[Mass Effect: New Genesis] Part 6: The Fabled Prothean Base - Nocnistu's Glory

"So, that's why I can not promise you. I've found a million things in this galaxy worth fighting for ... But you are the only one worth living and dying for.", She spoke softly, putting her hand on the side of his mask. "I will not leave you. Just as I know your stubborn ass wouldn't leave me." Astila looked devastated at both Kreigers request and Corwins decision.

"Now why would i ever leave someone so beautiful alone?" he jested lightly, trying to make her smile, one last time.
"I love you, Kreiger"
"As i you, Stella...Keelah, Sel'ia"
Astila turned to regroup with her squad as Kreiger did his. He was worried but focused. Now he would HAVE to fight well and live just to find out if Astila was okay, but he knew he knew the risks, as did she when they signed on for the job.

Meera nodded as she listened to Myn's orders. She was a little nervous about setting out in the actual field for the first time, but she was determined to make this work. She had never before been in a combat situation, and the little training she had with the pistol made her feel inadequate as she looked to the rest of her team members. They were decked out, ready for anything, and Mr. Brandt in particular seemed like he was expecting quite a party. They all were. Meera glanced down at the bag hanging at her hip, all the medical supplies they would need contained within. In the end, it was vital that she focused on that, and try to let the fighters handle the rest. She glanced nervously at Nick, smiling to try to cover her fear. She was not sure it would work, but she tightened the strap on the bag, set her shoulders, and stood ready, waiting for the next move.

"Any questions?" Othic asked of the team. Meera simply shook her head in reply, not sure if she could make her voice sound as tough as she wanted it to at this moment.

Nick listened to Myn outline the formation they would be taking up.

"Nick, you'll be on point with me. If I get hit or go down, the squad is yours." He said this as he nodded to Nick. Nick nodded back, wordlessly acknowledging the order. "Meera. Jeshua." He continued, looking at both of them in turn. "I want the two of you to watch the flanks, make sure nothing comes up on us. And I want the two of you to stick close to Astila.” He looked at the Asari now. "Astila, I want you in our middle. We need you to watch over Meera and Jeshua but be close enough to me and Nick to lend support if the going gets rough." Finally, he turned to Aashe. "I want you watching the rear, Captain. You and your sniper rifle could tip the balance of our fire superiority."

Myn knew what he was doing, that much was clear. It looked like he had put everyone in a place where there abilities and strengths would be of most use. He noticed Meera glance at him, anxiety in her gaze, though she smiled. This couldn’t be easy on her; she was entirely new to this kind of thing. Though, Nick was pretty sure exploring ancient Prothean bases was a new experience for the entire crew.
Nick turned towards Meera and, keeping his voice low, said, “Hey Meera, nothing to worry about. We just got to keep things simple. We go in, secure the base, salvage anything of value, and then go home.” He put his hand on her shoulder. “We got this.”

So I'm in the back. Figures. Still, Jeshua couldn't complain, as it was really a good thing for him. He wasn't the best fighter, and there was only so much that Dolphin could do for him, so to be flanked by Astila and Aashe to his port and starboard, respectively, as well as help Meera and/or compliment her abilities, wasn't exactly something Jeshua would ask to change.

Astila and Kreiger seemed to be having seperation anxiety, and Jeshua looked over and saw a look of worriment on Eri's face before looking away, not really caring. Meera was uneasy, but Nick was trying reassuring her, and everybody else was doing other stuff that Jeshua wasn't really paying attention to. And to that end, he jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. But then he looked up and saw that it was Aashe. "This should be a lot of fun," she said. Yeah, I bet.

"Yeah, but at least our group will have an easier time - we have the doc with us, and we won out on the odd crew count." He paused, and then added: "I just hope that the 'fun' isn't the super-ultra dangerous kind. That could pose problems for me and Meera if one of you goes down or we get separated. But hey," he said, turning to face Aashe, "when we get back, I have a new sniper rifle ready to go. I think, once this is all over, that maybe you could give me a lesson or two?"

"When we get back, I have a new sniper rifle ready to go. I think, once this is all over, that maybe you could give me a lesson or two?, Jesh asked Aashe.

"Sure thing, Kid.", Aashe replied with a grin. "We might even have time for a few quick lessons on the base - provided it's not tremendously dangerous. I think we're in more danger of traps and machines than actual people... dilapidated as this place looks."

Aashe stepped to the edge of the cargo doors, staring out at the base. "Hell of a place though, isn't it? Imagine... we're going to be the first people in here in several tens of thousands of years... I can only imagine what we might find."

The crew filed out of the Eris and onto the metallic platform of the Nocnistu's Glory. Some of them looked down at the brownish tint of the surface and realized they were the first ones to stand there for over fifty thousand years. Others turn their attention away from the Base and toward the thick, omnious churning clouds of the planet Slekon. The clouds of Slekon were densely packed together that it looked like thick, black, churning syrup. It continued pushed against the bubble the protected the Nocnistu's Glory from oblivion since it was created. The rest of the team stared in awe at the two grayish-hazel pyramids standing before them. The pyramids were the last testament to a dead race. It loomed silently in the darkness, waiting for the crew to enter.

"How are we seeing any of this?" someone asked. "I mean...there's no light source anywhere, right?"

Some of the crew probably already noticed this and didn't bother to ask. For others, it was a dawning realization. They were too far under the atmosphere for the light from the Gorgon star to reach them. Many of them looked around. The Nocnistu's Glory wasn't glowing. It's wasn't that there wasn't an apparent light source; no light source was needed to see the Prothean Base!

Corwin and Myn signaled for their teams to fall in. They briefly exchanged a look between them and tested their radios to make sure they could still coordinate. Finally, they saluted each other a sign of mutual respect...maybe for the last time.... before walking off in opposite directions toward their respective pyramid.

Both teams reached the entrance to the pyramid at about the same time. The solid metal doors were locked. The team's technology experts, Kreiger and Jeshua, attempted to hack it with no results. Rather, both tech experts received the same message from the locks protecting the door. A riddle. If solved, the door opens.

I am the betrayer

The one taken in after the enemy leaves

Beware my presence

For I am within you now.

What am I?

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Myn's Team - Pyramid A
Corwin's Team - Pyramid B

Basic rules to follow:

1. Have fun. Roleplay. Interact. Help me bring this scene to life! Add in small details of your own! Just don't contradict anyone else.
2. The first floor of the map is coded with lettered rooms and numbers floors. The numbers represent events which will occur once it is crossed and/or reached. When exploring, tell me what number you will be crossing or room you are entering. This will help me keep track of everything a lot easier.
3. While Corwin did organize his team, same with Myn....what happens is up to you. There are benefits for exploration on your own...but a great deal of risks. PC death is possible here. Not likely...but possible.

"I am the betrayer... The one taken in after the enemy leaves... Beware my presence... For I am within you now.... What am I?" Aashe whispered the words to herself. She speaks louder afterwards, enjoying riddles - her voice has a bit of childlike amusement to it. "Off the cuff, I would say it's something to do with letting our guard down. Fear and caution are tools of survival, and they often leave us when the enemy leaves. The answers to riddles tend to be more simple... arrogance perhaps? Hubris... vanity?"

Myn shrugged at Aashe's reasoning. He had radioed Havens to see if his team were being held up in the same way. Corwin replied that they were. "Well let me know if you guys figure it out before us. Othic out."

He looked around his team. "I'm open to any suggestions guys. Cause I've got nothing at the minute." He waited for a reply and wondered absentmindedly if the entrance was booby trapped against a wrong answer.

Astila walked gracefully in the middle of the group, careful not to trip over the new terrain in her high heeled boots. As they approached the steel doors, Astila felt nervous, yet somehow at ease with the group of her allies around her. After Jeshua failed to open the doors, a riddle appeared.

I am the betrayer
The one taken in after the enemy leaves
Beware my presence
For I am within you now.
What am I?

That's a creepy riddle. Astila thought. Part of me doesn't want to know the answer. But still, she thought a moment. People shot out answers. Her thoughts were getting lost among the voices. Suddenly, she spoke in her usual commanding yet soft voice. "You're comfort, safety. People always feel safest right before they die."

Nick considered the riddle carefully, repeating it in his head, examining it line by line, word by word. "What is it that is taken in when the enemy leaves, which in turn betrays you? Something that is within us now apparently.", he thought.

He listened the to the others voice their own solutions and added his own to the mix. "Relief, exhaustion, anxiety, optimism?", he guessed. He wasn't sure if they were embodying any of those things like the riddle said they were, but it was worth a shot.

"If optimism is the answer, these Protheans were a cynical bunch.", he said, still concentrating on the riddle.

Eri's eyes were fixed on the ominous churning clouds at the edge of the bubble as Kreiger attempted to unlock the door that barred their way. The air inside the shield was oddly calm in comparison and the thought of some ancient Prothean generator giving way after a few minutes to leave them helplessly outside made her shiver. She looked back at the door as someone mentioned a riddle.

A riddle? Because hiding the base on Slekon wasn't protection enough? Eri idly wondered if Slekon was this bad 50 thousand years ago as she read over the riddle... a lot could change in that time.

I am the betrayer
The one taken in after the enemy leaves
Beware my presence
For I am within you now.
What am I?

"Well, that's cheery," she stated flatly, her voice sounding odd within her own helmet. It reminded her of the voice that had haunted her dreams, which did nothing to quell her anxiety.

Betrayer. Eri frowned. What would you take in after an enemy left? A prisoner? That would make no sense. And why would an enemy just up and leave? 'Beware' was clear enough... but what would be within them right now? Was that referring to something generally found in people, or just at this precise moment? Eri sighed in frustration. She was too straightforward a thinker for this.

Eri shugged, "Confusion?" she offered with a smirk.

"I wonder..." Aashe said, as everyone was guessing. "Perhaps something with a double meaning.... Security... On the one hand, this riddle is "securing" the door - on the other hand there are 'false senses of security' to be hand when the enemy is gone."

Despite the best efforts of the crew of the Eris, neither door unlocks yet.

Kreiger and Jeshua began to carefully monitor the locking mechanism to look for any consequence of getting the answers wrong but did not detect anything.....

((Transcribed from Fire and I chatting the puzzle out in a chatbox, and made RP))

"Hm... no movement yet. I wonder if there's something in Betrayer... perhaps another meaning there." Aashe said to herself, her comm open.

"Like... a betrayal of feelings?" Eri's voice came through Aashe's comm.

"Something like that... I'm just thinking aloud. I think Betrayer is the key." Aashe replied.

"Feeling betrayed... or a secret being kept?"

"Wait. WAIT... I overlooked something." Aashe said with a grin. "The names of the system. They're all Greek Mythology - like the Eris, they're gods, and myths, and monsters. The great betrayer... Prometheus."

"What, like... Protheans?" Eri wondered aloud, still sounding confused.

The qroup had been standing there attempting to solve this riddle for what felt like an hour. in truth, who knew how long had past. kreiger became annoyed with the riddles and the mind games already, and they weren't even inside yet.
"Well right now my MIND is telling me i should have brought some explosives, not my style, i prefer a more subtle entrance, but this door is really starting to PISS ME OFF!" he yelled the last few words in the general direction of the door.
"but if you want my thoughts on this stupid riddle, its confidence. one always feels overconfident when their enemy is in retreat, and we all feel over confident about this god forsaken place. confidence can be your greatest ally AND your enemy's greatest weapon."
Kreiger felt around his suit, checking for a grenade or two.

Everyone looked at the riddle in wonder and everyone was trying to solve the riddle.

I am the betrayer
The one taken in after the enemy leaves
Beware my presence
For I am within you now.
What am I?

Now that was an odd riddle. 'He' thought. When 'he' encountered the Collectors 'he' delved into researching them, and every bit of data behind them pointed to a greater power then themselves, and in recent times, 'he' had to assume Reapers. Sovereign was a Reaper. When it attacked, when 'he' had watched the live vids from his ship two years ago 'he' felt dread, when it was destroyed, 'he' felt...

"Hope." 'he' said out loud.

“Hey Meera, nothing to worry about. We just got to keep things simple. We go in, secure the base, salvage anything of value, and then go home.” Nick put a hand on Meera's shoulder. “We got this.”

Meera nodded meekly in reply as the group approached the door, encountering the riddle. Everyone stood around perplexed, trying to figure out the answer. Meera thought about it, of course they would encounter something like this. Many thoughts passed through her mind, first she thought of disease and pain, doubt in their goals or each other. She was not sure, but listened as Kreiger yelled at the door, and started to shuffle around his suit. Many words passed through her mind, but nothing felt like the right answer. She hated riddles.

"What, like... Protheans?" Eri wondered aloud, still sounding confused. She had no idea where Aashe was going with this. She'd had reason to study the Protheans, but her knowledge of the Ancient Greeks was severely limited.

"Yeah... I think we're on the right path here with Prothean," Aashe's thoughtful response came through her headset.

"But... what comes after the enemy is gone? Why would we 'take Protheans in'..? That doesn't make any sense."

Aashe continued, "The Gods or Goddesses of Peace? Renewal?"

"But who would even be the enemy of the Proth..." Eri stopped mid-sentance. "Oh, fuck."

"What's wrong??" Aashe sounded startled.

"The Reapers," Eri replied, feeling a bit chilled.

"Gods alive, not this again. You're not thinking they're some sort of God Machine, are you?"

Eri sighed. "No, no... just... Look. What if the Reapers were the enemy that left?"

Aashe spoke up again after a long pause. "What's taken in when the Reapers go, though? A new Era? A Rebirth?" Her questions sounded a bit sarcastic.

"Hell if I know..." Eri sighed in exasperation, getting a headache. "A... cycle? They're... supposed to show up in cycles," she said quietly, reluctant to admit she bought into the existance of Reapers at all. That generally wasn't welcomed news.

"For the record... I do not believe in God Machines..." Aashe said slowly and Eri winced. "That said... I've heard the conspiracy theory that says the Reapers do move in cycles, and that they actually gave the Protheans the technology that we accredit them with. The Citadel, the Mass Effect fields, the whole thing... if that is true then we do take the Reaper Technology back in with each cycle... after the Reapers have gone," Aashe finished, sounding doubtful.

"For the record... I do not believe in God Machines..." Aashe said slowly and Eri winced. "That said... I've heard the conspiracy theory that says the Reapers do move in cycles, and that they actually gave the Protheans the technology that we accredit them with. The Citadel, the Mass Effect fields, the whole thing... if that is true then we do take the Reaper Technology back in with each cycle... after the Reapers have gone," Aashe finished, sounding doubtful.

"But it is not in us. It is an emotion. Think about it. What do you feel when a enemy retreats?" Aivar said impatiently. "And it can't be Indoctrination. Hope, false sense of security, Happiness...." 'He' began muttering to 'himself' of emotions that someone would feel.

"I'm thinking of us from a broad spectrum sense..." Aashe said to Aivar through the comm. "Not us like the people standing here, but us as a society, as a culture. The Technology has become a part of the culture."

Aashe (mention of God Machines and Indoctrination aside) seemed perfectly cheerful to continue discussing the riddle as though there was no hurry. For her, this might be considered an exercise in deeper meaning - and not a way for them to continue along their path to the Glory.