<> <> <> <> * Zeke's birdsect is looking around furtively, and his holohead nods slowly. He says to everyone, "This is surprising." A pause, then added, "There are cxxchrkx on this planet." * Tomas disembarks at the ready and scans the surroundings for duektibots that managed to avoid the effect. Oh great. They're probably gonna want to eat our brains and suck our blood or something. * Kyle pauses. No offense, Zeke. * Tomas shakes his head, annoyed, "And since you're still standing, I imagine the tone won't work on them." (Did I say smelly?) * Zeke replies, "That seems... unlikely." Yeah, you're right. They're probably not into the brain eating thing, are they. * Hestia is drawing her gun, once that gets said. "Why eat their brains when you can just wipe them out wholesale? Much more fun." It seems a poor food source. * Zeke's drones spread out slowly. "We can hope their numbers are not great, or that the Duekti remnants fight them still." * Amadeus frowns. "Well, we don't have to *stay* here. I like knowledge more than most, but there are bugs here and we're short on time." * Lexi nods. "D has a point." <> * Kyle mms. "Probably should head further in. You got any clue where the rest of the bugbuddies are?" Or WHY they're here at all? * Zeke replies, "I can detect them to some degree, yes, but it is likely they will conceal themselves until they believe themselves able to kill me." * Zeke's birdsect takes wing as he adds, "You might call it 'smell'." Is it some kinda lava lamp then? Those things can be mesmerising. * Zeke doesn't reply, and instead says, as he advances, "They are towards the center." * Zeke also withdraws his rifle. * Amadeus sighs and doesn't ask why they're sticking around here. He just looks around, fingering his laser pistol nervously. <> * Kyle pulls out his laser pistol and make sure it's ready for use. "Well that's just great." <> * Zeke looks around, and his holoface frowns. They... may not be aggressive, but I cannot think of why. * Hestia smirks. "Irony?" * Amadeus keeps looking about and says, absently, "Certainly something." <> * Kyle freezes and just kinda stares at them. * Hestia weapon up, looking down the sights. A little earlier than expected, too; maybe she can sense them like Zeke can? Well, probably not JUST like Zeke can. <> A zoo? What would bots want with a zoo? * Amadeus stops and stares, too, fingering his pistol. "Is- yes, it- I don't know." * Zeke frowns slightly, then says, "There is no... queen." * Hestia shifts her gaze over to Zeke, without losing her bead. "Nobody to give them orders? That's why they're just sitting here staring into space?" <> * Hestia says, after a pause, "If they think YOU'RE they're new queen, horror of all this aside I may NEVER stop laughing, for the record." I... am uncertain if they lack a leader yet. * Zeke advances towards the wall as well. "That may become the case shortly." Uh... should I be worried? I mean more than normal? * Hestia grins despite herself, but it's not a pleasant expression. "I don't know. Look for somewhere we can get him a baby shower gift?" <> * Lexi shrugs. "If they think Zeke is their leaderr, can't he just like tell them to uh... I dunno... go to sleep and leave us alone, or something?" * Zeke makes a chittering noise back, with a frown on his holoface. Or at least chillax? * Zeke says, "Their queen is currently being... experimented upon." Well, that certainly explains the zoo. Ooookay, gettin' creepy. * Zeke turns, with his gun. "'She' wishes death. It seems simple enough." * Zeke makes another chitter noise. So you're just gonna shoot her? (Is the queen here?) * Zeke nods with his holohead and starts heading towards a building. "It is what we both desire." How long have they been here? * Amadeus looks back at the bugs, then follows the other bug. I do not know. <> * Tomas walks with Zeke and the others toward The Building, "I mean -- have they been actively harvesting bugs for experimentation? Did they have that directive? I wonder what else we'll find in there." My... current theory is that they are being used for communication. But she will not say. Saving the world's a real cheery pasttime. I should do this m... what do you mean, 'used for communication'? <> * Tomas cracks a lightstick and peers around. * Zeke doesn't immediately respond, as he and his drones continue to advance with care. <> I would guess it has something to do with their hivemind, Tia. Used effectively, I'm pretty sure it'd allow for faster than light communication. * Hestia stays totally stonefaced. Still, she does say, as she nudges close to a 'cracked' door to try and look inside, "How... unfortunate." Wacky. But makes sense. * Hestia frowns. "Exactly how many shapes do you come in, anyway?" * Hestia doesn't seem to direct that comment AT anyone, but how many people could she possibly be talking to? To a significant degree, we are capable of reconfiguring ourselves with time and effort. * Hestia frowns, craning her neck. "I don't think this guy expended time or effort of his own." To stay concealed, I have engaged in... extreme versions of such. <> * Tomas looks the apparatus up and down, whistling silently, "You said this is for communication?" * Amadeus whistles, forgetting to be afraid of bugs for the moment. * Zeke actually grimaces, then says, "That was a supposition." * Kyle looks around, thinking for something. "Well... There's a coms link somewhere. There's gotta be." * Zeke makes a chittering noise as he levels his gun at the Bug. <> * Zeke makes another much longer chittering noise. * Amadeus watches this conversation and seems to be trying to decide whether to be horrified or fascinated. <> * Zeke nods slowly, and says, "The supposition was accurate, and in turn this has given us positions of Duekti cruisers." * Hestia is looking at the tech in the room with vague interest. "In any other situation, this would be really rude." Well. That's pretty damn cool. * Zeke makes a chittering response and readjusts his gun positioning. <> * Amadeus stands back. * Kyle stands way back. You have that location information, right? And will the know after she's, well... dead? * Zeke fires his rifle right at the Bug, three times. Between the second and third shot he replies, "Yes." <> <> * Zeke then turns away and explains, "She gave orbit information. It was very thorough." * Lexi blinks and nods. "Well that's...good." * Hestia seems to sit and stare for a long time at this entire tableau, before turning to go without catching anyone's eye. "Time's wasting." * Lexi nods and starts to leave. Wow. Uh... yeah, let's get going. <> * Zeke doesn't seem concerned with the now-inactive bugs, as his birdsect comes down and lands on the pen, and his drones clearly set up to 'guard' it. * Zeke walks along with the others, and says, "They are mine now. But we have not enough time." Not if Mars is to survive. Yeah, that's what we're doing. We gotta get going back and wreck some shit. Or something. * Hestia keeps walking toward the ship. "I've had about enough of alien races too big for their britches screwing with us," is all she says. "Let's finish this." * Amadeus keeps up, and he nods a bit at Tia's words. * Lexi nods. "Right then." She also heads to the ship. <>