((Sorry this took so long to come out. Busy. Studying, moving my bedroom about and a whole load of other things got in the way.))
We don't know what we have or if it's even contagious. Plus how do you know it's in our abdomen?
Also Examine our forehead.
Still looking in the mirror you examine the pattern on your forehead, still in disbelief about what is happening to you. You trace your fingers over the lines, and you feel that they are ever so slightly raised, almost like a 'popping' vein some people get. The glowing lines are beautiful.
The pattern seems to be centered around a circular pattern that looks a lot like the eight spoke Buddhist Dharmachakra crossed with a chakratic Anahata symbol, with a strange symbol very similar to the ying/yang symbol but with four different 'colours', in this case four different shades of gold, making up the symbol. The resemblance to human religious iconography cannot be coincidence.
The rest of the pattern resembles a mixture of greco-roman and ancient celtic/germanic patterning, combined to form a absolutely beautiful, eye-catching pattern that covers your forehead and around your eyes. '
Wait, hang on, it didn't go around my eyes a few minutes ago.' you think to yourself.
Just then, the pattern expands again, this time reaching your ears and down to your chin. As you stare, dumbfounded, the pattern expands again, moving down your neck. On your neck, another one of those round symbols, albeit smaller, appears on the front of your neck, glowing bright just like the one on your head. You strip out of your clothes, mesmerized by the slow advance on this pattern, forgetting that it could be dangerous. Your daughters stand behind you, also entranced by this strange phenomenon.
As you watch, it moves down your body. It moves to your chest, then your breasts where the patterns become much more intricate. In the middle of your chest, a third round symbol appears, bigger than on the on on your head. The pattern starts moving again and it goes back to its comparably more mundane patterning as it moves further along, down your torso.
Around your waist, a ring of small round symbols appears, with a large one identical to the other three before it, forms halfway between the sternum and your belly-button. And then, just below it, another ring of circles form, with a fourth symbol centred on your belly button forming.
The pattern slows its advance, for some unknown reason. It advances, slower this time, down to your hips and groin, getting far more intricate again. A fifth symbol appears on your groin and starts glowing. Your daughters chuckle, but you wave for them to be quiet. The pattern continues down your legs, but more stretched out before finally reaching your feet.
You stand there, motionless for several minutes. You trace the patterns all over your body with your fingers. When you touch one of the five symbols, you get a strong feeling of comfort and relaxation. You turn to your daughters.
"Either of you have
any idea what just happened?" you ask, a little shaken.
Katarinka shakes her head, shrugging her shoulders. "I dunno, but i think we should get you back to quarantine."
Annie also shrugs. "I've never seen anything like this before. I also think that you should get to quarantine, at least until someone can give you the all clear.
Ponder what the name Ghalkra means. Ask Talli about our body and the name as well.
"Before we go to quarantine, have i been using any strange words without realizing it? For example, i said the word Ghalkra instead of the phrase 'those who should be friends' the other day when talking to my old friends in the Morey ranks." You ask.
"Now that you mention it, you have been using more non-english words when talking. I ignored it because i thought you were learning a different language. Now that you seem to have become a human-sized beacon, I am starting to doubt that assumption." Annie says.
"You have been using more non english words." Katarinka says, seemingly excited about this whole thing.
You ponder what this could mean. As far as you know, you cannot speak in that language knowingly, at least, not yet anyway. You decide to follow your daughters advice and walk to quarantine, after a quick shower and dressing.
**
Back to quarantine!
If I knew I had an abnormality in my abdomen, I'd sure as hell stay close to an air lock.
+I would lock myself in quarantine.
=
I'd lock myself in quarantine, near an airlock.
+1 to quarantine but only because we RRALLY don't have any other options.
After getting ready, you walk to the quaratine ward - again - whilst trying to hide your new 'tattoos'. You successfully hide your tattoos from any onlookers. Once you arrive, though, a doctor in what can only be described as Hazmat gear notices you and walks over.
"Hello Katia, here to see......"
He notices your tattoos. His eyes widen.
"Hi Doc. I have a little problem. But first, i think i should get in one of those sealed rooms again. Not sure if this thing is contagious." You say, a little cautiously.
"Yes, quite. This way please. Annastasia, Katarinka, as you have already been exposed, you too will need to be put into quarantine. Dont worry, the rooms will be next to each other." He says, surprised but obviously curious.
You and your daughters follow him without question. He leads you to the med rooms you'll be in, just like the one you were in after the cyborg incident. You get on the bed and try to meditate, but that does nothing for you.
You end up sitting about, waiting, talking with your daughters using sign language and mental communication. Karista is not in the quarantine ward any longer, you notice, which means she has probably been allowed to go back to the other Morey on the ship.
**
This is going to be fun, ask Talli what the hell is going on, find out what you can do with it or if it provides an improvement of some sort, ask the Vanguard doctors what is going on
Let us see if we can use this for destruction, maybe magic, at this rate, she will be the most awesome being in the universe. I hope we got Smite Evil 
Inform Talli of the visible effects, Talli has proven to be unaware of psychic shenanigans and this could be similar. Ask Talli to study the effect and prevent it from modifying any vital organs until we know more, and inform Annie and Katarinka of what Talli told us. Try to break the 'half human' bit gently... On second thoughts, better make this quick, we may need quarantine in a hurry...
As you wait, you take a lull in conversation as an opportunity to talk to Talli. Hopefully she will have answers to what the hell is happening to you and what the current status of this thing in your body is. You open communication to Talli. Strangely, she seems to be a bit preoccupied.
You inform Talli of the visible effects and the strange phenomenon you have experienced. As you would have predicted, Talli listened intently, asking questions and wanting to know everything. You told her - you notice in passing you have taken to calling Talli 'her' instead of 'it' - everything about the tattoos, as well as the strange speech. You realise that Talli must not know of this happening, which means it is not physical, but most likely psychic or possibly even paranormal, although you really hope not as realizing all the sci fi stories from Earth are far truer than you thought would pale in comparison to realizing the paranormal exists as well.
When Talli asked you if you have felt anything else, you responded by stating you have not felt anything strange yet apart from some numbness, dizziness and confusion, which can also all be attributed to shock. Talli does not seem worried by those mild symptoms, however Talli tells you that she will be monitoring your body closely.
"
Talli, can you make sure that whatever is doing this to me cannot drastically modify my internals, please? The last thing i want is to have my guts rearranged again."
"Certainly, Katia. No organs have been changed so far, however that abnormal growth in your abdomen is growing. From our calculations, it will have reached, or infected if you'd like, every part of your body within the next few hours. It does not seem to be doing anything else at the moment apart from propagating itself. It is not made up of nanites, but neither does it seem completely natural. Further observation will be ordered and maintained. We will keep you updated.""
Cval t'thar, Talli" You say, smiling.
"Katia, you just spoke an unknown language. What did you say?""
I did? Fvreltha! I meant to say cval t'thar, Talli."
"Katia! Concentrate. Focus on the English language. Now, please, repeat what you said.""Kilthu? Yolv rith tala ka thlin windibhorl tvi queena? Vil galthi 'cval t'thar'?!....TALLI! Kilthu sa dvila opo?"
(What? Are you sure you cant understand my speech? I said 'thank you'?!....TALLI! What is going on?)
"This isn't good....Katia, you need to concentrate on the english language! You are speaking entirely in an alien dialect! CONCENTRATE!"You try communicating with Talli in English. Eventually, after much trying, you eventually start using English again, although now the English language feels as alien as the other one you were just speaking, or at least communicating in.
You notice your daughters are watching you with concern on their faces. You must have been making a scene without realising it, or at least your panic could be seen on your face.
You feel now is the time to let your daughters in on what Talli told you earlier. You dont know how long you will still be able to speak English until whatever is happening takes over completely.
Opening your mental links with your daughters, which is far easier with Annie than Katarinka, you start telling them what Talli told you. However, you had to assure them noting is wrong before they'd let you speak.
As you spend the ext hour or so telling them Talli's information, your daughters cannot believe what they are hearing. Especially the part about them being half human. They look shocked, surprised and they were obviously not expecting anything like this. However, they are not about to hate you or think of you as an abomination. You are their mother, and they love you.
Katarinka even thinks its cool being a hybrid between human and some unknown alien. You smile, happy that you aren't going to be rejected by your daughters. Your smile turns to a frown as you tell them that you may not be able to communicate in English much longer, as whatever is affecting you seems to by forcing you to speak a different language.
"
Cant you just write in English if that happens and there is no way to reverse it?" Katarinka asks.
"
I'm not sure, vriltha..." You wince at the use of the word. "
Sorry, i meant to say 'honey'....I did not try to write in English when my speech was stuck. Its certainly a possibility, though."
"
Dont worry, mum. We'll find a way to help." Annie says, smiling. "
I'm not prepared to lose you again." You smile back at her.
Just then, a team of doctors and what seem to be scientists arrive outside your door, seemingly in a heated argument. As you turn to the door to greet them, you hear Talli exclaim in alarm.
"Oh! NO! That's not good!" Seconds later, you double over in pain and collapse to the floor as every nerve ending in your body seems to fire at once.
~~~***~~~
Status:1. Demeanor/Status: Extreme Pain. Very confused. Very Shocked. Panicked
2. Mental Condition: Mentally fit and stable.
3. Physical Condition: Extensive Scarring.
4. Clear thoughts and currently inactive mental factions.
Inventory:1. Mark 21 Phantom Powered Exoskeleton Suit (Wearing) (Casual Mode)
2. Mark 21 Phantom Powered Exoskeleton Helmet (Wearing) (Casual Mode)
Available Equipment:1. Mark 21 Phantom Powered Exoskeleton Suit (Wearing)
2. Mark 21 Phantom Powered Exoskeleton Helmet (Wearing)
3. Mk3 Plasma Beam Pistol (sidearm)
4. Mk 29 Mass Driver Sniper Rifle
5. Mk 32 Pulsed Hyper-Plasma Assault Rifle
6. Combat Engineering Equipment and explosives.
7. Various Vanguard casual clothes.
Implants and Augmentations:1. Vanguard Multi-range optics (Thermal, magnetic, IR, UV, multi-stage magnification etc) implant on eyes.
2. Vanguard Command and Control (C&C) nano-module implanted in head.
3. Vanguard Communications array nano-module implanted in head.
4. Phantom-Spec 28th generation Bio-nanomachines and bio-picomachines in blood stream, bones, muscles, tendons and organs.
6. Vanguard Nano-memory modules in the Cerebrum, holding all relevant non-personal data and nano-supercomputers throughout the brain aiding mental capabilities.
Brood Composition:1. Forward Command and communications: 10 Vat-born.
2. Field Combat Medic: 37 Vat Born
3. Long Range Specialists (Snipers): 48 Vat-Born
4. Heavy assault: 148 Vat-Born
5. Light Assault: 127 Vat-Born
6. Infiltrators: 27
7. Heavy Support: 77
8. Combat Engineers: 69
9. Scouts: 80
Allied Characters:1. Ala-Shar
2. Ankara
3. Ari
4. Elianna
5. Kaleetra
6. Talli
7. Dornishi, Morey regular Commander
8. Tirl-kha, Morey Commando Commander
9. Quish-ka, Morey Regular Commander
10. Annastasia
11. Levinia
12. High Marshall Veldin
13. Major General Hopfield
14. Kilroy
15. Emma
16. Willhelm
17: Matriach Belessa
18: Morey Grand General Ferray
19: Former-Presidentess Karista
Enemy Characters:1. Kirish, the Presidentess's assitant. (Now mutant thing) (Deceased)
2. The Senatorium (Now mutant things) (Deceased)
3. New Guard Generals (Now mutant things) (Deceased)
Currently Neutral Relations:1. Brigadier Xander Berginstaff
2. Cecilia, the Medic.
Author
Topic: (SG) Starfire: War and Politics - Enemies Old and New - UPDATE 03/07/2014 (Read 87216 times)