Colin's posts

"Now, now, let's not turn this into a bashing fest." James said.

"And yes, it IS bright. Seems like it's God shining a flashlight right in your face after having been underground for so long." he chuckled. "Or, well, close enough to underground, anyway." he clarified.

"Now let's go." he said, as they started walking.

"Excellent work on identifying Aegis." Richard said to Mira as they walked.

"Something like this will forever carve your name into the history texts." he told her.

"...right." Ryker responded.

"Well, drink and then get some sleep." he said.

"I'll get us back on the road." he muttered.

Savra returned to their animal form, and laid down at the foot of one the beds.

They closed their eyes and just let out a small breath, as Ryker returned to the driver's seat up front.

"So let us head back and replenish." Vincent said.

The 5 of them made their way out of the corridors, and stepped into the sun, the light almost blinding to Mira, she'd adjusted to the dimmer light in the corridors. The others reacted similarly, before Lanston placed a hand on Mira's shoulder.

"Mess tent is this way." he said, gesturing to a larger dark green tent.

"Let's at least get some water." he suggested.

"And I gotta say, you are the best weapon specialist I've had the pleasure of working with." he then complimented her.

"Not a high bar, seeing as Spencer is the one that set if for you." Richard commented with a snicker, having overheard that.

"Oh hush, Richard, you knew what I meant." Lanston retorted.

"Yes, yes, James." Richard laughed.

"Miracles take time." Lanston chuckled.

"However, we'll need to finish up this room, and a few more." he told her.

"We've found weapons scattered about, and we'd like your input on those as well." Johansen informed her.

"Odds are you'll be assisting us for at least a week." he said further. "Today was an unusually productive day, but you had such energy and enthusiasm, none of us could bring ourselves to interrupt." he added with a light laugh.

"For now, let us return to base camp." Vincent suggested.

"Mira, we'll see to it that the spear is properly delivered to the Unit for you to work on." he told Mira.

"That's perfectly reasonable." Vincent responded.

"But at any rate, let us check the rest of these weapons, shall we?" he asked.

Mira nodded, and they got to work. It took them almost 5 hours, but she had managed to ID half of what was there, and determine which ones were salvageable, which ones would be best put on display, and which would probably disintegrate if they were exposed to the outside world.

And overall... she really impressed the others that were there.

And when Vincent brought up her possibly restoring Aegis, and the spear, the others thought about it for a moment, before reaching a decision.

"Well, if the Aegis shield IS legit, then there will be a LOT of channels to go through for getting permission to do so, even if we are the ones in charge here." Richard told her. "It would be one of the most valuable relics this world has seen, you understand." he said further.

"However, as for the spear, I think we're in agreement that you may attempt to study and restore it. It's the least we can do to thank you for your assistance." he then reasoned.

"For all you're already done, and will continue to do while here."

"Oh!" Vincent responded.

"Well, that certainly makes sense." he chuckled.

"Anyway, to address you restoring these weapons..." he then said, thinking about it.

"I will confer with the others about the shield." he told her, looking at it. "Once we verify it IS, in fact, Aegis." he said further.

"However... if there are any others you wish to restore, then I think it shouldn't be too much of an issue." he assured her. "Assuming you don't actually take the whole lot back with you to do so." he stressed.

"But any in particular you want to try and restore?"

Savra continued to hold him, not letting go.

"It's okay." they said.

"She was a very irritating person." they understated, as one of the doors opened, and Ryker stepped back in, setting the plastic bag he had on a table that was near Eke.

"All right, let's jet." he said to the two of them.

"You gonna be ok, Eke?" he asked Eke.

Vincent paused when he heard that.

"Ah..." he stammered.

"Hold up." he said. "I mean... we'll address those others in a moment, but I have a question first." he told her.

"Mana?" he asked. "You have mana?" he asked her.

"I realise that may be a stupid question, but I know Hal employs those without mana. Agent King and Agent Callimachi, being prime examples." he continued.

"What is your mana type?" he inquired.

"What all can and do you do with it?"

Vincent's eyes widened as she said what she did.

"...Aegis?" he asked. "The legendary shield of Zeus?" he asked further.

"The very same." Mira responded.

"But what about the one currently on display?" Vincent inquired.

"Probably a replica." Mira replied. "From the same time period, clearly. Probably made as part of a statue or something, to honour the God." she reasoned, as Vincent looked at the shield.

"Well... if this truly is... then we should be able to Mana-ID it." Vincent commented.

"And, again, if this truly is, then you, Mira, will have just made quite possibly the most significant breakthrough in mage archaeology." he added.

"That's all that matters." Lanston said.

"Come, let us check the rest of these weapons." he then said, as they all spread out to look at them.

Except for Vincent, who approached Mira as she held the weapon in her hands.

"Agent Greyson?" he addressed her.

"Something special about that weapon in specific?" he asked.

"You seem fascinated with it."

Even though she was worried it would happen again, as there was some hesitation in her reach, she grasped at it again.

And nothing happened.

No burns, no reaction. Nothing.

"Hmmm." Richard mumbled.

"Perhaps what was meant to merely be a warning. Or perhaps there's mana within that has waned over time." he postulated.

"Perhaps." Vincent said, approaching as well.

"Maybe it reacted to Mira specifically for whatever reason."

The one that had approached was Dr. Johansen, and he looked at Mira's singed hands quizzically.

"...curious." he said, taking out some aloe gel he'd had with him, and giving her some to help soothe her minor burns. "Very curious, indeed." he said further, looking at the weapon.

"What do you make of it, Richard?" Lanston asked him.

"Possibly a self-defense mechanism." the man responded, stepping closer.

"This is for science." he told the group. Then, before anyone could really object, he touched the grip with the tip of one of his fingers.

"...no reaction." he reported to them.

"How very strange..." Vincent said, scratching lightly at his chin.

The group just smiled at how Mira seemed to be marveling at it all, but Vincent could tell there was something more to it. He wasn't sure what, exactly, but he could tell there was SOMETHING going on with her.

As Mira looked around the room and examined the various weapons, she could tell that the majority of them... at least three-quarters, were still 'good'. They had tons of surface rust to them, but something told her that they could all still fight, if properly restored.

However, one particular weapon... the one that she felt... something... from... was in the corner of the room, behind some shields. It looked to be a spear of sorts, and it looked like a magnificent one. The handle looks study and unbreakable, and she could almost see the sheen and shine of the blade, hidden deep under the layers of rust on the blade.

It looked like it cried out to be set free. To be rejuvenated. To once again feel the glory of battle.

Savra approached and, while still in their humanoid form, hugged Eke. They held him close, and snugly.

"It's okay." they said.

"Everyone has their off-moments." they told him.

"You're allowed to, as well." they said further.

"Please don't fret over it."