cover until Ax was clear, and then run for his life.

Once he got a clear shot, he fired his pistol, sending a blast of superheated plasma screaming into the mass and vaporizing one of the monsters. Hopefully it'll be enough to get Ax clear. The sooner they got out of there, the better!]

[Ax is an Andalite. They never retreat.

He sidesteps the plasma shot, whips his tail forward and slices through another monster.]

[Which is all well and good, but against all of these monsters? Even an Andalite is going to have some problems! Osahar scowls, falling back as his weapon starts recharging.] Come on!

[Okay, fine, they retreat sometimes. Especially in the face of overwhelming numbers.]

≪I am faster than a human. You should run and I will follow behind you.≫

[Osahar's torn for a second. He hates being the one to run first, and he definitely doesn't want to leave Aximili in the lurch, but... after a second, he gets over it. This is more important than his pride or anything else. Besides, he knows the way back, it makes sense for him to lead.

So he turns his back and takes off in a run, hoping that the Andalite follows.] We'll be safe once we get back to the Bastion! It isn't too far away!

[Ax watches the human retreat, keeping his main eyes focused on his opponents. As soon as Osahar is a good distance away, Ax follows, far faster tha a human can run. He's fast enough that he'll catch up with Osahar before they make it back to the Bastion.]

[It's hard for Osahar to stomach the idea of running in this situation, but when he hears the hooves coming up behind him, he knows that Ax made the right decision.

Even still, as he jogs along, he can't resist one last barb. Though said with less insistence this time.] I guess that your ears have devolved, though?

≪Andalites have no natural predators.≫ [Meaning that he doesn't have the instinct to constantly keep track of his surroundings.]

You do now. Trust me. We all do. [But at least they're safe now, for the most part. That being said, now he's a little concerned for Aximili. People without the usual instincts of danger and predators can make incredibly bad decisions, and while he can't deny Aximili's got talents and knowledge that he doesn't... it'll depend on how the Andalite adapts to this situation.]

≪I am aware of that.≫

[Eventually, Ax will corner some of these monsters and acquire them. It may be beneficial to move around unnoticed on the Skyway, and their instincts may give some insight into the situation.

However, he has no intentions of showing off the morphing technology unless absolutely necessary.

And right now he's just going to keep trotting along beside Osahar.]

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