Colin's posts

Sharp paid close attention, and took down all she said.

"All right, got it." he said.

He then looked over the list, and scratched at his chin.

"Hmmm." he mumbled.

"Nobody here has been showing ANY of these symptoms." he told her.

"So it seems like we're fine for now." he continued.

"But I will be on the lookout."

".....a virus?" Sharp asked, paying closer attention now.

"I see." he said.

"What kind of virus?" he asked.

"What does it do? And what are the symptoms?" he asked further.

"I need ALL the info you have on it." he told her.

"ASAP. As in, NOW."

Ryker looked over at the cake that Eke brought out, and was silent for a moment, before smiling.

"...I knew you'd remember." he said. "Wasn't sure what all you might do for it, but I did know you would remember." he said further.

"And actually... there's a reason I'm a little later back home than usual." he then added.

"...hm?" Aly mumbled quietly.

Ryker then made his way to the bag he'd brought in, and grabbed it.

"I wasn't sure when to give this, exactly, but... as you said, in light of everything, now's probably the time."

Jake watched her run off in a hurry, and was decidedly confused.

"....right then." he muttered.

After about 3 minutes, which seemed like forever, Violet was allowed to enter.

"Ah, Violet." Sharp said when she did.

"What can I do for you?" he asked.

"...judging from how you look, it must be serious." he then added, motioning for her to take a seat.

"....eh?" Jake asked.

"How many species are still around back at your home?" he asked her.

"That's... a weird thing to muse about. Slightly ominous, too." he said.

"...what made you ask it...?" he then asked, leaning in some.

"There some sort of mass extinction event that happened, or is happening? And if so, there more to it than one might think?" he asked further, looking into her eyes.

"Because you said that in such a way that one would when they're alone." he commented.

"No..." Aly said quietly, as Ryker cracked his knuckles.

"Then there's only one solution." he said.

"...there's a solution?" Aly asked.

"You two try and find out, or see where the source is coming from, and I'LL engage the thing in combat to distract it and keep it busy." Ryker responded.

"...you'll FIGHT it?" Aly asked quietly.

"Damn straight I will." Ryker replied with a bit of a grin.

"....doomed?" Ryker asked, looking over towards him.

"Why?" he asked.

"How?" he asked further, as Aly returned the hug.

"Eke... what do you mean?" she asked him.

"You're scaring me." she then whispered.

"I don't suggest finding out, yourself." Jake replied.

"It's best to have that done professionally." he told her.

"You know, get a full battery of tests and bloodwork done and such." he reasoned, taking a drink of coffee from the mug in front of him.

"But black blood, eh?" he then asked.

"That IS different." he commented.

"Well... blood comes in different colours here, depending on the species in question." he then clarified.

Illias said his goodbyes, and disappeared back into the lab, while Emerald thought for a moment.

"Hm." he mumbled.

"I can't think of anywhere in specific." he said.

"So I'm fine with meandering about." he told her.

"You thinking of wandering to any kind of area at all, or literally just randomly where our legs take us?" he then asked.

Illias perked up when he heard that.

"Yeah!" he said, as Emerald got closer to the snakes.

They sniffed around him for a moment, before they relaxed and went into more neutral positions.

"Means they're comfortable with you." Illias told him.

"At any rate, I have work to do as well." he then added.

"All right." Emerald said, before looking at Rylie.

"I'm good to go."

"Oh!" Illias replied.

"Oh, I see. Well, then yes, I AM that." he confirmed.

"Wow, that's awesome!" Emerald exclaimed.

"You guys are... well... extinct where I come from." he said quietly.

"...hm." Illias mumbled.

"Well, we're rare, but we DO still live here on this planet, in this dimension." he confirmed, as his snakes started to 'taste' the air around Emerald.

"Snakes?" Emerald asked.

"You keep snakes?" he asked Illias.

"....something like that." Illias replied.

He then moved his hair out of the way, and several serpents popped out from beneath it.

"Woah!" Emerald exclaimed.

"So you're a Serpadia." he commented.

"...a what?" Illias asked.

"A being with snakes on their head than can turn people to stone." Emerald responded, wondering if he'd made a serious faux-pas.

"Uh.... right." he said.

"So this guy is Illias..." he went on, before the man himself showed up.

"Yep, that's me." he commented, having come to look for Kiah.

"So... who is Helena...?" Emerald then inquired.

Illias just sighed in response.

"Look, I'm sorry she acts out." he said. "She's always been the rebellious one of my babies." he added, causing Emerald to look even MORE confused.

Emerald was looking quite confused now.

"Her boy?" he asked Rylie.

"Helena? Steal?" he went on.

"Wait... wait, are there kids here?" he suddenly asked.

"I've never seen any children around here, but... wait, are they here in the lab?" he then asked further.

"And... is that safe...?"