>>5142275“I…suppose I’m open to that.” You concede after some deliberation, though judging by the air hissed through half your crews’ teeth it’s not one they agree with. “I don’t really know what I’d ask of you in return, though. What is within your ‘considerable power’, exactly?”
“I HAVE BEEN GRANTED DOMINION OVER ANYTHING WITHIN YOUR SEA’S LIMITS. TRAVEL, CHANGE…AND THOSE THAT TRAVERSE IT.” Leviathan replies with a flick of their tongue towards the captive Amalgam, pride curling around every booming syllable. “FEW CRUCIBLES HAD SUCH A PLEASANT AMOUNT OF LIQUID AS YOURS, SO MY POWERS COULD RARELY REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.”
“If I may…” Begins Calypso, the Skintalker having found her voice again. “…I'm assuming you’re one of the three Apocalypse Amalgams the ‘Net’s been talking about?”
“OH HO, IS THAT WHAT THEY’RE CALLING MY SIBLINGS AND I?” Levy chortles, sending choppy waves emanating out from their massive form. “THEN YES, I AM. WE WERE TO BE LOOSED WHEN THE CRUCIBLE NEEDED PROTECTION FROM THAT WHICH WOULD THREATEN IT…THOUGH SINCE ONE HAS YET TO MANIFEST, IT APPEARS WE HAVE BEEN LEFT TO OUR OWN DEVICES.”
You’re about to ask what could possibly pose a threat to a world-devouring abomination, but something tells you ignorance is, in this case, bliss. Instead, you figure a compliment or two wouldn’t hurt, saying; “You have quite a vast domain, Levy. It’s quite impressive…so have you devoted your ‘devices’ to researching our particular Crucible?”
“OH YES, I HAVE! THE ORIGINAL POINT OF THE CORRUPTION WAS TO DRIVE A WEDGE BETWEEN DAUGHTERS—TO SINGLE OUT THE DOMINANT, SENTIENT SPECIES, UNIFIED IN THEIR BIOSIMILARITY, AND THEN THROW THEIR UNIFICATION INTO CHAOS.” Levy explains, unable to contain their excitement as the waves grow ever-more chaotic. “BUT—AND I ASSUME THIS TO BE A RESULT OF THIS STRAIN’S APPARENT DECAY—THERE APPEARS TO BE A SUBCONSCIOUS DIRECTION THAT’S BEEN MANIFESTING IN THE LAST DOZEN OR SO CRUCIBLES! TYPICALLY YOU’D NEED AN ARTISAN’S TOUCH OR ADMINISTRATOR OVERRIDE TO CHANGE ONE’S PHYSICAL FEATURES, BUT YOUR SPECIES APPEAR TO INFLUENCE THE DIRECTION OF YOUR ALTERATIONS TO A DEGREE I’VE NEVER ENCOUNTERED BEFORE. I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE HOW THIS MANFESTS IN THE NEXT ONE!”
“The…next Crucible, you mean?” You clarify, a pit forming in your boiler as Leviathan nods.
“I’m afraid you’re mistaken—this will be the last Crucible. It ends with us.” Vector declares, stepping forward as her body vibrates with violent neon.
“OH, YOU’RE ADORABLE!” The thing chuckles dismissively before flicking its tongue your way once again. “SO, DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’D LIKE TO ASK OF ME? IT’S THE LEAST I CAN DO, REALLY.”
>>You’ll ask for (Write-In)—let’s see if ‘Levy’s’ as powerful and generous as they say.>>…on second thought, you’ll continue on your way.>>Write-InCHART YOUR COURSE
