001 [text]

[mismanagement]

I'm in midst of developing a map of the area and would appreciate any information that could be added to it, especially concerning the locations where monsters or other threats have been cited.

(Below this she's attached a copy of her map-in-progress, including the changes she's made since getting Newt's input)

Comments

[mismanagement]

[Maketh pauses, surprised by that. How strange. These abilities are incredibly rare, then.] Are you self-taught, then?

[It seems likely. Only six in the entire universe. That seems nearly impossible to Maketh - even the Jedi were legion in their heyday. Something this rare must be incredibly valuable.

And very dangerous for whoever happened to be stuck with it. Those will power must swear to a cause or be forever running from one.

Maketh doesn't want to think about that very much. It doesn't matter here, anyway. She taps her pen against her notepad.] What if you were carrying something? For instance, could you phase while holding a grenade and then drop it?

[That would be useful.]

[cashlin]

[Lilith nods.] I am.

I had to figure it out all on my own, and it’s taken about this long to learn how to do it this well. I’m in my twenties now: I was almost a teenager when I started showing signs of the powers. [And a newly minted siren, all raw power without an ounce of technique to show for it or a fellow siren to look to for guidance, is a dangerous thing to be indeed. The bounty on her head isn't for nothing.]

Yeah! I can totally do that. S'not like all the stuff on me disappears when I phase. I don't know if it'll show up until after I come back, though...

[She's evidently got a lot of messing around to do with her powers still, even now.]

[mismanagement]

[That seems late for such powers to appear. From what Maketh understands of the Jedi - which, admittedly, isn't very much - the Force manifested itself almost immediately. It's rumored that Force users could be identified by their very genetic makeup. Marked even before birth. Maketh considers Lilith curiously.] This sounds different from the sort of abilities that people have back home. Those were rare as well, but they don't manifest like yours did...

[The number of gifted individuals must be important as well. Only ever six. Fascinating. Maketh wonders if it's hereditary.]

Of course I don't have abilities myself, but I--served with a man who could do similar things. If you were willing, perhaps I could....run some ideas past you? It's possible you're much more powerful than you know.

[cashlin]

I couldn't tell you. It's not like Sirens are especially well-documented. [It's half the reason she's risking her life as a Vault hunter at all: she'd do a whole host of crazy shit to figure out her powers-- their origin, the cause, what else she can do with them, if another one's in the same arm of the galaxy, even.] Even I'm surprised by myself sometimes.

[The man Maketh refers to can't be a Siren, but... who knows if the Eridians had a further reach than she'd thought. She doesn't hesitate to reply.]

Yeah, sure! Lay 'em on me.

[mismanagement]

Are the Sirens the only ones with powers, or the only ones with these specific abilities?

[Because that's an important distinction, if Lilith knows one way or another. Though it likely doesn't matter as much while they're stuck here. Maketh likes to have all the details she can get her hands on, though. She taps the pen against her notes, thinking.]

The Inquisitor didn't speak to me of his abilities, but he was open to discussing strategy. The trick was not to question what he could or couldn't do, but rather how his abilities might be twisted to fit whatever particular mess we found ourselves in.

[Maketh pauses.]

For instance, he built a weapon that could deflect blaster shots. I don't have the tools or the skill to make you a light saber, but...I think, if you could learn to...vibrate, if you will, or only move a few centimeters at a time, you could deflect blows. Even gunshots. Does that make sense?

[There will need to be tests, of course, but in theory it could work. But if Lilith can vibrate, or just move very fast in a small space, she could do a great many things. The possibilities are endless.]

[cashlin]

[Lilith rubs her chin, thinking.]

It's a big universe. I dunno. But... they say that the Eridians-- the aliens who lived on the planet Pandora ages ago-- have some kind of connection to us. It's one of the reasons I shipped over there in the first place. [ . . . ] Well, that and money. But I'm not discounting the first reason 'cause of it.

[Deflecting, though. That sounds--] That sounds amazing. I-I mean, there's a big feedback when I enter or exit still. I'd need to work with my powers to get more precise, but it's not like there's any reason I can't try it!

[Lilith's beaming, and the longer she blathers on, the more excited she becomes.]

[mismanagement]

It might not matter here. [But it's still fascinating, either way. Maketh is writing furiously. It doesn't seem like Lilith's abilities work the same way that Force sensitivity does, which means there's probably more to it than simple genetic inheritance.

Maketh brightens.] I have a way we might test that, actually. By throwing rocks at you.

[Wait. Phrasing. Maketh clears her throat.] I mean, we should probably start with something less deadly than a gunshot.

[>Then they can move on to blasters and possibly some other, nastier things. There are so many possibilities.]

[cashlin]

[Flatly:] What. [Rocks? Seriously, rocks. Lilith’s eyebrows immediately raise in confusion.] When I said I’d help you map out this place, I didn’t think I was agreeing to you stoning me.

[But… As strange of a suggestion as it is, she’s absolutely certain enough in her own abilities to know she wouldn’t get hit in the face with too many rocks. And perhaps she’d learn something more about her powers by playing along with the, er, “experiment”.

And she is as eager to prove herself as ever. Let it be known that she’d never turn down a challenge Lilith breathes, exhaling whatever’s left of her uncertainty out through her mouth.]

Ah, what the hell. Could be fun: let’s do it.

[mismanagement]

I m-may have gotten distracted. [Definitely got distracted. Probably shouldn't do that again. Or ever. But this is so interesting. Maketh clears her throat.] Of course, we don't have to--the rocks might have been a bad idea. Something less---uh. Painful? Might work better.

[cashlin]

[She rests her hands on her hips and surveys the area. What'll hurt less than getting a rock thrown at her face...

Ah, right.]

Think there's any fruit trees around here?

[mismanagement]

[Maketh hesitates.] Not that I've seen?

[cashlin]

Shit.

[Back to the drawing board.]

What about a little ball? Or a bean bag. Help me out here.

[mismanagement]

There was a box of tennis balls in one of the stores. [Maketh nods.] That could work.

[cashlin]

That'll definitely work.

[She grins. This is way more fun than exploring, and phasing doesn't involve wasting precious bullets.]

You wanna turn this expedition around?

[mismanagement]

I suppose the caves can wait. [Maketh smiles a little.] Thank you. For -- for your help.

[cashlin]

Pshaw. The caves aren't gonna move-- I, on the other hand, am gonna bust outta here as soon as they give me a chance.

[And those who'd show interest in her powers without being horrified or wanting to take her in for the bounty are few and far between.]

S'no big deal.

[mismanagement]

And I'll help with that in any way I can.

[The chances of actually making this place safe are slim to none, and most of the people here have homes to go back to. Maketh doesn't, but it's her duty to protect them. She'll do what she must.

She smiles a little.]

It is to me. It's--refreshing? To have someone willing to speak with me about such things.

[cashlin]

Yeah. [Lilith nods.] Dunno who'd wanna stay in this dimly lit crapsack of a cave for long... as long as it's like this, anyways.

[That's enough to bring a smile back to Lilith's face too.]

The feeling's mutual, trust me. Most people're running by now: if not away from me, then at me with something with bullets in it.

[mismanagement]

[Not like this, no. Changes must be made. Maketh grins just a little.] Their loss, then.

[cashlin]

[If she were just a little less composed, she'd be flushed with pride.]

Thanks. It, uh, means a lot. [All sentimentalism aside--] Let's go get some stuff to throw at me, yeah?

[mismanagement]

[Maketh blinks. Apparently it does. Do people not respect power in Lilith's world? On Lothal, she would have been seen as something like a Jedi.] Yes. Let's do that.