Martyrdom

[HansTheHuman]

The beckoning claw flipped its middle finger to Luke and slinked back into the contacts folder with a limp to express disappointment. The General has to save Luke's trial for another time, and it was going to be so much fun. There were even prizes on offer.
The pen-drive folder opened. Two files were present. One was a document of the cataloged runes, its thumbnail image was too small to make out the rune and their effects so it would have to be opened for a better view. The second file was a video compilation of the footage of the first encounter with the Martyrians, the thumbnail was blackened aside from a white play button icon and was bordered with a film reel pattern.

[lukuz13]

-Luke turned his hand to the claw, confused.
"That was...odd, must have been a trick of the light..." He murmured to himself, before tapping his finger on the rune image, curiously.
"A strange hand from the screen and you do not grasp it? Truly where has your curiosity gone..."[/i] Netreya sighed from the corner.
"You think I should have grabbed it? Daring to say the least..." Luke laughed under his breath.

[HansTheHuman]

The document containing the table of runes opened with Luke's double tap on the screen. The table was split into two columns, a column containing images of the runes and the second column listed their respective effects. Looking through the table, it listed:
-A rune depicting a spiraling vortex of smoke. - Marks an individual that can wield The Smog. Can be woven into clothing the user can wear. Also acts as a beacon that can tap into The Smog.
-A brain surrounded by smoke. - The mind rune. Transports thoughts to and from a host that is within a 1.53 metre radius from the centre of the rune, this is consistent no matter how big the actual rune is made to be. Can be used for telepathy and mind control.
-Several strings arranged vertically in an oval, imitating muscle fibres. - The strength rune. Increases the physical strength of the host's muscle it is painted over. For every line painted on the rune, the muscle can exert an extra 1020 newtons of force.
-A clockwise spiral that loops two and a half times where it finishes and connect to a line that is drawn through the centre of the spiral. - The energy beacon rune. Adding an extra detail at the end of the line determines what kind of energy is transported. A flame for thermal, a swirl for kinetic, a lightning bolt for electrical, a circle for gravitational potential, five lines that meet in the middle for light. A naked energy beacon rune will emit energy in all directions, this can be controlled with wiring, tubes, etc. If the spiral is drawn counter-clockwise then energy is absorbed. The amount of energy emitted or absorbed is 7150 joules for every repeat of the spiral.
The document ended there. The general impression of the runes is that their effects are constant and while there are few in terms of variety their possibilities are vast depending on the method of application. The runes also seem to have been created to utilise The Smog with the absence of a user, or to apply The Smog's powers on organic hosts without the harmful effect it has on living matter such as with the mind and strength rune.

[lukuz13]

-Luke read the descriptions curiously, with intrigue "Huh...impressive.. I wonder if they have any sort of limitation..." Luke scratched his chin quietly as he read before nodding "Alright... lets ee that video the..." He whispered, moving the document out of the way and tapping the play button to watch it.

[ValenMedia]

Xalem became bewildered at the abruptness of being pulled out. As he was being yanked across the unfamiliar territory that is the hub, his disorientation only grew. With the fear of getting straying in the back of his mind, Xalem let himself be tugged along by Roo awaiting to arrive at their destination, the lab.

[HansTheHuman]

The video file loaded and Luke witnessed his first look at his enemy, the Martyrians. The footage depicted scrawny figures that were slightly shorter than a man constructing the tower that would wipe all life off of a planet. The view that the footage was taken was from above at an angle, allowing a clear view of the Martyrians' diversity. While of the same species, many colours could be seen along with varieties of clothing denoting class and culture. It would seem that the Martyrians' ultimate goal has brought together all their kind to play a part.
The video switched to another perspective that inspected more closely on the Martyrians' activity, specifically the ones working on the construction of the tower itself. This new point of view revealed a better look at their appearance. They had smooth heads with pointed muzzles. Huge oval eyes of a single shade of colour. Two tiny holes sat as nostrils on the end of the muzzle above the mouth. Two long thin antennae-like stalks protruded from the back of their heads with an egg-shaped scoop at the end, presumably the ear. The torso had a slim waist with wider shoulders and hips with a crested thorax. The arms and legs were slender ending with bony hands and stubby feet. The hands had four short digits including an opposable thumb, the hand and digits appeared like the talons of a bird. The details of the feet couldn't be seen as the filmed Martyrians all wore footwear, but they seemed to stand on a pair of some kind of trotter. A thread-like tail followed the extension of the spine. The whole body seemed to be covered in a very short fur that feathered in tufts at the end of the ears and tail. The Martyrians that were being observed working on the tower wore only pants that connected with their boots and a mask that was attached to the bottom of their muzzles which produced breathable air. An energy rune that radiated heat was painted on their abdomens to fight the cold environment of the Hub, and strength runes on their arms and legs and back allowed them to lift the heavy tower blocks with ease. For all their destructive intentions, the Martyrians appeared as very innocent creatures, adorable even.
The camera changed again, focusing on a single Martyrian dressed from the top down in a humble white hooded robe. From inside the hood glowed a mind rune between two baby blue eyes. This Martyrians was attempting to preach to the machine filming the footage with the mind rune. It was a few seconds silence, and the machine got the message. Failing to indoctrinate the machine, the Martyrian was engulfed in The Smog. Several more machines burst from the ground and sent The Smog after the other Martyrians working on the tower. They didn't even run, but just accepted their fate while Martyrians who wielded their own supply of The Smog vanished back to where they came. The video screen was filled only with a black fog for some minutes before The Smog was dispersed. The machines went to retreat back to their tasks, but stopped. Their metal spherical chassis hit the floor and the footage faded to grey.

---әɹәႡ ʇႡƃ!ɹ ʇ,u!ɐ ƃu!Ⴁʇәɯos---

Roo and Xalem entered the lab, its entire space was filled with a mist. Paper targets were set up like a fairground shooting gallery, various detectors hung from arms attached to the ceiling, and a microwave meal sat on a table in the middle of the room.
"Okay! I hear you control photons. Can you give me a demonstration? Dim the lights for me please." The little machine said, stepping back to observe.

[lukuz13]

-Luke simply watched in awe, watching the beings work whatever strange mechanics where at work, and simply stayed in thought as the video ended.
"Not the most frightening things, are they?" Luke chuckled finally, to Netreya who simply sighed.
"Looks can be deceiving, as I am sure you are aware."[/i]
"I am well aware...well I suppose that was all I needed to know the, wouldn't you say?" He asked the griffin at his side, who nodded along with him. "I suppose we wait for a message from Roo for our decision now? Might use the time to rest some...maybe take Chops on that offer if I have time." Luke toyed with the idea, sitting at the edge of his bed in thought.

[ValenMedia]

Xalem stood still for a moment, the lights gradually shifting through to a darker gradient. Once the lights luminosity became static, he turned to Roo. ?How was that?? he inquired, wondering what remarks he might have regarding his demonstration.

[duskskully]

Kyle was done listening to the jukebox. So, after a while he decided to go to his room and relax. He then said to himself,"I wonder what's all on this T.V. that is any good worth to watch?" As Kyle flipped through looking for something he couldn't find anything good at the moment.

[HansTheHuman]

Roo observed the phenomenon in silence. The room became darker with only the blue hue of Roo's eyes piercing the darkness. Inside the little robot's grand mind were the reports of the light sensors being received, telling of a fall in the intensity of visible light photons in the lab.
"Thank you, mister. Now if you could let the light come back, we can begin the real science..." Roo remarked, his interface projecting a grin.

---another line breaker---

The reason Kyle hadn't found any satisfactory entertainment could probably be held accountable to the fact he hadn't navigated past the main menu. That was to change. For an entity of lethal ambition had a plan for the poor boy of Kyle. It's twisted finger crept from an icon titled "Contacts", and beckoned the child, unsuspecting of what was in store.

[duskskully]

Kyle then decided to click on the "contacts" button and as he did he thought,"What harm could come from this?" Once Kyle clicked that button the whole screen went black.

[HansTheHuman]

The blackness spewed from the television set, hitting the floor. It spread to Kyle's feet and crawled up his legs. It immobilised him as it began to swallow all of Kyle's body. The black covered his eyes and a sudden rushing sensation swept through him. It felt as if he was flying at a great speed in a straight line within pure void. Kyle could see lights ahead of all colours, hanging remotely in the void. Upon further approach, the lights were that of an amusement park. Carnival music emitted from the park, festive, yet with an ominous and mysterious tone. Kyle was headed for the entrance, a great yellow and red striped arch with a cobblestone path winding from it and reaching out into the void. Kyle was dumped at the end of the path, leaving a good few minutes walk from the entrance. The path was lined with twisted wrought iron lamps on both sides. A sudden voice, of a low dark pitch that could rattle all heads that heard it, boomed.
"Welcome! Kyle Von Brooks! Good times await you! Just follow the path up to arch and the fun can begin!"

[duskskully]

Kyle then started to walk down and path; as he did, he thought to his self,"This is some weird ass shit here but, I like this place a lot." Kyle decided to keep walking up until he reached the gate and stopped.

[HansTheHuman]

After a few minutes, and most of Kyle's stamina, drained from this plane Kyle arrived at the arch gate. The arch was striped in yellow and red in a spiral pattern. The wrought iron gates were already wide open, almost as if welcoming Kyle with an embrace. There were no ticket booths so admission can be safely assumed to be gratis. Beyond the gate before Kyle stood a clown holding a single red balloon. Looking upon the clown simply increased the ominous factor of this strange carnival. Its head was a swollen sphere, it bared an ear-to-ear grin full of long jagged teeth and was covered in white make-up with red around its mouth and blue around its pointed eyes. Two large plumes of green hair sprouted from the clown's head that twisted into one big curl. The clown wore a typical clown outfit, bright yellow jumpsuit with a large frill around its neck and bright red oversized shoes. The clown looked to Kyle, its eyes piercing into his. Kyle was only broken out of the stare by the booming voice from before.
"Kyle! You are gonna play a little game! You like games? Of course you do! Win my little game and you get a prize! Excited? You should be! Approach my friendly clown there and take that lovely red balloon. Go on, don't be afraid, he's just a clown! Mwahahahaha!" The voice faded with that laughter, and the clown held out the balloon to Kyle.

[duskskully]

Kyle garbed the balloon and said,"Well, I hope this "game" of yours is fun, also let the games begin!" Kyle then a waited for what ever was suppose to happen, happen.