Interrogation

[hazlogs]

[11/19/97, or thereabouts]
[Setting: The cave in the Grotto]

Erik's eyes snap open, after long, long hours of unconsciousness. Silently, 
  expressionlessly, the cybered Metis takes stock of his environment and 
  situation.

Ravenfeeder's ears go up a moment before she pushes to her paws, hackles 
  raised reflexively. ~Lie still, Sings. You are back.~

Erik stirs, methodically testing his bonds. After a moment, he says, "Release 
  me." The two words are delivered flatly, impassively, without the Galliard's 
  usual lilt; the contrast is jarring.

Ravenfeeder chuffs negatively. ~No, not until we are sure you are safe.~

Erik's eyes shift in the deep, misaligned sockets, resting on the Hispo 
  impassively. "Release me," he says again, in those same flat tones.

Ravenfeeder again motions negatively. She seems poised, as if expecting an 
  escape attempt. ~What happened to you?~

Erik ceases his struggle against his bonds, finding them sufficient to the 
  task of holding him and finding it inefficient to waste energy. Or so one 
  might gather. "Clarify."

Ravenfeeder pauses to consider her redirect. ~How did you become like you are 
  now?~

Erik answers blandly. "I was Processed."

Ravenfeeder throws his own words back at him, or at least the closest intent 
  in the Garou tongue. ~Clarify.~

Erik pauses a moment, still gazing at Ravenfeeder with a directness that's 
  quite alien to the Metis. After a brief hesitation, he answers. "She claims 
  the world. We subdue so that they may bind. I was brought in."

Ravenfeeder asks sharply, ~Who?~

Erik says, "Clarify."

Ravenfeeder reins in a hint of impatience. ~Who is she?~

Erik uses the Garou term for his answer. ~Weaver.~

Ravenfeeder yips with surprise at the answer, pulling back reflexively, but 
  then growls softly. The sound cuts off, and she asks, ~The Weaver brought 
  you in?~

Erik observes the Fianna Philodox's reactions impassively. "Yes."

Ravenfeeder's ears lay back as her eyes narrow speculatively, studying the 
  Galliard, then chuffs and asks, ~Why were you brought in? Why were you 
  chosen?~

Erik says, "An opportunity presented itself. She claims the world. She claims 
  its warriors."

Ravenfeeder snaps a little. ~And if we want to claim you back?~

Erik answers, "Impossible."

Ravenfeeder challenges by tone. ~Why?~

Erik pauses a moment, as if considering the question. And again he says, 
  "Impossible."

Ravenfeeder persists. ~But why? Or, did she not tell you why not?~ she taunts 
  with anger.

Erik remains impassive under the taunting. "There is no knowledge. It is not 
  possible."

Ravenfeeder finds this avenue of pursuit a dead-end, and shifts tacts. ~And 
  what of the others?~

Erik says, "Specify."

Ravenfeeder says, ~Ever-Grinning.~

Erik repeats, "Specify."

Ravenfeeder begins to show frustration again. ~The one of you who used to be 
  my packmate, Ever-Grinning. Red-furred, smiles a lot. He was there that 
  night. He lived, chased by the troll.~

Erik says, "He functions."

Ravenfeeder goes on. ~And Dusty. Kid, in Suspects. Taken too.~

Erik says, "He also functions."

Ravenfeeder begins pacing, although her eyes never leave the altered, ugly 
  metis's face. ~How does she process you? What is done?~

Erik's eyes follow the Hispo back and forth. "Redundant parts are removed in 
  favor of essential ones. The connection between the one called ~Gaia~ is 
  severed, as is the shapeshifting ability. Then the unit is brought into 
  service."

Ravenfeeder pauses. ~You cannot shift?~

"No."

Ravenfeeder turns to look directly at Erik. ~If you are not connected to Gaia, 
  then how can you be in the Umbra?~

"We have the ability to pass the Gauntlet."

Ravenfeeder flicks an ear. ~But the Umbra is the spirit world, and we can get 
  there by our connection to Gaia. How do you have this ability?~

"We rend it."

Ravenfeeder bites out, ~How?~

"The ability was given to us."

~By who?~

Erik says, ~Weaver.~

Ravenfeeder's ears flicker with impatience, and she resumes pacing. ~How is 
  the connection severed?~

Erik says, "Spiritually."

Ravenfeeder repeats her question. ~How? In what way?~

Erik pauses a moment. His reply, when it comes, isn't especially helpful. 
  "Through the Process."

Ravenfeeder prompts, ~And that is...~

Erik says, "Redundant parts are removed in favor of essential ones. The 
  connection between the one called ~Gaia~ is severed, as is the shapeshifting 
  ability. Then the unit is brought into service." It's just about the exact 
  same thing he said before.

Ravenfeeder's muzzle wrinkles in silent snarl. ~That does not explain how, 
  though. You do not know, do you.~

Erik remains unaffected by Ravenfeeder's anger. "That knowledge is known," he 
  replies.

Ravenfeeder reins in her anger despite the lack of reaction. ~Then what is it?~

Erik says, "A surgical process involving the alteration of the cerebrum and 
  the introduction of foreign material to the body."

Ravenfeeder's dark green eyes suddenly narrow at this bit of information, as 
  she continues to interrogate Erik up in the cave behind the waterfall. ~And 
  this caused the connection to sever?~

Heart-of-Fury pads into the confines of the grotto, still moving slowly from 
  his wounds. He chuffs a greeting in the clearing, though it is empty. He 
  then heads towards the cave entrance, and peeks a look around the corner.

Erik's voice remains mechanical and flat, passionless. "Yes."

Erik's Desc:
The figure - presumably male - stands an inch or two over seven feet, a 
  hulking cybernetic giant shrouded and encased in gray armor. A few short 
  whisps of dull black hair cling to a lonely existance on the bald, bare 
  head. The face is a horror, though, brutish and skeletal, with corpse-pallid 
  skin sretched drum-tight over bone, the jaw out-thrust and the cheeks 
  sunken. Both eyes - misaligned and sunk into deep sockets - are a 
  startlingly vibrant shade of green, but the gaze is flat and unemotional, 
  and metal gleams dully around the left, implants embedded into the 
  sickly-looking flesh. Pointed ears and sharp canines are characteristic 
  Glabro features, but instead of a nose, he has only a pair of gaping holes, 
  which only emphasizes the skull-like appearance.
The stance - for those who know Erik - is completely alien, the movements 
  smooth but mechanical. The right arm has been removed from a bit above the 
  elbow, and some kind of cybernetic interface is sunk into the flesh of the 
  left forearm.
The voice, when he does speak, is flat and expressionless, an emotionless 
  baritone with no lilt to it, no music. None at all. 

Ravenfeeder glances over sharply as Heart-of-Fury arrives, giving him a 
  soundless greeting with a tilt of her head and a wag of her tail. She looks 
  back at Erik. ~How many of you are there in that place?~

Heart-of-Fury nudges gently against his packmate, turning his eye toward Erik 
  with thinly veiled loathing. He settles on his hindlegs, his muzzle curled 
  in a near snarl as he watches the once-Glabro.

Erik's eyes shift to regard Heart-of-Fury, noting his presence. Then his gaze 
  moves back to Ravenfeeder, the questioner.
Erik answers the Philodox's question, then. "Twenty-eight."

Heart-of-Fury growls softly, baring his front teeth, and his hackles rise.

Ravenfeeder nudges back distractedly, but then turns back to Erik. ~What else 
  is there?~

"Specify."

Ravenfeeder's ears flicker with annoyance. ~At the cave where you were. What 
  else is there besides the group of you?~

"Nothing else lives there."

~No spiders?~ the Philodox asks.

"No."

Heart-of-Fury ears flicker, as he growls again, pawing the ground. His 
  question seems to be more along the line of: Why do we suffer this thing to 
  live? ~Why do you take our septmates?~

Erik's gaze shifts toward Heart-of-Fury. "They are useful."

Heart-of-Fury stands up and takes a step. He looks back at Ravenfeeder, almost 
  like he's seeking permission to show how useful he could be in disposing 
  with the mule. ~For what?~ he demands, as his ears flatten against his skull.

Ravenfeeder chuffs softly to Heart-of-Fury, soothingly. ~For their work. I 
  will tell you of it now, if you wish.~

Erik answers Steven just as he did Ravenfeeder. "She claims the world. We 
  subdue it so that they may bind."

Heart-of-Fury looks back at Erik, and and his legs tense, almost like he's 
  going to leap to topple him over, before his posture turns stiff and he 
  backs off for a couple of steps. He flickers an ear to Megan, then. ~Why 
  don't we just put him out of his misery?~

Ravenfeeder snaps a chuff at Heart-of-Fury. ~Because the more we know, the 
  better we might help Ever-Grinning when the time comes.~

Brian stumbles into the cave through the entrance behind the falls, only 
  slipping once or twice. "I think my eyesight's getting better," he 
  announces, his lilt echoing against the stone. "There's still these big 
  psychadelic color swirls floating around, but I can make out some blurry 
  forms, too." He pauses, squints into the cave itself, and tries to focus on 
  his two packmates. "I'll be damned if I can tell which one of you's which, 
  though."

Erik, tied up securely, shifts his eyes toward Brian. The Righ, not having to 
  look at the skeletal face, is probably the luckiest of the gathered Fianna.

The ground shakes for an instant then stops.

Ravenfeeder suddenly seems to realize something and turns towards Erik. ~How 
  do you communicate with each other? How did you know what Branwyn did to--~ 
  she breaks off at the rumbling. ~Ever-Grinning?~ she finishes more warily.

Eochaid chuckles, following Brian in. "I'm the fuzzy blob behind you."

Heart-of-Fury turns, just as he's about to reply to Ravenfeeder, toward his 
  packmates. ~Righ, Heartbreaker,~ he says tersely. He turns back to Erik 
  then, circling back to look at him again.

The ground shakes again. And again. It happens roughly every four seconds.

Brian straightens, slamming his head against the roof of the cave. "Ow, fuck," 
  he curses, his right hand going to his skull, and then he tries to squeeze 
  past Eochaid back outside the cave onto the ledge beneath the falls. "That 
  sounds familiar."

Eochaid nods at Brian. "I'll follow you out," he asks, as he moves aside to 
  let the Righ out.

Erik answers Ravenfeeder, undisturbed by the shaking ground. "It is similar to 
  the process utilized by your pack."

Ravenfeeder plants her feet wide-pawed, and asks urgently ~Are you 
  communicating with them now?~

"Affirmative."

Heart-of-Fury's ears flicker, and his muzzle curls again as the tremors 
  continue. He offers Ravenfeeder a questioning yip, and then suddenly he 
  springs toward the tied up captive, trying to throat him with a loud angry 
  snarl.

Ravenfeeder snarls loudly, and jumps after Heart-of-Fury, trying to slam into 
  him and ruin his throating attempt.

Brian tries his best to climb down the cliff that lies beneath the falls, but 
  ends up slipping and sliding straight down into the pool itself. Sputtering, 
  he swims to shore and hauls himself up on a rock, where he turns the air 
  vivid blue with a steady stream of profanity.

Erik observes Heart-of-Fury's attack with bland detachment, and doesn't even 
  flinch as the claws tear open his flesh.

Eochaid follows Brian down the cliff, but in a more controlled manner. Of 
  course, this takes him a while longer to do, but eventually he gets down 
  nonetheless.

Heart-of-Fury relents as Ravenfeeder slams into him, but his breath comes in 
  ragged gasps. ~Let's kill him and be done with it. Every moment he spends 
  consciously here just makes them stronger. They are strong enough!~

Ravenfeeder skids to a halt and glares at Heart-of-Fury. ~He is in contact 
  with them. They know what we say before him, they know what we do. He may 
  also have the key to saving Ever-Grinning. Go out if you cannot control 
  yourself,~ she snarls.

Heart-of-Fury growls softly, but turns for the exit to the cave, bounding down 
  to the surrounding clearing.

Erik observes the two packmates, ignoring his torn and bleeding shoulder.

The trembling of the earth continues at steady intervals. The nearby Garou 
  eventually notice that they seem to be getting stronger with each one.

Brian just sits on the rock, trying to feel the direction in which the tremors 
  seem to be the worst.

Falcon's Wing, all sooty, gives a short bark as he enters the area, and then 
  falls down. ~This reminds me unpleasantly,~ he mutters, getting up again, 
  ~Of the Caern getting recreated.~

~Tunnelers,~ the new Fostern says flatly. He flickers his ears at Falcon's 
  Wing.

Falcon's Wing flicks an ear at Steven, and makes for the Grotto itself.

Eochaid is trying to look over the trees, to see where the tremors are coming 
  from.

The tremors continue to grow in strength and volume until one might swear that 
  the source is in the grotto, but still nothing is visible.

Brian shakes his head slightly, in answer to Steven. "I don't think so," he 
  says. "Steven, Eochaid? Do me a favor and check the Shadow? I'm pretty much 
  stuck in the Realm for a while."

Heart-of-Fury peers into the pool of water for a time and then he chuffs 
  softly. ~There's a troll here to see you, Righ.~

Falcon's Wing smacks his head on a rock and then finally makes it to the 
  Grotto itself, just in time to hear that pronouncement.

"S'what I thought," Brian mutters, and then, still dripping, slides off his 
  rock. "Can you gentlement be so kind as to, uh, give me a hand through?"

Heart-of-Fury pads over to the ahroun and nudges against his leg. ~Falcon's 
  Wing. You want to see a big ass fae troll? If you do, come and help me.~

Falcon's Wing mutters, ~We've met,~ but moves to help the Righ anyway.

Eochaid says "Of course, Brian."

The Garou make their way into the Umbra, Eochaid and Heart-of-Fury pulling 
  their packmate through with them. On the other side, just as Steven said, 
  stands the same troll that answered Brian's call two nights previously. It 
  stands near the pool, an unconscious form in one of its hands.

Heart-of-Fury tries to point Brian in the direction of the huge fae.

Falcon's Wing gulps slightly, and stays where he materialized.

Eochaid's attention is not on the Troll itself (anything that big needs to be 
  capitalized) but on the unconcious body, peering to see if it is, indeed, 
  his missing packmate.

Brian speaks to the mammoth shidhe in Irish rather than English. "I'm sorry I 
  didn't come to greet you sooner, brother, but I can't see right now. I offer 
  you my thanks for even helping us at all, before I know whether you've been 
  successful."

"Well," Eochaid says as an aside to Brian, "It looks like your man brought 
  back Eamon. Or what's left of him, at least."

It responds to Brian in Gaelic, "Brought it. You want, do favor to me." Either 
  its command of the language is imperfect or it's not very bright. Probably 
  both.

"What favor can I do in return?" Brian asks, spreading his hands out by his 
  sides. "Anything in my power to give is yours."

The ogre screws its eyes up as it ponders the question, obviously not having 
  thought it out before. It lifts its hand to scratch at its head before 
  realizing it still has Eamon in that hand. With a shrug of its huge 
  shoulders, it finally gives up and sets Eamon down. "When I call, you come."

Brian presses his hand over his heart. "If your call is something my ears can 
  hear, then I swear on my life that I will come to your aid, brother."

With a grunt, the thing turns back the way it came - north - and begin 
  lumbering off. The ground shudders once again with every step.

Brian runs a hand back through his hair when the troll is past the treeline, 
  and mutters quietly to those around him, back in English now, "These 
  open-ended promises are going to be the end of me. Where's Eamon?"

Heart-of-Fury nudges against the Righ's leg again and starts to lead him 
  toward Eamon slowly, barking to catch his attention. ~This way.~

Eochaid shakes his head at Brian, waiting to speak until the fae is safely far 
  away "Either you've gotten off lucky with a truly slow Troll, or you've just 
  made an open ended bargen with a decievingly clever fae."

Brian shakes his head slightly as he's led over to the beat-up no-moon. "No, 
  that debt will come due. These things have a way of coming back around to 
  bite you."

Eochaid chuckles at the truth of it. "Aye, and I wouldn't want to see the size 
  o' the teeth."

Falcon's Wing watches this in some awe, nose twitching.

Eochaid shakes his head. "Let's go see what we've got, eh? I want to know if 
  there's anything left of my 'mate to salvage."

Brian informs Eochaid and Heart-of-Fury, "You two are going to have to tell me 
  how bad it is."

Ever-Grinning lies there like a sack of potatoes.

Heart-of-Fury sniffs at the ragabash's form, before he turns back to Brian 
  with a soft whine. ~He's like the mule, alive and unconscious. We'll need to 
  remove his weapons.~

Eochaid walks up to the body and begins to examine it, carefully.

The only weapon on Eamon seems to be the shoulder-mounted laser, unless you 
  count his mechanical hand as a weapon.

Eochaid sighs. "He's got some sort of laser weapon mounted to his shoulder, 
  and they've replaced a hand. It doesn't look like they've done as much 
  replacement as they did to Erik."

Brian tugs his klaive free of its sheath, and, hesitantly, offers it 
  hilt-first towards whichever of his two packmates is closest. "Peel as much 
  of that shit off him as you can. Use this only if you have to."

==============================================================================
Subject:  Eamon
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eamon is pretty much in the same position as Erik. He's got the same armor, 
  same helmet. He's got a laser mounted on one shoulder that attaches to the 
  armor and has an electronic connection that goes into the flesh itself, but 
  is easily removable. He has a prosthetic hand (cut off at the wrist) that 
  obviously has some function but you can't figure out what. The back of his 
  suit, unlike Erik's, has a pair of rings about a foot wide, of unknown 
  purpose. And both of his eyes are covered by a kind of goggles-mask piece of 
  hardware. This, also, is removable, and connects two four attachments (two 
  on each side of his face) outside his eyes. (If I didn't mention it before, 
  Erik had the same kind of thing with only two attachments over one eye.)
==============================================================================

Eochaid has got hands, so he takes the klaive. "I think, first, we should get 
  this helmet off of him."