A Rose in the Thorny Garden

Nightwasp:

I set up the prisoner in one of our holding cells.

Something was happening to the Starker's mid region, which was a cause for great concern.

Suddenly, something inside him starts rapidly moving and tearing away at his stomach lining.

I stagger backwards in alarm.

(To Grimweb)((The prisoner appears to contain a parasite, it is moving, tearing away at his insides it-))

The feathered iratus bug bursts forth, creating quite a gory mess.

Odette is not going to like that..

(To Grimweb)((The prisoner has given.. birth.))

*Scrunches nose.*

232 hears “given birth” over the hive mind and thinks it is the QUEEN, because who else could it be?

He rushes to give the new ‘baby’ its swaddling blanket, nappy, rattle, etc.

Buttercup has to WRESTLE him in the halls not to get all of Odette’s baby items anywhere near the bloody Drizzle iratus bug.

Grimweb:

I gush (bad wording) over what I see.

"WHOA thats a whole new way to make more wraith!"

Sick and twisted....also a little blasespmus because you dont need a queen ..

I side step HOPING our Queen lets me look at that dead body.

What a find!

He was even turning GREEN as he bled out over there..

I step back afraid when 232 touches the 'baby'...

whoa..

Nightwasp:

Buttercup was not successful with keeping the transfer from Jean's hive under control.

I roll my eyes at the both of them.

"I suggest that you scan and clean up the area before our Queen arrives. She will want to know for certain that none of this is contagious."

Even if the effects make the host more... wraith like.

I wrinkle my nose and step away from the bloody mess.

"Once the prisoner is awake do inform her will you?"

I care not for this aspect of warfare.

I would much rather be out on the battlefield.

Grimwolf:

Once I’ve returned from my dart flight, I reconvene with Webster and the others.

It’s really starting to feel like old times, and not in a good way.

“Drop it.”

I growl at 232 as he attempts to take the swaddled ‘baby’ to Odette. Pretty sure she’d have him killed before he got close. Well, if the bug didn’t bite him first.

Once it’s on the floor, I stun it before it can get away.

“I presume you still have plenty of holding crates?” I check with Webster if he kept Jean’s supply.

I bow my head at Nightwasp as he leaves, before summoning a drone cleaning crew.

((Sorry to make you do this.)) I say to Webster, I’m sure the last thing he wants is to deal with Jean’s experiments again.

Grimweb:

That was DISGUSTING.. yet... ok maybe...we could use it.

I wasnt sure, Jean would be into it for sure but Odette really didnt like germs and I feel whatever mutated parasite looking horror that happened might not be her 'cup of tea'.

Turning monsters into pure wraith was hard....and messy...

Nightwasp wants me to do dirty work and I nod GRIMLY feeling both on a proper breakthrough and both a little disappointed and unsure if this was a success or not.

If he had brain damage then he wouldn't be a good prisoner to get intel put of after all..

"I'll figure this out."

I look at Grimwolf so glad he was here and took out the bug . 232 could have made it so much worst if he brought that..thing anywhere else.

"Thanks. Of course. I think we even still have Jean's bug cage.."
I try to think where I stuffed it away after Shadowjay's departure and mentaly get a lab worker to bring it over.

I take a few samples and slowly approach the man on the ground turning green. Doing quick scans and swabbing near the wound before rushing back behind Wolfie

Made it..
I look at the results trying to figure out how to explain this madness to our new Queen...and Queen Ruby Rose.

"Well Wolfie. Its not pretty but it worked out."

Grimwolf:

When the iratus bug cage arrives, I try to have one of the drones [Buttercup] put it in, but he refuses. Turns out it’s Odette’s version of JD. Even though he can’t talk, he shows me very graphic images of childbirth to convey that he’s her designated midwife.

He points at 232, raising his arms like “thanks for all the help with that guys”, before following after Nightwasp.

“Never knew drones could be such divas.”

I joke to Webster before finding a more biddable one to do the job.

As ever, I leave the science stuff to my little brother. But I do give him some practical advice.

((Err on the side of caution before giving the all clear. Now there’s two queens, that’s an extra pair of hands to rip our guts out if we mess this up. But I'm sure you'll do fine, you always do.))))

I step back and assess the situation.

((That guy may look like a goner, but if there’s one thing I learned from Jean, it’s that Starkers are a bitch to kill. If he wakes up, I don’t think a stunner’s gonna cut it. Any chance you can make a new-and-improved version of the first serum? Ideally an iratus-free one.))

Grimweb:

I watch the drones, it feels like 'home' if we ever saw Jean's hive that...

I still felt unease and nod GRIMLY at my brother's warning. Queen Odette seems to be a germaphobe. This cuts down on my scientist's heart, a little contagions and alien goop, mistakes here and there were always the BEST breakthroughs. I think of the talented scientist who told me that fondly. BUT me and Wolfie have impressed the Queen and we cant stop now. Our place here isnt stable enough.

There was a WHOLE new queen to impress too.

((We'll have to do something noteworthy for the new Queen too...she didnt see us play keep away with her head..))

I pause, maybe thats a GOOD thing. It probably was.. disrespectful. It already felt disrespectful to clone her. I wonder if shes mad.

I look around as if she was here already.

((Everyone we need to CLEAN like our lives depend on it!))

I snap at drones and get on my big gloves as one silly drone mops up Drizzle's face, where there was hardly any blood..

((A little lower..)) I gesture to the gash now almost closed.

Wolfie gets another brilliant idea.

"Yes I will work on that..quick as a whip!"

((Maybe you could find something to tie him up? Muzzle? Just so it looks as safe as it will be once hes drugged.)) I suggest before running off to work.

Grimwolf:

It’s definitely a good thing Rubyrose didn’t see us manhandling her head.

We’ll have to see if Webster gets any credit for bringing her back. But if it’s anything like Atlantis and all of John’s ‘achievements’, Odette could just claim the success for herself.

((Best to hang back for now, see what this new Queen is really like. There are a lot of rumours, but you can never put much faith in those.))

I heard someone say JD was still alive and baking cookies for Jean…

Webster gets the drones in line, and I get my orders too.

((On it.))

I retrieve the items from my own personal stash. The ropes may just be for show, but the muzzle could really be useful. Depends how annoying a talker this one is.

((I’m all done on my end. Let me know once it’s all clean, and I can inform Nightwasp.))

Don’t want to pull a Bond and demand an audience with Odette herself

Gimweb:

I listen to big brother trying to put on a brave face. Queen Rubyrose did seem more of a threat to us then Odette, she was older, wiser and experienced.

I try to focus on the whole 'spotless clean up' It looked good but I do a deep scan one more time, then check air quality. I turn up a filter and then get a drone to change it.

((That should do it.))

I eye around and stop at the man, WORRIED he would wake up and puke.

THAT WOULD NOT BE OUR FAULT!

I dont say anything. I wait.wait and HOPE.

Grimwolf:

*Makes the report to Nightwasp that all is clear for the Queen’s presence*

Odette:

The boys sure were taking their time.

I shut my book boredly when Nightwasp finally gives me the go ahead to come see the prisoner.

"Care to join?"

I ask Rubyrose.

"The book was shit by the way."

I toss the fairy smut aside as the ongoing war continues in the background.

Persistent little buggers aren't they?

Rubyrose:

I do not know what to be more disturbed by. Odette’s casual use of crude human swearing, or her choice of literature.

“Yes, I would recommend books about history or strategy. I’m sure they would not prove to be so… substandard.”

I give her a subtle hint to keep things classier as I move to join her.

((What is your main goal? Information or ransom?))

I privately question what her next move will be, so we can appear aligned to the rest of the crew.

Odette:

I raise my eyebrows at my sister's apparent disaproval.

It seems I might have to reign myself in.. at least for her sake

((Why not both?))

I grin  playfully while leading her down the hall to the prisoner's cell.

I turn around in front of her and walk backwards.

((What do you say? You be bad cop? I be good cop?))

I tease.

((Would love to see you in action big sister... I really have so much still to learn.))

I flatter her with a smile.

Rubyrose:

Odette says she has both goals in mind. Given that we are headed to see the prisoner, I can only assume information is our main objective, and someone else has been ordered to contact the planet to arrange the ransom demands.

((Very well.))

Then she says something very confusing. What is this ‘cop’? Perhaps an archaic word she learned in her… interesting choice of literature?

In any case, she asks me to take the lead in the interrogation, and I am more than happy to do so.

((Oh, there’s nothing much to it really.))

Once we arrive, I stride over to the prisoner. For once I am pleased to sense WRAITH in one of Michael’s creatures

I raise my hand to his cheek as I command,

“Kneel” ((Kneel)) *It echoes in his brain*

“What do you call yourself?”

Drizzle:

I cringe quite unsure how these simpletons undid Michael's design. It was hard to tell how weak I was in a wraith state compared to how I felt under some sort of drug. All a haze , that made it hard to tell what was real. I couldnt trust this either, moments ago some bug was eating me alive. Did that even happen?

Turning into wraith..Death?

Who else would do that?

Most others were purists who wouldn't bother making more 'fakes' like Michael.

Queen Death was into making more for what I dont know maybe just to keep Michael busy killing them to keep them from the real things?

Instead of Death I get a redhead and a pregenet one I feel the new effect on the mind hit me. I grind my teeth chained in a way that made it quiet easy to go limp enough for a kneel.

((Drizzle.))

I answer obediently before speaking out loud a snarky comment.

"Are you ladies THIS desperate for numbers? Well I'm flattered."

My eyes look at the pregenet one and wonder if its a freaky bug thing in there or not... I'm too traumatized to ask.

Odette:

Sister starts us off strong by putting the prisoner in his place, chains, muzzle and all.

*Bites lip.*

He was so young too, nicely dressed. Clearly someone of importance.

I stroke my stomach in an attempt to come accross as... sensitive? Caring maybe. Something like that.

He refers to himself as Drizzle and I try not to snort in response.

"Oh Drizzle, now is really not the time for pitiful sarcasm."

I sensed he was.. a bit traumatized already.

He was looking at me or perhaps my condition?

Hm.

"If you work with us dolls, things will be a lot less difficult for you. I would really hate for such a pretty face to get hurt."

I give him a pouty look before turning things back over to my sister.

Rubyrose:

Odette gets a rather excited look in her eyes when she sees the prisoner in his bondage.

I try not to dwell on why that might be… She was a teenager last I saw her…

This ‘Drizzle’ behaves more like an upstart Atlantean than a wraith. But that is what he is now, most unfortunately for him.

I scoff when Odette says ‘if’ he works with us.

“As if he has a choice…”

I reach into his mind, forcing him to answer any questions I pose honestly.

“Besides yourself, what defences does your world possess?”

Drizzle:

I give the younger one a look of disrespect when she calls me 'dolls'.

Really?

"Are you a fake wraith too? You sound really human.."
I mock before going into a trance from the much more authentic wraith.

I cant fight spilling our secrets, including the hidden lasers in three key cloaked stalights that have been ramming at their hives.

I go into detail of the underground experimental bunkers and defense nukes.  A plot by the senators to BLOW the planet up if they cant defend it in 23 hours.

Someone has to go down there and shut if off with the code 'MKsucks'

Rubyrose:

I hiss as the male dares to call my sister a ‘fake’ wraith. I would suggest she show him just how real a wraith she is, were it not likely that his blood is tainted with Hoffan poison.

Still, I hope she takes this as encouragement not to read anymore of that ‘fairy’ drivel, that must be where she’s getting such language from!

I smirk at the knowledge of all their precious secrets (and that password, I KNOW what it means ).

I pass on the information about the lasers to Nightwasp. As Commander, I presume he is heading the offensive while we work here.

((Who do you plan to send to enter the code?))

I privately ask Odette, before returning to the interrogation. She wanted hostage leverage after all.

“Do you matter to anyone important on your planet?” I question the male.

Drizzle:

I find it difficult to just spill my guts like this, this must be what talking to Michael is like...?
I think finding it awful, invasive and humiliating.
I could only feel immense anger for my sister and father trapped with the hybrid monster to be so easily controlled.

But now I was.. ..this.. and these simple wraith females could make me say and do anything. It was worst. Then just one hybrid monstrosity being able to do it.

((Senator Floribel, Senator Evelyn)) I struggle not to say it but then I choke out the worst one.

((Bane Starker and the Bain ones.))

Odette:

At some point during our interrogation I get the overwhelming sense to pee.  

*Taps foot impatiently.*

....Fuck!

Rubyrose talks shop with me and I keep my answer brief.

(To Rubyrose) ((Hm... probably Grimwolf.))

He seemed capable... enough.

Those eyes though.

I shake my head uncomfortable at the thought.

He should really get those looked at.

*Tap, tap, tap.*

I tune back into the interrogation impatiently.

The young stud appeared to be spewing his guts about his family now.

I try to remain neutral to the news.

Great, more experiments and here I thought I found us an actual CLEAN food source!

(To Rubyrose)((I'm done here if you are?))

Got to pee, got to pee, got to PEE!!!

Rubyrose:

The first two names mean nothing to me, but that last one!

I hiss in pleasant surprise.

“Bane Starker is on the planet?!”

Had Michael still not gotten him after all these years? Well then, he may prove useful.

Odette reacts to this very promising news by… running away? Ah, I sense she is in discomfort. So I will continue alone.

“Tell me of Bane. Who are you to him? A brother, perhaps, or a son? And who might your mother be?”

There must be some wraith genetics involved beyond the Starker’s hybrid DNA for him to revert to this form.

I also contact Nightwasp, since I assume Odette is preoccupied.

((Nightwasp, there may be other Starkers on this world, perhaps Bane himself. Instruct your scientists to make more of their serum. And prepare the soldier Grimwolf for a mission, Odette requires that he go to the planet to deactivate their self-destruct sequence.))

Drizzle:

I get distracted by the other Queen and her exit to not respond to the first mention of Bane. Once the younger queen left I focus soley on the other one.

I grind my teeth not envying male wraith, this is to easy...

"Hi s..son. Sen.ter Eve. She..was a wraith.."
I clarify for her.

"Even-ing.. something..."
I shrug and wonder how much of a difference it must be, if she had power like this...

"Do..you all have certain smells of identifications? How do you tell one another apart anyway" I ask trying to do my own integration.  Sadly..

"You stand out, with the hair.."

Red....

Queen Rubyrose:

So Benjamin Starker’s son mated with a Queen. For some reason, it does not surprise me that his progeny would hold such an interest in our kind

However, I must wonder what kind of Queen would pair herself with one of Michael’s creatures. They’re the only things in the galaxy more distasteful than him. The name Drizzle gives means little to me, except a vague notion that she may be Lastlight’s distant kin. And not a wraith anymore, apparently.

I mentally inform Odette of this fact, perhaps it would be best for the both of us to remain in orbit until the source of this Senator Eve’s transformation is brought to light.

This male is very presumptuous. He truly believes he can ask me questions in his own interrogation? Especially after he has ignored a vital question I posed to him.

I return the favour, refusing to answer him as I squeeze his mind.

“Is Bane Starker on this planet?” ((planet.. planet...))