08-29-2016, 02:15 PM
It was a safe enough bet that not one of the 'distinguished' members of Empire Fountain Watch 41-F-8 ever expected to find themselves traipsing back across the Nexus toward the gate to Coruscant with a new prime who seemed not only willing to join their ranks, but almost excited to do so. The incessant questions that came from said prime had yet to wander into annoying territory, being only refreshingly endearing, especially for the cluelessness and genuine curiosity with which they were all asked. More than once the comment about the child-like young prime being just about a blank slate, as far as learning went, went around, with general agreement. Not in any derogatory sense, but just out of sheer amazement. She was easily confused by more long-winded explanations, and often had to have things repeated or explained in simpler words and terms, but she eventually got it.
And now and then she would piece some things together on her own, or ask completely unrelated questions, leaving the squad confused but always spinning it back around to the topic at hand in some roundabout fashion. Every now and then she would even jump off into a completely unrelated matter, asking about things which left the squad baffled. It was the perfect example of just how her mind worked — which was to say, very strangely. Stanek, his professional training and devious mind that had landed him this position as leader of the squad over Jayce, could already feel the gears in his own head turning, formulating ideas as to how this could be turned to an advantage. The new prime — Graowr was her name, apparently, odd as it was — was so damn innocent and child-like she'd probably believe anything she was told, if it was worded right. That kind of easy belief and easily-fostered loyalty just waiting to be firmly taken hold of was something you just couldn't find anywhere. Primes were always valuable, especially if they could be brought into the service of the EPD, and even more so if they could be made unthinkingly loyal. A find like this might be enough to get him back off Fountain Watch just like that, back to his usual post in Tier 1 well ahead of schedule. Maybe even a promotion! Wishful thinking, but he had to keep his spirits up somehow.
"So...this EPD thing." Graowr spoke up, from her perch on Sisto's back, where she was being carried piggy-back, with her arms wrapped happily around his neck. She had only hopped down and taken a few steps when it became readily apparent her short stride was going to force a very brisk pace to keep up, with everyone else being at least a foot taller than her. Jayce, in particular, already stood nearly head and shoulders above his squadmates, so all but towered over the little blue chi-- no, prime. It was very easy to confuse her for a child, especially when she was so happily being carried along just like one. To his credit, Sisto didn't seem to mind the extra burden placed on him, and even seemed to enjoy it. "Used to give my sister piggy-back rides, when I stopped by home. I'm used to it!" It certainly did a lot to ease the mood on the trip back to the gate, and made the numerous questions all the more endearing.
"Yes?" Stanek spoke up, forcing himself away from his thoughts to finally answer their newest 'ally'. "The EPD is the Empire Police Division. Did you have any questions about it?"
"That's the thing you guys said I should join, right?" Graowr asked slowly, thinking through her words carefully for once. When she got the affirmative from the sergeant, she went on, "It sounds like it's gonna be tough...especially with as weak as I feel right now." She clenched one hand into a fist, looking at it very intently. "....probably back to a point where I couldn't even beat Raditz again....feels weird, after being so strong before."
"That's to be expected." This time, it was Jayce who volunteered to answer the non-question. "All primes are changed upon coming here to the Omniverse. Most are weakened, in some cases significantly, while others who had no powers of their own are strengthened. Everyone enters on, more or less, an even footing when they first arrive, according to our records and observations." He turned to their little blue passenger, and gave a reassuring nod. "Don't worry. You can get your strength back with enough effort." He paused, and a moment later, added: "And Omnilium. Primes can increase their strength quite easily with that."
"Oooh...." Graowr was fascinated at that statement. "And that...a prime. That's what I am, right? Somebody Omni brought here himself?" The info-man of the squad responded with a nod of confirmation. "And you guys are...second..." She paused, stumbling over the word. "...secondaries. You were...summoned by another prime?" Another nod of confirmation, at which she tilted her head in confusion. "So...you guys can't get stronger with Omnilium, like I could?"
Jayce once again nodded. "Correct. Primes have the benefit of naturally gathering and absorbing OM, at times using it subconsciously to strengthen themselves or summon things. It supplements their natural training and increase of power to a great extent. Secondaries, like us, cannot directly manipulate and make use of Omnilium. Only a prime imbuing us with extra Omnilium — and that is a tricky business — or the old-fashioned means of great effort and training can let us get stronger."
"Oooooooh. Training the old-fashioned way... I used to do that a lot. It's how I got to be so strong, back home!" She was clearly very pleased about the prospect of that still working here, even if it was assisted by something other than her own natural efforts. "Maybe we could help each other with training sometime? Help you guys get stronger, if you're gonna be out here where dangerous people show up!"
"Maybe so." Stanek was very careful to keep his tone level. The prospect was an enticing one — a prime as a training partner wasn't something that was too common. It would be an experience, alright...one he might have to actually take her up on, whenever they all had free time in their schedule. "But let's wait until you get a little stronger, yourself. A squad like us, we fight together. I don't think you'd be able to provide very effective training, given your current condition."
Graowr looked indignant, her cheeks puffing out angrily. It was a bit of a blow to her pride, to hear it said so bluntly, even if she knew it was probably right. Even back home, when she'd been at full strength and training with three or four people who were only a portion of her strength, it hadn't really been easy. Four on one was just bad odds, even if you didn't really know math well. Six on one was bound to be worse, especially when you were at a bare fraction of your normal strength. "...yeah. I guess so."
"Hey, don't be so down about it!" Sisto said cheerily. "I'm sure you'll shake off that weakness in no time!" The statement earned him a light bop on his helmet, to which he only chuckled. "Sorry, sorry...probably could have worded that better! But just, y'know, have some faith! Just give it a little time. The EPD is busy work, and it should be some decent training to get you up to speed!"
Graowr just grinned. "I hope so. I want to see what you guys can do!"
And now and then she would piece some things together on her own, or ask completely unrelated questions, leaving the squad confused but always spinning it back around to the topic at hand in some roundabout fashion. Every now and then she would even jump off into a completely unrelated matter, asking about things which left the squad baffled. It was the perfect example of just how her mind worked — which was to say, very strangely. Stanek, his professional training and devious mind that had landed him this position as leader of the squad over Jayce, could already feel the gears in his own head turning, formulating ideas as to how this could be turned to an advantage. The new prime — Graowr was her name, apparently, odd as it was — was so damn innocent and child-like she'd probably believe anything she was told, if it was worded right. That kind of easy belief and easily-fostered loyalty just waiting to be firmly taken hold of was something you just couldn't find anywhere. Primes were always valuable, especially if they could be brought into the service of the EPD, and even more so if they could be made unthinkingly loyal. A find like this might be enough to get him back off Fountain Watch just like that, back to his usual post in Tier 1 well ahead of schedule. Maybe even a promotion! Wishful thinking, but he had to keep his spirits up somehow.
"So...this EPD thing." Graowr spoke up, from her perch on Sisto's back, where she was being carried piggy-back, with her arms wrapped happily around his neck. She had only hopped down and taken a few steps when it became readily apparent her short stride was going to force a very brisk pace to keep up, with everyone else being at least a foot taller than her. Jayce, in particular, already stood nearly head and shoulders above his squadmates, so all but towered over the little blue chi-- no, prime. It was very easy to confuse her for a child, especially when she was so happily being carried along just like one. To his credit, Sisto didn't seem to mind the extra burden placed on him, and even seemed to enjoy it. "Used to give my sister piggy-back rides, when I stopped by home. I'm used to it!" It certainly did a lot to ease the mood on the trip back to the gate, and made the numerous questions all the more endearing.
"Yes?" Stanek spoke up, forcing himself away from his thoughts to finally answer their newest 'ally'. "The EPD is the Empire Police Division. Did you have any questions about it?"
"That's the thing you guys said I should join, right?" Graowr asked slowly, thinking through her words carefully for once. When she got the affirmative from the sergeant, she went on, "It sounds like it's gonna be tough...especially with as weak as I feel right now." She clenched one hand into a fist, looking at it very intently. "....probably back to a point where I couldn't even beat Raditz again....feels weird, after being so strong before."
"That's to be expected." This time, it was Jayce who volunteered to answer the non-question. "All primes are changed upon coming here to the Omniverse. Most are weakened, in some cases significantly, while others who had no powers of their own are strengthened. Everyone enters on, more or less, an even footing when they first arrive, according to our records and observations." He turned to their little blue passenger, and gave a reassuring nod. "Don't worry. You can get your strength back with enough effort." He paused, and a moment later, added: "And Omnilium. Primes can increase their strength quite easily with that."
"Oooh...." Graowr was fascinated at that statement. "And that...a prime. That's what I am, right? Somebody Omni brought here himself?" The info-man of the squad responded with a nod of confirmation. "And you guys are...second..." She paused, stumbling over the word. "...secondaries. You were...summoned by another prime?" Another nod of confirmation, at which she tilted her head in confusion. "So...you guys can't get stronger with Omnilium, like I could?"
Jayce once again nodded. "Correct. Primes have the benefit of naturally gathering and absorbing OM, at times using it subconsciously to strengthen themselves or summon things. It supplements their natural training and increase of power to a great extent. Secondaries, like us, cannot directly manipulate and make use of Omnilium. Only a prime imbuing us with extra Omnilium — and that is a tricky business — or the old-fashioned means of great effort and training can let us get stronger."
"Oooooooh. Training the old-fashioned way... I used to do that a lot. It's how I got to be so strong, back home!" She was clearly very pleased about the prospect of that still working here, even if it was assisted by something other than her own natural efforts. "Maybe we could help each other with training sometime? Help you guys get stronger, if you're gonna be out here where dangerous people show up!"
"Maybe so." Stanek was very careful to keep his tone level. The prospect was an enticing one — a prime as a training partner wasn't something that was too common. It would be an experience, alright...one he might have to actually take her up on, whenever they all had free time in their schedule. "But let's wait until you get a little stronger, yourself. A squad like us, we fight together. I don't think you'd be able to provide very effective training, given your current condition."
Graowr looked indignant, her cheeks puffing out angrily. It was a bit of a blow to her pride, to hear it said so bluntly, even if she knew it was probably right. Even back home, when she'd been at full strength and training with three or four people who were only a portion of her strength, it hadn't really been easy. Four on one was just bad odds, even if you didn't really know math well. Six on one was bound to be worse, especially when you were at a bare fraction of your normal strength. "...yeah. I guess so."
"Hey, don't be so down about it!" Sisto said cheerily. "I'm sure you'll shake off that weakness in no time!" The statement earned him a light bop on his helmet, to which he only chuckled. "Sorry, sorry...probably could have worded that better! But just, y'know, have some faith! Just give it a little time. The EPD is busy work, and it should be some decent training to get you up to speed!"
Graowr just grinned. "I hope so. I want to see what you guys can do!"