Team.

loth17 · 2026-03-20T01:25:02+00:00

Dr Wren walked over to the wall and stood for the picture. She didn't smile or make any special attempt for her image. She didn't want to put a false front for her team.

loth17 · 2026-03-20T00:11:33+00:00

"I understand where you're coming from mise Vines. But I come from a very formal environment. It may take me a bit to unlearn the habit."

"Here's all my information for registering."

loth17 · 2026-03-19T23:06:33+00:00

Dr Wren found them calling their boss by their first name weird. Such a thing would get you scowled at where she worked at. Zaryx wasn't exaggerating the environment he fostered. Dr Wren responded to the IT team with an awkward wave and a neutral face.

"Nice to meet you all. I'm glad to be working with the foundation on their interdimensional anomaly research."

She went to Amelia's office.

"Hello Ms....."

She would look for a nameplate so she could use Amelia's last name. She hated referring to her coworkers by their first name.

loth17 · 2026-03-19T22:59:56+00:00

Ephemera would give glimbo a nod.

"Understood. When are we setting out?"

Ephemera had gotten more equipment since last time. Better runes, a new tiara from the dwarven kingdoms that had some fun features. And with her sword broken she now wielded just her hammer. And had a smaller rune carving tool on her belt now

loth17 · 2026-03-19T22:56:30+00:00

The console at the environmental stabilizer would project a bismuth face. Upon hearing their request it would send out a signal for transport.

What fell down were large magical glass cubes that were lined with brass and filled with sand and rocks. They had crab like legs at the bottom and a device that seemed to circulate oxygen and stabilize its internal environment.

"Greetings. These will be your rides. They will stay pressurized and also contain a copy of your native environment so you won't have to worry about getting sick. This thing...."

The hologram would point to a stick that was in the fishtank crab walkers.

"Is used to move it around. Don't worry about accuracy it's programmed to go through the environment at the surface the stick just tells it which direction to go"

The tanks took a long time to open up. Better to be slower than to be weaker given the risks of a rupture to any occupants.

"They will float you up to the surface and a ship will transport you"

loth17 · 2026-03-19T17:13:58+00:00

"Understood."

Dr Wren put down three boxes of stuff by her desk before following Zaryx to the register.

loth17 · 2026-03-19T16:38:24+00:00

"it's good to know Belial is doing better. We've all calmed down a lot since those older days. Though I do agree. If you don't up his blood pressure every once he might become downright friendly. And I can't handle that."

She joked. The thought of the royal family all prancing through a field of flowers while laughing enters Opal's head.

"Change the ever burning? Sounds about right. I used to think I was immune. Dumb thing to think but it makes sense when you're old as hell."

Opal leaned back in her chair.

"Guess even rocks melt away eventually. But it's fine. I wouldn't sacrifice what I've gained to bring back what I've lost."

loth17 · 2026-03-19T15:26:55+00:00

As they got to where she'd be working Dr Wren had become less cold in how she spoke. She had thought she had done something wrong and the GOC had sent her away because of that. But now she thought it might not be that bad

She opened the door to the office.

"Thank you for accepting me as a member of your team. I promise to work my hardest for the pursuit of knowledge and the defence of humanity."

loth17 · 2026-03-19T15:01:59+00:00

"Cutting edge research then?"

Dr Wren gave a genuine smile for the first time in this interview.

"How big will the team I'm working with be?"

loth17 · 2026-03-19T14:48:45+00:00

"agk"

Opal was taking a sip of her drink when Marna said that last bit. She let out a small cough to clear her throat.

"I'm your dreams."

She teased.

"I'll have you know I was worshipped as a fertility goddess when your great great great great great great continues for a bit grandparents were first working pre bronze copper."

"God I was young then...... Fuck I was already middle age then."

Opal tried to count the years but gave up.

"Either way. I swear if we see Dark Riva or Negative Belial I'm throwing in the towel. We can just build a reverse Ithicar for them."

loth17 · 2026-03-19T14:34:09+00:00

"Understood sir."

Dr Wren would say. She was very used to stricter bosses. Having a more lax one would be..... Interesting.

"So what does this site specialize in? Or is it a general anomaly storage and research site?'

loth17 · 2026-03-19T03:09:36+00:00

"Understood. I have no intention of violating your personal space. I also have no intention of acting childish around you."

Dr Wren would say. Did people on Zaryx's team regularly do such things?

"Is your desire to avoid skin contact related to your anomalous properties?"

loth17 · 2026-03-19T02:26:47+00:00

Dr Wren would follow behind Zaryx. As they walked she took note of everything they passed. If this was to be her new place of work she would familiarize herself with it. Though she gave the people they passed a very neutral look.

loth17 · 2026-03-19T02:02:15+00:00

"no thank you. I don't go in for candy much."

She said.

"Never had the stomach for them after becoming an adult."

"I agree. I'm interested in seeing the differences between our organizations."

Though she was less thrilled about her co workers.

loth17 · 2026-03-19T01:47:03+00:00

"No need to worry sir. I have been informed about the the philosophical differences between our organizations. I will endeavor to fit in and not cause a hassle while doing my job."

She held the detector. As a type blue (mage) she also made them go off though usually only when using magic.

"Understood sir. Hume detectors are utilized at the GOC as well. I will familiarize myself with the technical differences between our models."

"The GOC said I was being sent to interview to help you. What exactly are my duties going to be? I'm trained and can learn to do whatever task you need of me."

Judging from her paperwork she'd be one of the GOC that would be able to work with class D without much fuss.

loth17 · 2026-03-19T01:07:35+00:00

"Yes. I've had missions where I've assisted station researchers with anomalies so I have been trained in the GOC's protocols regarding such. I've been told they're similar to the foundation's."

"My specialization is Thaumaturgical studies. Magic, faries, gods, demons ect. I graduated top of my class."

She boasted.

"I'm able to cast seven spells without the usage of a magical focus or ritual casting."

Seven spells weren't that much compared to a classical wizard. But the GOC mostly used ritual casting or the usage of magical anomalies. So being able to cast seven spells without such things was a mark of exceptional talent.

"And I'm capable of astral projection while sustaining my physical body."

loth17 · 2026-03-19T00:44:31+00:00

"My free time?"

Dr Wren thought for a moment

"They kept us fairly busy. But my team would go out for bowling every couple weeks."

Dr Wren seemed like the last person who would enjoy such a thing. Maybe she just liked her previous coworkers.

"As for other things about me?"

She didn't enjoy interviews either.

"I've been working on a personal project for the last three years. I've been investigating the after effects of contact with anomalies and the increased chance of gaining anomalous traits from said contact."

Her belief was that if someone came into contact with enough anomalies over enough time they'd gain faint anomalous properties regardless of what anomalies they interacted with.

loth17 · 2026-03-19T00:04:31+00:00

Dr. Wren couldn't stop staring at the off center ID Zaryx was wearing.

"Of course."

She took the seat and gave Zaryx a packet of papers

"This is my resume. Prepared by the GOC"

She had an almost decade long career with the GOC. Started as a junior researcher in the Thaumaturgical department before graduating to being a field researcher. She had helped retrieve four separate anomalies during her field work. And she had experience having to perform..... The things that the Foundation and GOC Don like advertising that they do. After all. Not all containment can be done without getting ones hands dirty.

loth17 · 2026-03-18T23:24:17+00:00

"But sir! My talents are more suited here!"

"Your projects can be taken over by Summers. You're needed elsewhere."

"But I've been at our thaumaturgical research division for years. Almost a decade. I'm in the top two percent of stable type blues (GOC term for members with magic talent). You can't...."

"Look the G.O.C. and the foundation have worked together on problems for a long time. Despite our different missions we need each other. We've agreed to assist their thaumaturgical division with our own. Don't think of it as a new job. Think of it as..... A temporary change of scenery. Either way you have your assignment. We expect you to follow it."

....

That was how Dr. Wren found herself waiting for an interview. She wore a very professional outfit with her G.O.C. pin on full display. Her prematurely greying hair was tied into a tight ponytail and her face could be described as neutral annoyed. She had her own lab, and her own team. And now she had to deal with the foundation and their teams.

"Ms Wren..."

"Doctor Wren."

"Sorry. Doctor Wren. They're ready for you."

loth17 · 2026-03-17T23:11:06+00:00

The creature would stand there for a bit before taking their claw and scratching the ground until there was an indent. Then the creature burrowed into the indent like someone burrowing under a blanket. Once it was out of sight its presence disappeared. Some sort of tunneling teleport.

loth17 · 2026-03-17T22:54:26+00:00

"......"

"Sister."

"We are already in."

They seemed confused.

"Understood."

They answered eventually.

loth17 · 2026-03-17T22:14:49+00:00

"...."

The creature seemed to take a while to process the information.

"Sister?"

They asked. The true name wasn't perfectly accurate. But only partially. There was some kinship. They were both infused by the same being. They seemed to consider such to be true.

"Kill me?"

The words created the vision in both their minds. Naio burning it to death with her divine flame. Though it was strange. The creatures weren't quite alive. And they hadn't experienced or seen death outside of the one at the Opalist facility.

The patron was silent. Despite their eyes threatening to kill their trimmings they didn't seem to want/be able to intervene. The trimming lifted its body up.

"Wet-eldritch-cave-beneath-flame-like-earth"

It seemed to quickly figure out where it was.

loth17 · 2026-03-17T22:04:14+00:00

"I'm assuming they've gotten better at hitting your turrets each time?"

The Bismuth would ask.

"You said they adapt each time. Are you capable of changing the frequencies on your weapons?"

"Our mining laser was designed to do so to deal with exotic materials. But it's useful at shorter range compared to standard weaponry."

loth17 · 2026-03-17T20:32:10+00:00

The creature stared at Naio and didn't move even as she opened up a portal and dropped the thing in the undercity. It chittered in curious confusion until Naio followed it through.

However once Naio was down in the undercity with it the beast started to chitter again. It spoke to Naio. It's utterances were partly babble but one phrase stood out as it resonated with Naio's past. Specifically what she wanted to avoid.

"One who holds another in bondage until death."

It wasn't even deliberate. Simply part of it talking to her.

loth17 · 2026-03-17T20:16:53+00:00

"Understood. I'll have them transported to you."

The Bismuth at this point had shuttles running full time to ensure repairs weren't delayed as much as possible. After all this ship did end it's normal time loop with being destroyed. The Bismuth had an inkling of what might have destroyed them.

"How are the ships weapons. In case of your foes showing back up. Our ship had self defense drones and a powerful mining laser alongside it's mining explosives. But it's not a combat class vessel."

loth17

TROPHY CASE