Reassembly Required: Part 2
----- A Dott In The System -----
"Null?" Nalla shook her head so hard, it actually caused her ears to slap herself in the face. She hated the expression her sister so seemed to enjoy. It was Lexxie's way of dismissing an entire conversation, poignant arguments and well thought-out points Nalla had formulated. All with one word and a wave of the hand.
Lexxie continued darting back and forth, gathering various gadgets, golem parts, and half-creations in the disorderly mess she called her lab. There were various projects strewn about, with various degrees of completion. It wasn't uncommon for Lexxie to have multiple mechanisms and machinations while multitasking. Nalla struggled to understand the disorderly chaos, but left her sister's work-space a safe haven from criticism: Progeny needed guidance but room to enhance their talents and practice their studies. Guidance, however, was too often ignored by the young head-strong Lexxie.
"I still do not think you should go; we have seen Kievaa's ineptitude first hand, Lex. She is of a volatile nature; Lexxie, you know this! She undoubtedly will attempt some half-postulated theory, which will ultimately either bind you to her for the duration of your studies, or (and more likely), you'll find your place in the Eternal Alchemy as she creates the next Thaumanova reaction!"
"She didn't create the Thaumanova reaction!" Lexxie smiled, knowing it would off-track her sister.
Nalla tugged her ears. "You know what I mean: another event similar to..." She stopped herself, realized she'd taken Lexxie's bait, then rolled her eyes.
Completing her inventory, Lexxie stuffed a few more clockwork sprockets into her (already overflowing) backpack, muttering something about a rune of holding. She hoisted the bag on, secured her shoulder straps, then started toward the door, where Nalla resolutely stood, arms folded.
"Are your ears not big enough to hear my warning?" Nalla again attempted to start another dialog, this time teasing her sister to get a more visceral response. "You should not heed her invite!"
"Well, they're not as big as yours," Lexxie flicked her sister's ears. "Now, are you gonna move or are you, again, going to impede my genius?"
Suddenly, two arms reached around Nalla's waist and clasped their hands together forming a belt. "Go, Lex, go!" came from a small voice behind. Reacting without hesitation, Nalla quickly elbowed the would-be assailant, knocking them backwards and off her person. They landed with a soft thud.
The dust subsided to reveal a small Asura flat on her backside. Quickly, she sprung up, resulting in a twirling ponytail actively bouncing back to life, settling on a spring-like spiral. It was cherry-purple with a tinge of deep-blue, all of which stuck out higher than her head. Her eyes were the shape of almonds, making up the majority of her head, along with medium thick ears that jutted from each side of her face. Her small pink nose twitched as she rubbed her forehead. "Ouch, Nalla!"
"Oh, my ears! Dott! Are you alright? Why did you sneak up on me?" Nalla began helping the little Asura up.
Nalla inspected the little Asura, stars still in her vivid purple eyes. She had known Dott long enough to guess her expression had something to do with the latest fashion. Nalla really never did understand Dott's obsession in this regard; garments and armor should be productive. What would one care of aesthetics when battling destroyers; when venturing to parts unknown; spelunking into the depths. In all their years together, Dott always seemed to have some well-to-do outfit for each occasion.
Laughing, Lexxie came to stand beside her sister. "Did you really think you'd hold big ol' Nalla back, Dott? Look at her, she's like ginormous! Maybe with an embigoning tonic, you'd stand half a chance!"
"Or at least a small chance," Nalla grinned.
"Oh, har, har, har! Made a little joke there did you?" Dott retorted.
Nalla and Lexxie glanced at each other and burst into laughter, both repeating, "little..."
Dott frowned, then saw Lexxie's packed bag for the first time. Her expression change to that of worry and her ears drooped. "You're... You're really going somewhere?"
Nalla huffed. "She is attempting to flee her responsibilities and studies to dash off to some calamity concocted by our former krewemate; of this, I am certain!"
Dott's eyes widened. "Former krewemate... You mean Nyxx is back? How is she? Have you seen her yet? Did she bring anything back from Lion's Arch?" The small Asura slightly hopped with excitement. "Maybe some new materials? Silks?"
Lexxie giggled at Dott's infectious enthusiasm and chimed in about Kievaa's invitation, seeing it on an equal level of exciting news. Dott, however, froze. What seemed like an eternity passed before anyone spoke again. Lexxie, as usual, interrupted the silence. With a shrug, she tightened the straps on the satchel causing the various metallic objects inside to shift and bang together.
"Is she serious?" Dott blinked, looking up at Nalla, who shook her head in a silent nod, seemingly inviting Dott to attempt the talk with her sister. Dott considered Lexxie's unwavering defiance as she fastened the buckles.
She'd known Lexxie and Nalla since they were first teamed up as lab partners, long ago. Both had their own unique views on the way the world worked: Lexxie would very much leap from the tallest Rata point and trust in her invention, even if said invention was proven to be faulty. In contrast, Nalla would calculate, postulate and plan for multiple contingencies before heading first into battle. Dott, herself, landed somewhere in the middle. If she could take the very best of Nalla's bravery and preparation, and the best of Lexxie's inventiveness and unbridled trust, she would.
As it happened, Dott believed herself to possess only a subset of these traits, and mostly felt she performed only slightly above mediocre. Self-image not withstanding, Dott truly was a masterful seamstress, and had an eye for design that made her a highly coveted resource. Her attention to detail was a joy for her, meticulousness that most simply brushed over. When a task presented itself, she set her mind to its inception and creation, and nothing could stop her determination to complete the project.
It was this same determination Dott could relate to and see in Lexxie's face. "I... I will get someone to watch my boutique. Lexxie, I'm going with you," she said resolutely. "If Kievva has called upon you, there has to be something going on, and I for one," she looked to Nalla, "think we owe it to ourselves to find out."
Nalla sighed; there would be no reasoning with either if both were collaborating. "Fine. We go together then - all of us! If Kievva's going to blow up Tyria and wake the Elder Dragons, I want to be there to..."
"Yay!" Lexxie and Dott both began jumping up and down.
Nalla frowned.
After an exhaustive debate of what supplies needed to be taken, the group finally left the areas around Rata Sum, and eventually made it toward the edge of Metrica Province. For the first time in a long while, all three Asura stopped and watched the sky turn to night. Ambient creatures crawled from their daytime hideaways, sparkflies buzzed and the sound of nature filled their ears... Until Lexxie began rummaging through her bag. Nalla and Dott both looked at her in dismay. Eventually, she produced a holoimage capturer and took a snapshot.
It would be the last time they would all be so happy.
[To be Continued...]
