xp_logs | Poor Unfortunate Souls - Darling It's Better, Down Where It's Wetter

Below the surface, Jean and Namor encounter cephalopods smaller, and rather more personal than the giant one attacking the ship.

Jean thought she'd be used to drowning by now. But that was something that had happened in the Astral Plane. This was reality, yet it felt like time had slowed as she saw the bottom of the boat get smaller and smaller the farther she was dragged below.

Something small crawled up her back and she flinched, telekinetically struggling to free herself both of the massive tentacle that was wrapped around her body, as well was whatever was climbing up her shoulder. What was it? Oh God, what was it?

Then she saw it. Or at least, she saw a flash of something, small and pale and fast, with tiny legs. Before she could process what it was, it had wrapped itself around her face, covering her eyes as something plunged down her throat and up both of her nostrils. An icy chill began to flood her body.

The world was dark again. Again.

Reaching her mind out, she tried to find someone close, and found Namor's.

~It got me. I can't---everything's...clouded....Are you--?~

Something buzzed in her mind, surrounding it on all sides. It reminded her of the Shadow King, but where he was one, this was many. Like an approaching tidal wave. Her mental walls weren't fully healed. It threatened to seep through the cracks.

~It is a creature of complete control. It subjugates its victims until they only desire to follow its commands above all else.~ Namor's mental voice was measured, calm, and sounded, to but it bluntly, impressed. ~We had only heard tales of such beauties in the depths.~

Then, sharper. ~Tell Us of how you plan to deal with this, Lady of Grey-toned Denim.~

Something whispered behind him, calling to them, repeating the same words over and over. Jean didn't recognize what it was saying, but she knew exactly what Namor had said. What it meant. Damn it. She couldn't let this happen to her. Not again.

~ Us? No--I'm not going to make it that easy. Namor you need to fight it.~

The buzz became deafening, and the cold began to take root, stealing every bit of warmth she had left. She felt her body start to convulse and shiver.

It was possible for a mental voice to sound indignant or convey the image of someone gritty their teeth... well. ~Your insight into the obvious is to be commended, Miss Grey. Have you tried moving more than these thoughts? I will give you a minute.~

The Atlantean may have let her wait that minute, but they were soon interrupted by more than the void of their own thoughts. There was movement. Light. The buzzing and whispering had only been growing as they exchanging mental barbs, but just as it reached its crescendo, a beam of stray light parted through the water — they were underwater — to reveal a singular, terrifyingly inhuman eye.

~Excuse m---~ Jean growled, feeling a flash of white hot anger at Namor's remark but was stunned into silence by the sight of the eye. It was as large as they were, if not bigger, and when it set upon them she felt something akin to a vice squeezing her mental walls with a pulse like a heart. Voices shouted, chanting in a language she didn't understand, over and over in a frenzied pitch. Each pulse carried with it a wave of pain that radiated through her body. She could feel something crawling underneath her skin. It was only then she realized she couldn't feel her legs. They had gone numb.

The squeezing became harder and harder, and the chanting became deafening. Jean could feel her walls start to crack, and she desperately unleashed a psionic blast.

~Stay back, monster.~

There came a squeal, and silence. Unnerving silence. For a moment, Jean allowed herself to feel hope.

Then the squid replied to Jean's psionic blast with one of it's own, shattering Jean's walls like glass.

Jean's eyes widened with horror, shame, and disbelief as she felt the darkness sweep in.

~Nononono...NOOO!~

~Correct, Miss Grey.~ Namor's tone was clipped, annoyed. Still, for all of Jean's defiance, Namor was strangely calm. Perhaps it was a regal acceptance of overcoming the oncoming terror. Or perhaps it was... fascination. ~The lady squid is a beautiful marvel. I would suggest apologizing. You wouldn't want to be rude.~

The mental screaming that erupted through Jean's mind cut off abruptly as Jean's body went slack. For awhile, the only sound was the ocean waves until finally there there came a rustling. Jean lifted her head. Her skin had started to take on a greenish-grey pallor.

~You are right. Forgive me. She has showed me the way.. You will see it too....The Lemurean way.~

==

Attuma was confused.

Dryskins only ever aroused one emotion in him - rage. Their bodies were weak, their wills soft and pliable, and they were good for virtually nothing except the sword.

But one of them - the female that his pet had captured, was something...else.

The throne room seemed impossibly large and majestic for place that was under water. It appeared to be made of sea rocks and coral, and fish swam in and out as they pleased.

But Jean was not concerned with these things. No, she was more focused on the fact that the king was staring.

~The airbreathers are coming. I can feel them. They are well trained. We should see them as a threat.~

After a moment, she paused, her black eyes falling upon him.

~Is something the matter?~

If it had been the surface world, Attuma might have been resting his chin on his balled fist while gazing at Jean. ~You are...unexpected,~ he told her. The mindspeech was only part of it, though. ~You take to the water as if you were born to it. How is that possible for an upworlder?~

Jean didn't say anything at first, thoughtful. ~As a mutant....adapting is survival. I learn quickly.~ she said finally.

~I have a purpose here, a people. I can be your righteous hand. The upworlders will discover what happens if they resist.~

Truly, she was magnificent. Something elemental, primal, even the females of his own kind paled next to the power she radiated.

~It will be a pleasure watching you teach them.~