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video; un: felix & raddude5000
[As the battle rages on outside the South Naelor fortress, two network messages will reach all fellow Orbers through their headsets. They come through only several minutes apart.]
___________
video; un: felix
[The POV recording is transmitted through to the network without context save Felix's associated username; dumping viewers immediately into the sight of a beaming Jun Shortaxe. He's standing in a stone-walled room, clapping with arrogant glee as he steps closer into the room.]
--you're wrong about the deal. The king's deal was done the moment the heirloom was taken away from the palace... it told me that itself. [He is facing Felix as he speaks, only turning to address a second unseen person as an afterthought.] Hi, Finn. Made it here like a real hero, I'm proud of you.
[Finn's shattered reply is heard instead of seen, Felix's POV fixed solely on Jun with unerring focus. He is capturing everything; every subtle twitch of his body language, every laughing shrug of his shoulders. It's only when Finn's confusion turns to anger that he comes into frame, stepping between Felix and Jun with sword outstretched in one hand and glowing orb in the other. With a quick toss, the orb is sailing through the air towards Felix. When he snatches it out of the air, viewers are granted a brief but detailed look at the orb itself. Veteran Orbers will recognize the power emanating from it immediately. This was their target.]
Your little act was always a bit too much, just so you know. [Felix drawls, offering his own amused assessment of Jun's betrayal just before pocketing the orb out of frame.] See ya.
[Those watching closely will notice the shadow Felix cast suddenly disappear, indicating that an invisibility spell was Felix's final gambit to leave successfully with the orb. Unfortunately, the ploy is shortlived. Just as Felix's point of view shifts towards the nearest window, Jun's deeply disinterested voice issues a simple command: Do it. Immediately, what could only be described as intense pain pollutes the mental recording with distortion. The crackle of electricity and Finn's scream can be dimly heard through the limited visibility and roaring static.
When the video feed resumes again, Felix is clearly on the ground. Waves of pained distortion still radiate through him, picture flickering as he begins to lose consciousness. From his new position on the floor, only Finn and Jun's legs can be seen. The latter slowly moves towards him as the former seems to freeze, dropping his sword in horror.]
He has about an hour. Being hit by that spell is not a joke... I should know. It was worth it, though. [The voice is unmistakably Jun's, hammered home as he kneels down into frame and reaches out towards Felix and retrieves the orb, which now glows even more brightly in the presence of its partner. He stands, back now to Felix, facing Finn fully. The picture is practically strobing now, capturing only a few frames of every second as it gives into blackness]
I'm sorry, I really did want to help Degar. [The regret in his voice even sounds genuine.] But the heirloom isn't something I can give him. He'd understand. All I'm doing is fulfilling the promise we made as kids--
[If there was any words or violence exchanged between the two of them, it's lost to the sudden grip of Felix's unconsciousness. The feed cuts completely.]
(( ooc: for full context of what Felix's recording captures, please read the npc thread HERE ))
___________
[To those on the battlefield, it will only be roughly eight minutes after Felix's video appears that an earthshaking noise and blinding light erupt from the South Naelor fortress. Rubble rains down from the keep's tower, shattered by the a set of imposing red wings. A red dragon with a single teal scale centered on his chest perches on the half destroyed tower, its origin as inexplicable as it was sudden.
The dragon lingers for a moment, staring at something in the wreckage, before taking wing towards the battlefield.]
[A few stunned moments later, another video appears on the network:]
___________
video; un: raddude5000
[The view is unclear, rubble obscured by dust and smoke and a distant din of battle. Finn’s voice however, is recognizable, and as the video shifts to where he is kneeling, so is the sight of Felix, who was lying motionless, plainly injured and bleeding. The placement and number of his wounds aren't clear, only their severity is obvious. The external distortion caused by Jun's spell is almost as nightmarish as the mental distortion Orbers experienced secondhand.]
We need help in the fortress-- Felix is hurt, bad and I... don’t know what to do. He needs a healer or a doctor, now. Like, ‘ten minutes ago’ now.
[Finn couldn't know how accurate Jun’s 'hour' claim was, or how much leeway there was in either direction. Felix had scarcely moved since going down, and if he was conscious it was only barely. His death felt all too real a possibility. Panic clouds Finn's voice in the face of it, speaking quickly.
He turns the camera back to himself, in part to spare Felix the voyeuristic exposure of capturing what could very well be his final moments on camera. Finn, dusty but uninjured, looks exhausted. The darker blood of the dremnin on the front of his armor and the brighter, fresher blood on his hand from touching Felix were visible as he pushes away a loose lock of hair. Sabriel’s careful braid saved him from complete dishevelment, but only just. He doesn’t quite look in the direction of the video, shoulders held up tensely as he speaks.]
Jun has the orb. He... I mean I think the orb is part of him now. It did something to him, turned him into a... [Finn pauses, searching for a word to describe the beast. There were no creatures like it from his world, where dragons were something else entirely.] I dunno, a dinosaur or something, and he’s heading your way now. You need to--
[His voice stops short, cut off in his throat by some kind of impossible emotion. A desperate part of him still wanted to implore some kind of leniency from them, some kind of mercy or understanding... but he holds it back. What mattered right now was everyone’s safety. If there was anything left to save of Jun Shortaxe, he couldn’t prioritize it right now. Not over everyone else.]
You need to stop him.
___________
video; un: felix
[The POV recording is transmitted through to the network without context save Felix's associated username; dumping viewers immediately into the sight of a beaming Jun Shortaxe. He's standing in a stone-walled room, clapping with arrogant glee as he steps closer into the room.]
--you're wrong about the deal. The king's deal was done the moment the heirloom was taken away from the palace... it told me that itself. [He is facing Felix as he speaks, only turning to address a second unseen person as an afterthought.] Hi, Finn. Made it here like a real hero, I'm proud of you.
[Finn's shattered reply is heard instead of seen, Felix's POV fixed solely on Jun with unerring focus. He is capturing everything; every subtle twitch of his body language, every laughing shrug of his shoulders. It's only when Finn's confusion turns to anger that he comes into frame, stepping between Felix and Jun with sword outstretched in one hand and glowing orb in the other. With a quick toss, the orb is sailing through the air towards Felix. When he snatches it out of the air, viewers are granted a brief but detailed look at the orb itself. Veteran Orbers will recognize the power emanating from it immediately. This was their target.]
Your little act was always a bit too much, just so you know. [Felix drawls, offering his own amused assessment of Jun's betrayal just before pocketing the orb out of frame.] See ya.
[Those watching closely will notice the shadow Felix cast suddenly disappear, indicating that an invisibility spell was Felix's final gambit to leave successfully with the orb. Unfortunately, the ploy is shortlived. Just as Felix's point of view shifts towards the nearest window, Jun's deeply disinterested voice issues a simple command: Do it. Immediately, what could only be described as intense pain pollutes the mental recording with distortion. The crackle of electricity and Finn's scream can be dimly heard through the limited visibility and roaring static.
When the video feed resumes again, Felix is clearly on the ground. Waves of pained distortion still radiate through him, picture flickering as he begins to lose consciousness. From his new position on the floor, only Finn and Jun's legs can be seen. The latter slowly moves towards him as the former seems to freeze, dropping his sword in horror.]
He has about an hour. Being hit by that spell is not a joke... I should know. It was worth it, though. [The voice is unmistakably Jun's, hammered home as he kneels down into frame and reaches out towards Felix and retrieves the orb, which now glows even more brightly in the presence of its partner. He stands, back now to Felix, facing Finn fully. The picture is practically strobing now, capturing only a few frames of every second as it gives into blackness]
I'm sorry, I really did want to help Degar. [The regret in his voice even sounds genuine.] But the heirloom isn't something I can give him. He'd understand. All I'm doing is fulfilling the promise we made as kids--
[If there was any words or violence exchanged between the two of them, it's lost to the sudden grip of Felix's unconsciousness. The feed cuts completely.]
(( ooc: for full context of what Felix's recording captures, please read the npc thread HERE ))
___________
[To those on the battlefield, it will only be roughly eight minutes after Felix's video appears that an earthshaking noise and blinding light erupt from the South Naelor fortress. Rubble rains down from the keep's tower, shattered by the a set of imposing red wings. A red dragon with a single teal scale centered on his chest perches on the half destroyed tower, its origin as inexplicable as it was sudden.
The dragon lingers for a moment, staring at something in the wreckage, before taking wing towards the battlefield.]
[A few stunned moments later, another video appears on the network:]
___________
video; un: raddude5000
[The view is unclear, rubble obscured by dust and smoke and a distant din of battle. Finn’s voice however, is recognizable, and as the video shifts to where he is kneeling, so is the sight of Felix, who was lying motionless, plainly injured and bleeding. The placement and number of his wounds aren't clear, only their severity is obvious. The external distortion caused by Jun's spell is almost as nightmarish as the mental distortion Orbers experienced secondhand.]
We need help in the fortress-- Felix is hurt, bad and I... don’t know what to do. He needs a healer or a doctor, now. Like, ‘ten minutes ago’ now.
[Finn couldn't know how accurate Jun’s 'hour' claim was, or how much leeway there was in either direction. Felix had scarcely moved since going down, and if he was conscious it was only barely. His death felt all too real a possibility. Panic clouds Finn's voice in the face of it, speaking quickly.
He turns the camera back to himself, in part to spare Felix the voyeuristic exposure of capturing what could very well be his final moments on camera. Finn, dusty but uninjured, looks exhausted. The darker blood of the dremnin on the front of his armor and the brighter, fresher blood on his hand from touching Felix were visible as he pushes away a loose lock of hair. Sabriel’s careful braid saved him from complete dishevelment, but only just. He doesn’t quite look in the direction of the video, shoulders held up tensely as he speaks.]
Jun has the orb. He... I mean I think the orb is part of him now. It did something to him, turned him into a... [Finn pauses, searching for a word to describe the beast. There were no creatures like it from his world, where dragons were something else entirely.] I dunno, a dinosaur or something, and he’s heading your way now. You need to--
[His voice stops short, cut off in his throat by some kind of impossible emotion. A desperate part of him still wanted to implore some kind of leniency from them, some kind of mercy or understanding... but he holds it back. What mattered right now was everyone’s safety. If there was anything left to save of Jun Shortaxe, he couldn’t prioritize it right now. Not over everyone else.]
You need to stop him.
video, un: Ambus
A dinosaur?! What kind? Are you safe?! [So now there's a dinosaur with Finn and Felix and a dragon outside?]
Video;
[It felt like a stretch to call Felix’s situation safe, but that clearly wasn’t the point of the question. Minimus certainly hadn’t missed the urgency.]
Video;
You refer to the dragon?
[He starts running towards its location, the image shaking with each step.] I'm on my way to him. Keep watch over Felix and direct the medics to your location. Understood?
[It's the war again. Minimus is doling out commands to the Autobots under his command, keeping a calm face, because if the symbol of justice panics, all else fails.]
What intel do you have on Jun's new form?
Video;
[He glances at Felix, nodding at Minimus’ instructions as he listens. The calm clarity of his words were something of a relief. At least someone knew what to do.]
Intel? [He wracks his brain, trying to sift through the shock and emotion of everything that had happened for information.] There’s…there’s not much. The orb was talking to him I think, but only he could hear whatever it was saying. His bargain with it, I guess.
[Finn swallows, thinking back. It had felt like, for a moment there, maybe he was getting through to Jun. Was that helpful? Was it even real? Had it merely been wishful thinking, projecting what he wanted to happen onto someone who was lost long before they’d ever even gotten here?]
I don’t know if this is what he wanted, Minimus. Right before it happened…before the orb turned him into that dragon…Jun said “wait”. But I think it was too late…
no subject
One can communicate with the orb only if it's about the bargain. It might have been to request its power to...I suppose if his original wish was to gain fame, this was the price he had to pay. [But that doesn't sound right. The price was the safety of the others, or perhaps the cost of friendship.] Unless he wished for the power to stop us...
[Minimus must stop talking for a while. He's reached the top of this formation and is focused on pulling himself onto flat ground.]
no subject
Finn didn't want that to be true, but the alternative reality he pictured wasn't that great either. It may have preserved Jun's soul, but not much else.]
Argh, this is all so... [He trails off with a frustrated growl, aimed at nothing at all. Sitting here was making him antsy. He needed to do something.] This is all so bunk, dude. It's not fair.
[If there was more Finn wanted to say on the subject, he doesn't. Swallowing grimly, the boy pulls himself together before speaking again. When he does, his voice is blandly encouraging. A safe mask of determination.]
We just gotta do the best we can to keep everyone safe. If we can keep Jun safe too, then... we gotta at least try.