>>5555459You make another layered set of barriers and once more contain the thing as it attempts to squirm away. Now trapped once more, the thing… looks significantly less perturbed with it inside. The ice grub slowly scoots closer, face clearly looking up at the captured Shapeless. It then looks up at you and… lets out a soft cooing sound. Like a baby animal asking for a treat. The Shapeless tries to squirm away again, keeping away from it as best it can.
…
You… are out of your depth here.
‘Heeeey. Aunt Maple. You still… holding up okay?’ you ask telepathically.
‘As best as I can, heh.’ she responds, sounding tired.
‘Feel up to helping me figure out a moral dilemma over a creature of pure malice and anger that’s been incapacitated and captured but otherwise poses no immediate threat?’
There’s a pause that lasts long enough for Yamcha to groggily start to return to consciousness. “Uuuuggghhh… twice in less than a day…” he groans, letting out a weak laugh. “…Oh, hey Izzy. Guess I’ve got you to thank for that being just the two, eheh…”
“Yeah, but heads up, I’ve only JUST managed to capture it again.” you tell him.
Yamcha turns around and lets out a yelp as it looks at him with bubbling eyes, leaping from your mech’s hands and onto the shoulder. “Gyuh! Jeeze! Bit more warning next time!”
“Sorry, sorry, trying to get some idea on just… what to do, from Maple.” you tell him.
‘Okay. First off, full explanation. Out with it.’ Maple requests.
‘Bubbling mass made from miasma, remnant of some Nemurian experiment from however long ago their downfall was. It feeds on Magic and possessed Yamcha briefly before I forced it out. Also been in these wolf-whale things. Captured it. Interrogation was attempted. Might need to destroy it. What do?’ That should be concise enough.
Another pause. ‘...Hoo boy. Okay. Just. Give me a moment.’ Maple replies, sounding even more tired than before.
The little grub coos again, nuzzling against your mech’s leg- …wait no it isn’t. It’s… trying to slurp off some remnants of the goop that was still on there. Well while you do kinda appreciate that, it’s… ever so slightly concerning. Even if it is kinda adorable. And then Yamcha actually speaks up. “Oh hey Maple! I’m… well, I’m alive, aheheh.”
‘Okay, listen, if you want to keep that thing for further information, I urge the most caution you can manage.’ Maple finally tells you. ‘But the moment it shows itself to be hostile again, stop it. And NO letting it escape. Understood?’
“Yeah no need to tell me twice.” Yamcha sighs.
Well. It’s on you now.
>A. Understood. Sorry to kinda spring this on you, aunt Maple>B. ...Have the grub tag along, it’ll keep the Shapeless in line>C. Cheelai, Bon, Don! You all doing okay?>D. Hey, Yamcha? How are you holding up?>E. Something else? 