And It was Shiny (Mirage, please)

[Thomas Cosa]

30th of Summer

Thomas quickly made his way across the length of the lab, Stranger following at his heels. The pulser considered having the the follower golem take the lead, but had thought better of it -- he didn't need to have people thinking he was being led somewhere, or to have them ask any questions on where he was going.

It had been almost a whole season and a half since the master apprentice had discovered the secret armada, waiting deep below the Citadel. Thomas figured the masters both knew, and he supposed, they had a hand in the creation of in the golem army -- what he wasn't sure about was who else knew about the ancient golems. Was Cid aware of the secret weapons? Did the archmage know? Did Qiao?

These were only some of the questions that filled his mind as he made his way to the more isolated part of the cavern, leftover gears and broken gadgets left in piles. He quickly entered the passage, allowing the follower to take the lead. He walked in silence, aside from the odd click from Stranger, the low light from the flameless torches his only light.

FInally, Thomas found himself in the cavern, still amazed by the sheer number of golems, all sleeping.

"What do you think, Stranger? Think we should try and wake one?" Thomas asked aloud, not really expecting an answer. The newest addition to Stranger allowed the golem to answer in full sentences, but it was still limited in it's answers. Still, better to ask and see if he could get an answer he could use.

[Mirage]

The cavern remained completely unchanged, and even the dust had settled as it once had before. The dim blue lights still faintly lit the space, and from his vantage point Thomas would be able to see row upon row upon row of golems stretching far into the growing darkness. Golems of all shapes and sizes, some recognizably human, others resembling nothing humanoid at all.

Stranger spun in place before circling around Thomas' feet squeaking, "Wake wake! Let Alahea awaken!" It's tone almost seemed to get more excited, "Death to Suva!" It circled one last time before zipping toward the control panel to the right of the opening.

The panel was nothing more than a tall block of polish marble that rose to just above waist height, just tall enough for one's hands to rest comfortably when working with the device. Instead of a flat square top the panel slanted upward at a 45 degree angle, and the surface was polished black, a stark contrast to the white marble base. Faintly glowing green glyphs lined up in rows across the surface, and there was no obvious pattern to them.

"Awaken Alahea! Awaken Alahea!" Stranger urged.

[Thomas Cosa]

"Alahea?" Thomas echoed, watching the follower whirl around excitedly.

The pulser knew enough about the fallen kingdom, at least, as much as he had glimpsed from various texts. The wars had last for years and years, eventually ending with a marriage pact between the two kingdoms -- a wedding that would never happen, if the tales Thomas had read were to be believed.

But had Alahea always had these kinds of golems beside them in wartime? If not, was Sahova itself preparing for war? Thomas had never see anything like these golems before arriving to the Citadel, and doubted any of the cities that scattered the surface would be able to survive their onslaught. If so, Thomas wondered at the power the Suva boasted -- Sahova was only a remnant of the past Alahea, and the pulser could only guess at what Alahean wizards had been able to produce at the kingdom's prime; and they had been losing the war.

"What do we have hear, Stranger," Thomas walked up to strange pedestal, a finger tracing the strange glyphs -- careful not to touch the actual symbols. He knew better, especially after the last time he had been in the cavern, and Avalis knew Thomas didn't want to start another war; at least not yet.

Instead, Thomas began to focus on the marble, on the glyphs, on the design; everything that made the block itself. He breathing slowed and he closed his eyes, focusing on his own Djed. It was a simple meditation practice, something to allow him more control over his personal magic -- although he wasn't quite sure if it actually did much, considering his own limited ability.

Opening his eyes, Thomas' djed blurred his vision, only to clear it a moment's later -- revealing a secret world of strange colors and foreign scents.

[Mirage]

As soon as Thomas gazed at the panel with his magic enhanced eyes it would burst to life, streams of colors flowing around it and reaching down into the floor of the cavern. The streams of color could be seen throughout the cavern, connected to each and every golem, into ever facet of the cavern. What once looked like an old and forgotten cavern was transformed into an almost alive, pulsing stream of djed.

From the panel's black surface there rose images, the faintly glowing glyphs creating a virtual diagram right before his eyes. Thomas' fingers passed over the glyph, and in an instant the visions that floated in mid air burst into life. Colors flashed, lights flickered, and hundreds of thousands of golems flickered before Thomas' eyes in an instant, only lasting a fraction of a second and quickly accelerating. The images flashed faster and faster, and Thoms' mind was flooded with information. The approximate dimensions and detailed programing of the TAR golem, specialized Follower golems built for spying, links between spy golems all throughout the Citadel, and then there came diagrams, schematics and intricate details of golems clearly built for war. One golem that could blast a whole through 5 feet of stone, another so intricately put together that its gears and plates glided smoothly over each other allowing it to alter its shape. This and much much more flash burst inside Thomas' mind in the span of a few seconds, quickly becoming unbearable as his mind shuddered to try and take in all of the information, and ultimately failed. His vision would begin to darken at the edges, and he would feel light headed as he felt like he was trying to follow the movement of 100 flies flying 100 feet apart all at once. A searing headache would begin to form, worsening until he finally shut off his Auristics, letting the visions fade and with them all of the information he had known just a moment ago.

"Awaken!"

[Thomas Cosa]

Color exploded; vibrant streams of light spiraled around the marble pedastal, turning and turning. Lines of color sprawled out from the panel in all directions, swirling around every golem, lighting every area of the cavern with Djed.

Thomas breathed deeply, the metallic smell of magic tickling his nostrils. Thomas focused on the panel, the raw power burning like the sun.

The glyphs began to glow, brighter and brighter, fusing and dancing before the pulser, forming a virtual diagram. Entranced, Thomas' hand brushed against the designs, the various designs that had floated before him, invaded his mind, flooding his vision.

Scale models of TAR appeared his mind's eyes, followed by the schematics for a follower spy, followed by the links and codes for every spy golem on te citadel. Thomas tried desperately to hold on to every image before it flashed to the next. The images began to flood his mind faster and faster, the pulser only managing to catch glimpse of the ever changing designs and schematics. Each golem progressed farther and farther, the models becoming more complex and warlike -- one could blast through walls of stone five feet thick, one was so intricately put together, it's gears and plates slided so well together, the golem was able to change it's shape. One could fly.

Eventually it all became to much for the young mage, his heading pounding in pain, the edges of the fluttering images growing darker and darker.

With a gasp, a sound mixed with pain and relief, Thomas let go of his auristic vision.

Thomas breathed heavily, tired. "I want to wake one, Stranger. Just one," Thomas nodded, realizing he had lost all the information he had just seen.

Quickly, he grabbed the follower off the floor, showing him the panel,

"What do I press?"

[Mirage]

The little golem squeaked, "Touch, touch!" It seemed excited, "Think! Concentrate! See with magic."

If Thomas placed his hand on the panel once more and opened his mind to the world of Auras, the images would once more appear before him. The scrolling would start again, going faster and faster, but if Thomas concentrated he could slow them down and focus on them one at a time. As he moved his hand across the panel the images would respond. Shifting up and down columns of information, scrolling left and right as the images got bigger as they reached the center of his vision, and shrunk as they moved to the peripherals.

In the time it took him to learn how to work the panel the headache would begin to build once more, growing more and more painful until he was finally forced to release the magic. Thomas would have time to examine only three golems.

The first looked similar to a centipede. Armor plates coursed down its back, and what looked like sharp hook blades extended on either side of its 15 or so segments. Each segment had a set of wheels, and the 'head' held pincer like jaws that looked liked curved blades. Words in Nadar-canoch filled the image, but directly above the schematics read in common "Slicer-V7".

The next was one of the humanoid golems that Thomas had witnessed on his last visit. Now he could clearly see the metal plates that made up its armored body, and the slender cannons that served as its arms. Above it read "Footman-V23".

The last had a shape similar to the TAR, but it sat upon a set of thick wheels and attached to each side were large arm cannons similar to the Footman's, but bigger and bulkier. Over its head read "Juggernaut-V2", and the Nadar-Canoch on its page flashed shades of red, almost as if in warning.

Thomas would have just enough time to decide which he wished to awaken before his Auristics failed him.

[Thomas Cosa]

Thomas laughed tiredly, putting the golem gently back on the cavern floor.

"At least I got an answer," Thomas muttered, hands massaging his aching temples. He half-believed the golem would be able to wake the ideal creature for him, but with Stranger having no limbs to speak of, or auristic talent, it would have been nothing less of a miracle had it been able to activate the control panel.

Thomas breathed deeply, concentrating fully on his own breath. It helped some with the headache, but not much. Sighing, Thomas he held his hands over the panel, taking care not to touch the actual marble -- and focused.

The colors came much quicker this time; Thomas wondered whether that had anything to do with the fact he had just used his aursitics. Again, his vision was flooded with images of schematics and diagrams, many far too intricate for Thomas to understand. Thomas focused, willing the images to slow, pushing farther and farther with his own Djed.

The images eventually came to a slow, and then stopped all together -- his head pouding in protest at the use of his Djed. The images blurred, and Thomas waved a hand - an attempt to clear the edges of his darkening vision, and was surprised to see the virtual screen respond, three images replacing the old ones.

His head was throbbing, and a groan escaped his lips -- the pulser figured he wouldn't have much time till he completely overgave, if he hadn't already.

Thomas glimpsed the first image, barely registering the name, "Slicer-V7." The young mage noticed it's shape, thinking back to the centipedes of the white isle. The second one, "Footman-V23," he almost immediately recognized as the golems from his previous visit, and the last one, "Juggernaut-V2," flashed red in his mind's eye -- perhaps a warning?

Thomas finally released his auristic vision, his headache hammering into his every nerve. Thomas groaned loudly, holding his head delicately. With closed eyes, Thomas called to Stranger, gesturing for the follower to come back to the panel.

"Wake Slicer-V7," he ordered, opening one eye to watch what the follower golem would do.

[Mirage]

IF the little follower golem could make facial expressions it might have looked up at Thomas in confusion, for it was not Stranger that responded to the command, but the panel behind Thomas. It hummed with power, but not an audible hum. Rather a hum that vibrated the air, so subtle that those without magical knowledge would not even notice it. Yet the entire cavern seemed to vibrate with it. Then from the base of the panel, right across the floor, a thin line of light shot out, forming a path down the platform and leading through the assembled golems.

Stranger would not hesitate to start following the path, squeeking almost happily as it did. As it turned out their destination was not too far. Down the ramp of the platform the path cut through a section of footmen, leading directly to the cavern wall. There he would find a strange display, what looked like three wooden steps that were pressed back against the wall. Except these steps were nearly 6 feet in width, and five times as long. Assembled on each ascending step there was a row of the centipede like golems. They shimmered golden in the dim light, the curve of their bladed pincers and legs having lost none of their edge. Each was about 7 feet in length, and 2 feet wide. The plates were layered one over the other to allow free motion to the sides, and possibly to allow the golem to roll into a ball like some centipedes did. Each had a pair of wheels underneath each of its segments, but when it lay on the ground they would be impossible to see. Its head was shaped like an arrow head, a band of 5 red gems acting as its 'eyes' with the one in the center twice as large as the other 4.

Rolling forward Stranger would stop before one of the closer golems, and the green gem on its back would glow as it touched the sleeping Slicer. The golem would shudder, the sounds of gears turning as it uncurled itself, sliding down from its place on the platform. It slithered, more snake like than insect, the sounds of its blades clicking as the moved and adjusted. Suddenly it moved with surprising speed, circling Thomas' feet with its blades dangerously close to his skin. Raising its head it would speak in a clicky hiss as its mouth blades moved, "Slicer V-7 activation complete. State authorization code."

[Thomas Cosa]

Thomas frowned, and almost got around to commanding the awakening of the golem again; had it not been for the panel's almost immediate answer.

A low hum started behind him, the young pulser turned his head back in an instant reaction -- the panel. The silent hum, seemingly made of nothing aside power, vibrated from the panel throughout entire cavern -- even the air itself seemed to move to it's rhythm. Thomas smiled to himself, wincing in the psychic vibration that echoed across the entire cavern, the shaking rumble doing nothing for his splitting headache. He stifled his groan, tried desperately to ignore the throbbing pain that seemed to pound across his forehead; he needed to be aware of what was happening.

The panel hummed harder, and a bright color-changing light beamed from the base of the marble pedestal, creating an auroral path of ever-changing color. Stranger piped up, squeaking excitedly after the brightening path.

The light path blazed through the a section of footmen golems, Stranger speeding after it. Thomas followed, stumbling after the quick follower; still dazed from his early magic practice. The light path and the golem lead him to a section of the cavern wall, giant wooden steps holding the centipede like war golems. Assembles in lines, Thomas mouth opened in awe as he truly realized what Stranger was waking up.

The golems looked to be about 7 feet in length, and measured about 2 feet across. Metallic plates slid in, one after another; Thomas imagined them to allow the golems to roll in a tight ball - possibly for defense, much like a real centipede. He allowed himself a small smile as he remembered the distant memories of his siblings playing the the earthy woods by Syliras; the centipedes there had done much the same.

Small wheels lined the golem, and a triangular shaped head decorated with five gems that glimmered with a false life.

Thomas swallowed, nerves eating away at his initial excitement as Stranger bumped against the sleeping Slicer, the glowing green gem bringing the golem back to sentience.

The shudder's of a waking golem startled the young pulser, the clicking sounds of blades doing nothing to calm him. Thomas stared, motionlessly, as the golem slithered towards him.

"Slicer V-7 activation complete. State authorization code."

"Shyke," Thomas thought, not allowing even the slightest noise to escape from his person.

How had he not that of an authorization code? Even he used them; they were nearly required for anything leaving the lab. Animators were still wizards by nature, and that ever growing always present paranoia almost always made them to add authentication codes; something they code use to activate certain directives, to inspire loyalty, to even stop the golem if the situation required it.

Thomas knew there was little hope in out running the golem, and Thomas doubted that Stranger prove much in ways of defense.

He swallowed, trying something he knew very likely wouldn't work, "I woke you for Alahea. The Suvan needs to be destroyed," he whimpered, the centipede like golem circling and clicking at his heels. Stranger himself had said something very similar when urging Thomas to waken the golems -- it would only stand to reason the slicer would react someway to the phrase; Thomas only hoped it would be positive.

"Avalis, guid my actions," he whispered, begging to Lex for his life all at the same time.

[Mirage]

The Slicer golem seemed to contemplate Thomas' response, however, Secret did not seem interested in sitting around to wait for its answer, "Deactivate! Deactivate!"

The little golem spun in a circle and then headed straight back the way it had come. The Slicer ignored the little follower, yet it uncoiled slight from around Thomas. Raising its head higher it seemed to be examining the boy, "Authorization code incorrect. Suva is lost. Alahea is lost." It clicked its pincers, rearing higher, and uncoiling enough that a small gap appeared in the moving blades "Intruder in chamber. Elimination in progress." And then lunged forward Thomas, aiming for his mid section.