The Final Test

[cityship]

Eventually, morning came. For those inside the city, it had been a quiet, pleasant night. For those outside...well. At least no one was hurt.

As the sun rose, the sky took on an amazingly beautiful violet hue. As the crew began to awaken, they'd receive a message from Stacy, stating that those intending to attend the meeting with the Moai Elders were to gather near the massive stone stairway that led to the top of the plateau the city of Orongo surrounded.

It was time for the real mission to begin.

[ooc: wait a second for subthreads to go up]

[ooc: and done! start tagging!]

Comments

[ronnae.livejournal.com]

Ronnae piped in softly, "Maybe it can be replicated? Or copied as backup?" She asked curiously.

[azulescarabajo.livejournal.com]

"I think a copy would be a good idea." Jaime finally joined the conversation.

"If we can make one, that is."

[daemonomicon.livejournal.com]

"It cannot," Cargn said bluntly, after examining the Map for a good while.

"The material it is crafted from appears to be of an exremely rare quality. I doubt that even if we could find any more of it, there would not likely be enough. And I can already tell the information within is far too complex to be held within a vessel crafted from lesser materials."

He carefully places the orb into the box, closing the lid and lifting it up.

"So I believe our only option is to be particularly careful with this one, as we won't be getting another."

[battorch]

Tim's previously solemn expression as he listened to the Rom's replies was broken slightly as Conner nudged him, and made the joke. "Duly noted," he said back, with a small smile. "Remind me to congratulate you later."

Tim still was wary of trusting the Rom, regardless of their claims. As it stood, they had little choice in the matter. They claimed to be outsiders, and if that was true, then it gave them a vested interest in the crew's success. At least that would put their motivations out in the open.

However, he did not like the fact that the map 'could not' be copied. That put them in a position of being completely reliant on one man, and one object. There was no way he was completely willing to let that go. "A simplified version isn't possible?" he asked, sternly. "Something that at least could be stored within Stacy's computers?"

[daemonomicon.livejournal.com]

"Unlikely," Cargn replied. "I have only looked at the Map's outermost layers, and what I have seen already is difficult to put into words, let alone figure out how to input such information into the computer."

He places a hand on top of the box.

"I will record what I learn as I unlock it. In the event that the Map is damaged or lost, we will at least have something to work with. Not a perfect fix, but I doubt there will be much recourse beyond it."

[badassfreakingoverlord]

"What if I can get a... sort-of copy?" Zetta said. "If one of my minions writes a wish in the Sacred Tome that the information in that thing will be copied into the Sacred Tome itself, that'd provide a backup. Nothing can hurt or damage it with MY soul in here."

He shot a preemptive glance around the table. "And no, I can't read or interpret any of it even if it IS in the book, so don't go thinking this is some evil plot of mine. I just don't want the damn thing being lost."

Or given to the Ohm.

[makeherblue]

The Doctor had been silent, choosing instead to take in the Rom and the crew's reactions. As much as he liked to dabble in poking around, there was something to be said about taking a step into the background and simply observing. So there had been other attempts and this Rom had seen that those previous crews had no future. It wasn't the biggest leap to assume that, what with the Ohm and a ship being far too big for a skeleton crew like that. But the important thing now was they had this map, despite the gloomy fella's insistence this was the only copy they could have.

"Break it down," the Doctor said, from his place off to the side with Jamie. Of course Jamie was here. He wouldn't have it any other way, even if there was a part of him that unconsciously wanted to lean away from Jamie's...well, his feel of dead man's paradox there. The Doctor tried to be polite and not lean away from the human. "I could have a look at it, parse out the information."

If something happened to it -- and in his experience, "Something" was always around the corner -- at least some of the information should survive. He'd be willing to volunteer himself and the TARDIS to help preserve whatever information they could, if they had to.

[dhianeila.livejournal.com]

While the others talked about the item now thankfully in their possession, Dhianeila turned to the Elders, bowing to them gratefully. "Threads ... they sound much like the starways. Those that both guide and are guided and created by us. I thank you for the time you've taken to explain to us what you can - I believe we all understand just a little more than we did before we arrived, which, no matter how much or how little it may be to one's own perspective, is still something."

"We will do all that we can to ensure that this precious artifact you are entrusting to us is kept safe until we reach the place we're meant to and discover the answer that await us. While we are still trying with all of our power to find our way, we will do our best to repay you for your generosity. Be it preventing the Ohm from further destruction..." Especially since after such help, these were beings she wanted to meet again some day. She wanted them to stay unharmed. "... or if we simply cross paths once more on our journey and you require any form of help from us."

[ronnae.livejournal.com]

Ronnae looked back and forth between the crew and their questions and/or perception on their current predicament. But something gnawed at the back of her mind. Ever since she got on this ship, all everyone would tell her was 'the Ohm are bad. They're like bugs. They destroy planets.' But as far as her experience on the field had taught her, that information amounted to nothing. They might as well be fighting blindly.

But these beings come from what apparently is an ancient line, that not only they share, but they counterparts these Dalgig was it? She waited till the room was a bit more quiet, herself steeling her nerves by squeezing Billy's hand for support.

"E...Excuse me wise one. Just like my crewmates I appreciate everything you've done for us and entrusting us with such a precious artifact. But I was wondering... If maybe you knew more about the Ohm than maybe most of the crew? You seem like you've been in this life for long and you might have picked up knowledge on them." She nodded curtly in respect. "So anything you might be able to share would be surely appreciated."