Laguna
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World Traveler
Mythstar
Posts: 514
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Player Name: Abigaelle Gauthier
OOC Username: Magnere
Arena Points: 0
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Post by Laguna on Nov 4, 2023 15:37:03 GMT 9
Laguna knew this game well enough that when she found a key, there would be something to unlock with it. No game ever handed out keys, that opened no doors, no locks.
That was just bad game design. Although granted, with this being a fairly realistic apocalyptic city, maybe she shouldn't have put too much faith in it. And yet, she couldn't help but trying the rusted key on every door she came across, at least the ones still standing.
She's had it for a while now, and it was starting to really annoy her. Today she had been planning to actually play with Big Bee , get to know the boss a little bit better, maybe try and catch a few of the invasive species. She was just relaxing at the Drowned Harbor as she waited for him, watching the waves crash against the shore when she noticed something odd.
A small metal rowboat came into view from quite a distance as a particularly high wave lifted it up. Her curiosity was immediately piqued and she swiftly leaped from her perch to check out the small pier it was next to.
It was fairly rusty and old, but the boat was surprisingly in decent condition compared to everything else around here. Still a rusty mess, but better than nothing. It was honestly amazing it was still here, even though it was chained and locked up to the pier...
Her eyes immediately locked onto the very obvious padlock and her lips split into a wide grin.
"Jackpot. I knew they wouldn't give me a key without a lock, hah! Oh, wait till Big Bee sees this." She mumbled to herself. "I wonder where this quest might lead." Out of caution, she suddenly summoned her Cetoddle, the Ice Whale forming in the water with a loud splash.
"Oh, hey!" The Cetoddle flapped its flippers around, looking at everything with big, wide eyes. "Are we uh, going swimming? In these dangerous waters? You know my people moved onto land forever ago!"
"Well, sure, but you can swim, right?"
"I mean, yeah! I can try!" The eager to please Cetoddle grinning widely, splashing some more as it spun in place, being lifted by the waves. "I mostly just float, but I suppose that's good enough! Where are we going, anyways?"
"You know, I'd like to know the same thing. I'm waiting for a friend to show up before we get going."
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Big Bee
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Bandana Guy
Round 2
Posts: 686
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Player Name: Bryan Nautilus
OOC Username: Ladybug
Arena Points: 49
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Post by Big Bee on Nov 6, 2023 10:24:15 GMT 9
"Yo! I got your message!" Big Bee called, as he waded out of the water. He'd spent all day swimming up and down the coast, getting used to the docks and bays and rusted hulks. He hadn't gone out deeper though...thar be dragons. Or Dragon's Den at least! And he didn't want to get sucked into a giant whirlpool. He sluiced the water off his shoulders with several easy movements and approached the nervous Cetoddle.
"Are you scared of swimming, little guy?" he asked. "You look just like a ball, I bet you'll float like a treat!" Big Bee grinned, and sent out Toot his Quaxly. "And this little guy will help you out. He's a great coach and master tactician. Aren't you Toot?"
The little duck was already clambering up Cetoddle. He struggled to find purchase on its spherical body, but once he was stable he whispered words like sweet poison.
"Toot is the one who helped Taka evolve," Big Bee explained. "I'm sure he has all sorts of wonderful sea knowledge. Don't you Toot?" He looked over to see Toot chuckle darkly and keep whispering.
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Laguna
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World Traveler
Mythstar
Posts: 514
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Player Name: Abigaelle Gauthier
OOC Username: Magnere
Arena Points: 0
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Post by Laguna on Nov 7, 2023 11:44:21 GMT 9
Speaking of said friend, he showed up pretty quickly. She turned around with a laugh, twirling the key around her finger for a few seconds, already unlocked the padlock as the chain fell. She felt cool for a second, until the chain and padlock itself got dragged down, falling into the water never to be found again.
Oops?
Bertha the Cetoddle, however, seemed welcome to have a friend with them! "Oh, hey! Hello little friend!" They waved a flipper up to the Quaxly up above, only to suddenly pause and listen to their whispered words. "... Huh. Interesting. But I thought, water inside boats was bad?" More whispering, and Bertha just had an impossibly confused look as they looked up at their trainer. "Uh- I'm not really good at going under the water..."
Laguna meanwhile, just laughed and shook her head, trying not to feel too silly about the whole thing. What in the world was that Quaxly saying? Regardless, she just turned her attention back to her friend and boss. "Well, I admit, I wasn't intending to head out in this boat here on a quest. But when fate smiles upon the lucky, how am I supposed to say no?"
Leaping into the rusty boat, the vessel shifted back and forth, trying to adjust to her weight on the wild waves. She looked around, noticing no oars immediately in sight. It certainly had those little half ring things where you would rest the oars on to paddle, but they were nowhere to be found.
"Hmm, do you see any oars anywhere, Big Bee ? Or at least, something that we could use as oars? I guess we can always have a Pokemon push the boat, but I'd feel a lot safer on these waves with some."
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Big Bee
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Bandana Guy
Round 2
Posts: 686
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Player Name: Bryan Nautilus
OOC Username: Ladybug
Arena Points: 49
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Post by Big Bee on Nov 7, 2023 20:56:04 GMT 9
"Oars, oars," Big Bee whispered, looking around for some in the dark. "Uh, I saw some in an old boat when I was swimming around before, but that was way over there." He pointed over to an rusted shack standing on stilts out in the bay. There was some dilapidated boats moored alongside it, and even more empty ropes trailing in the current. A single candle flickered through a broken window.
"I don't really want to swim back though. Being near it gave me the creeps and no way is it a 'night swim'." He chewed his lip. "Oh! We've got it all wrong. We're in a game! We don't need oars, we just need wood!" Bee spotted a loose plank along the shore. A few minutes later and they'd found a second one. He opened up his UI and selected the crafting tab. A few moments later and he was holding two new oars. "How's that for DIY?"
He climbed into the boat, set the oars into their brackets, and paddled out into the gloomy bay. Instantly he felt a tug on the boat, as if it was being drawn along a set path. Maybe it was game design, maybe it was a current, but something about it felt sinister. Bee stopped paddling and the boat coasted to a stop. Somehow that didn't make him feel better.
He picked up the oars again, and as they skulled further away from shore an eerie light emerged from the darkness.
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Laguna
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World Traveler
Mythstar
Posts: 514
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Player Name: Abigaelle Gauthier
OOC Username: Magnere
Arena Points: 0
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Post by Laguna on Jan 18, 2024 15:02:25 GMT 9
Laguna just sat back, laughing as he suddenly began crafting up a few oars like it was nothing. She really should utilize the crafting more often. It sounded more useful than she probably realized. "Looking good! Let's get going! Bertha?"
"Oh! Yes?" The Cetoddle suddenly turned around, the Quaxly whispering into its ears confusing it intensely. It wasn't going to sink the boat! Even if they could swim, and she knew her trainer could apparently breath underwater, that would be rude!
"Keep your eyes peeled, we're setting sail."
"Aye aye, cap'n!" The Cetoddle pushed its flippers and feet, kicking forwards and keeping up with the old boat.
As BigBee rowed, Laguna kept her own eyes peeled herself. Sitting down at the front, Laguna's hands gripped around her fancy wand, twirling it in preperation. Just in case.
It didn't take long for something to interrupt their journey. The current seemed strong, pulling them somewhere as if by design, until the whole waves just rocked violently, something pulling them drastically off whatever course with visible strain on the boat. Within just seconds, the water began to swirl, twisting and sinking down into a whirlpool out of absolutely nowhere.
But this wasn't natural in the slightest. At the very bottom of the twisting waves laid a large, open blue maw as two massive claw-like limbs reached up above the waves, snapping aggressively.
"What is that!" Cried out her Cetoddle, caught entirely by surprise, their flippers slapping on the waters.
"Doesn't matter!" Laguna immediately cried out, twirling her wand as the seemingly magical tailwind of cold air formed, hoping to push them out of the unnatural whirlpool. "Just attack it! Bertha, Ice Shard!"
"O-on it boss!" The whale was careful of her duck passenger, as it opened its own large jaw. Razor sharp shards of ice fire forth at one of the limbs, hoping to draw attention away from the boat. "H-hey you big, nasty! Fight me!"
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Big Bee
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Bandana Guy
Round 2
Posts: 686
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Player Name: Bryan Nautilus
OOC Username: Ladybug
Arena Points: 49
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Post by Big Bee on Feb 9, 2024 1:38:38 GMT 9
Toot whispered dark secrets into Cetoddle's ear, filling the impressionable young Pokemon's mind with evil thoughts, malicious stratagems, and wicked rumors. An aura of forbidden symbols swirled around the pair, a crawling miasma of truly heinous energies and heavily sullied pathways to powers untouched by the light of heaven.
And all the while the duck just chuckled darkly.
Big Bee rowed hard. He heaved at the oars, trying desperately to keep them at the outer edge of the expanding whirlpool. Sweat and sea spray beaded on his skin, only to be instantly wicked away by his Swimmer powers.
The air turned cold as Bertha shot off a volley of Ice Shards. The blast rocked the boat, and Bee struggled to keep them righted. "Careful! Don't fall in!" he shouted, his words half-swallowed by the thunderous waters beneath them.
The boat rocked, torn between momentum, whirlpool, and the sheer willpower of its oarsman. The ancient metal creaked and complained, and Bee swore as he struggled against the slurp of the creature at the center of the pit.
Bee snuck a quick glance at the beast, but there was only a pair of tiny, grasping arms, and a mouth large enough to swallow them all whole.
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Laguna
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World Traveler
Mythstar
Posts: 514
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Player Name: Abigaelle Gauthier
OOC Username: Magnere
Arena Points: 0
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Post by Laguna on Feb 14, 2024 15:58:19 GMT 9
Laguna had no idea what in the world the symbols that swirled around her Pokemon was, but it was absolutely not the thing that she should stress on the most at the moment. BigBee was rowing hard, and without a set of oars herself, there was only so much she could do.
Slamming through her UI, she quickly purchased a higher tier of moves for her Cetoddle to use as she continued to twirl her wand, hoping the Tailwind would carry them forwards, but all it really seemed to be doing was chilling out her partner with the cold winds. "Trying what I can, don't worry about me! Just keep rowing!"
"Fuck!" She cried out, reaching a hand out of her own as a freezing cold wind formed from her palm at one of the massive arms that reached up, attempting to snap at the boat. She just barely managed to push it back, but not before falling back into the boat onto her back.
"Bertha!" She called out immediately after, scrambling to get up. "Avalanche! Give it something else to bite down on!"
"Heh," Was all the whale replied with at first, its flippers raising up into the air as ice coalesced into a massive chunk in the air. "Oh, really?" It whispered right back to Toot, a grin forming on her face. "You know... I wonder if this thing can choke. What do you think?"
The Cetoddle would slam its flippers down hard as the avalanche of ice slammed down into the bottom of the whirlpool, hoping to disrupt or damage whatever foul beast was causing it all. Just as the massive chunk of ice exploded down below, one of the many clawed arms pulled under the water, only to grip onto the leg of Bertha without a word, and attempt to yank them straight underneath.
"Ahhh! That hurt-" Was all she could get out before being yanked and tugged hard under the water, pulled away from their new duck friend with a violent grapple.
"Bertha!!"
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Big Bee
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Bandana Guy
Round 2
Posts: 686
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Bryan Nautilus
OOC Username: Ladybug
Arena Points: 49
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Post by Big Bee on Jun 5, 2024 12:55:09 GMT 9
Toot's Wormtongue whisperings were cut off as his Théoden was torn away into the depths. Momentarily unseated, he found a new perch on Big Bee's shoulder and began to mutter dark suggestions...
"I'm going in after her," Big Bee said, pulling off his shirt. "I suddenly think it's a really good idea." He didn't have Player powers like Laguna did, but if anyone could navigate the tearing currents of the hungry whirlpool then it was him.
With Toot still on his shoulder he plunged over the side, kicking hard as he rode the whirling currents down the rim of the funnel. His Swimmer subclass made his skin naturally water-repellant, and after a lifetime of swimming in the surf he could feel the difference. The buoyancy was an absolute blessing in such rabid waters, and when he spotted a white figure in the water ahead of him he surged towards it with his powerful strokes. "Hang on Bertha!" he shouted through a mouthful of salt water. "I'm right behind you!"
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Laguna
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World Traveler
Mythstar
Posts: 514
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Player Name: Abigaelle Gauthier
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Post by Laguna on Jul 17, 2024 14:35:07 GMT 9
"You're what?!" Laguna shouted, but it was too late as Big Bee suddenly dived straight into the water and she was left alone on the board. Having to put her trust in them for Bertha's safety, she quickly picked up the oars and began furiously rowing to avoid being sucked straight in.
Deep underwater, the land-whale was tossing back and forth against the claws that reached up from below, attempting to drag them straight in. A hungry vortex that couldn't be satiated.
It was no longer adapted to the water, but whales didn't forget how to hold their breath that easily. It kicked and flailed its limbs, biting down onto the arms that reached up, only to be continued to pull down. Panic filled their eyes, glancing over at the trainer coming to her rescue for just a second. Bertha attempted to shout his name, but only bubbles spilled from her lips.
The claw attempted to wrap around her torso, and Bertha immediately acted on instinct. A loud whale call spilled from their lips, a visible aura of sound, an Echoed Voice, that shook and shuddered the claws long enough it's grasp was loosened.
Panicked and finally free, Bertha furiously kicked her flippers and tail, feet kicking uselessly as they desperately tried to make it towards Big Bee
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Big Bee
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Bandana Guy
Round 2
Posts: 686
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Player Name: Bryan Nautilus
OOC Username: Ladybug
Arena Points: 49
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Post by Big Bee on Jul 17, 2024 15:31:48 GMT 9
Whales, humans, and ducks all float. Put any of them in a pond, or shallow water, and they'll bob right to the surface!
But buoyancy is relative, and nothing really floats in a whirlpool. It all just gets pulled. And with Guzzlord defeated, everything that had been sucked in was suddenly unbound.
The released water of the whirlpool whipped Big Bee around, and he grabbed for Bertha's fin in the wash of white foam and chunky debris. "The worst of it is over!" he shouted, salt foam and spittle splashing from his mouth. "Hold on and we'll be fine!"
The crazed waters pulled him under for a last time, and he emerged into a world of streaking lights. A school of Nihilego were floating past with orbs of water or light hanging like hard spheres from their tentacles.
"Whoa! You seeing this Laguna? Where do you think they're taking it? What do they need light for?"
A group of the UBs at the back of the pack had picked up the unconscious Guzzlord and were pulling it through the water towards the distant shore. "Hey! Give that back!" Bee shouted. He tossed a Golden Pokeball at the slow-moving target and hit is dead on. The UB disappeared inside his Pokeball without a splash.
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C0D13
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Bug Maniac
Administrator
Posts: 2,111
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Player Name: C0D13
OOC Username: Ladybug
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Post by C0D13 on Jul 23, 2024 11:09:03 GMT 9
CAPTURE COMPLETE!Oh lord he guzzlin'!
Guzzlord has been added to Big Bee and Laguna's box!
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Laguna
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World Traveler
Mythstar
Posts: 514
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Player Name: Abigaelle Gauthier
OOC Username: Magnere
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Post by Laguna on Aug 2, 2024 9:28:08 GMT 9
A sigh of relief followed the splashes of water, the slowing whirlpool, Bertha safe and sound. Laguna dropped the oars in the boat, it spinning in place as the Guzzlord floated up to the surface. At least the danger had passed, and they would recover.
The thought briefly crossed her mind that something else would show up to immediately threaten them, but she banished it before she could think it into existence. "Hey! You two alright?"
"Y-yeah! I did it!" Bertha splashed their fins against the choppy waters, immediately nuzzling up against their rescuer. It seemed Big Bee had made a new friend for life for sure.
Laguna sighed happily all over again, grinning ear to ear. It wasn't until she suddenly saw the Nihilego floating past with strange orbs of light that had her jumping straight back up onto her feet. "I do! What... What are they doing with it? Those lights? I'd suggest we follow, but the quest marker is still leading us somewhere. Do you think it has anything to do with their old lore? Like, Necrozma needing light or something? Something I think it's far more complicated than that. Nothing ever is straightforward in this game."
As soon as she witnessed the UB's attempting to drag the one they worked so hard to knock out, Laguna was swift to grab her Pokéball and toss it at the same time. She figured duplicating Pokémon catches was an old glitch, turned "Feature." But it did help prevent people fighting over who got what.
With a twirl of her wand, wind suddenly pushed the boat forwards on the much gentler waters towards others. "Come on, hop back in Bee. I have a feeling stuff isn't quite over yet."
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Big Bee
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Bandana Guy
Round 2
Posts: 686
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Bryan Nautilus
OOC Username: Ladybug
Arena Points: 49
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Post by Big Bee on Aug 2, 2024 9:48:59 GMT 9
Bee treaded water, his brain still spinning from being in the whirlpool. Light winds pushed the boat into him, and he grabbed the edge and pulled himself up.
Toot whispered dark nothings in his ear, but Bee was too confused to listen. Everything just sounded like headache and tinitis. He pulled Toot off his shoulder and tossed him underhand back to Bertha. "Here you go!"
The passing lights of the Nihilego reminded him of a highway, with night travelers heading somewhere unknown. Bee smiled at Laguna's comments. Nothing was ever straightforward in UNOVR. Wasn't that the truth.
"I think it's important to think about where they're going," he said, "and that we'll be following them soon enough."
They set off once again, following the quest markers into the thickening night. The Nihilego faded into the distance until they were as dim as stars, and then they were gone. Big Bee found that his UI wouldn't open. "Huh. Laguna, are you having issues with your UI?" he asked.
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Laguna
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World Traveler
Mythstar
Posts: 514
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Player Name: Abigaelle Gauthier
OOC Username: Magnere
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Post by Laguna on Aug 17, 2024 13:17:20 GMT 9
Laguna had been enjoying the peace of the moment, gazing upon the shipwrecks in reverent awe of the past, when Big Bee mentioned his UI was being weird, and it pulled her out of the moment.
She instinctively attempted to open her own UI, only to frown as it seemingly failed to do so. Now that was certainly odd. "Yeah, it's acting weird. Think we're about to like, float into the equivalent of an important cutscene? Something grand to be revealed that we can't miss?"
"... I don't know what they are talking about. What's a cut scene?" Spoke Bertha, looking up at Toot, the duck likely back floating atop its head. They were swimming far more confidently after conquering that threat earlier.
Quiet whispering filled their ears, only making them look more quizzical. "No, no I don't think it has anything to do with actual cutting. But you know, that would make sense."
Laguna slowly stood up, a soft frown forming on their lips as they attempted to look around. Was it danger? Perhaps a friend? New location? "I don't really-"
Her gaze drifted upwards, and her words died on her lips. She said nothing more, slowly reaching up and pointing her hand towards the sky. Nothing she verbally said could explain the awe she felt looking upon it.
A massive spiral formed in the heavens, stars twinkling overhead almost in succession, as if they themselves were aware of their new shape. A spiral in the heavens, twisting and turning down into on itself before a bright central star shone so brightly.
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Big Bee
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Bandana Guy
Round 2
Posts: 686
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Bryan Nautilus
OOC Username: Ladybug
Arena Points: 49
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Post by Big Bee on Aug 21, 2024 15:24:10 GMT 9
The starry vortex dominated the sky. It was like a giant swirling eye beaming down from above. Or like someone had thrown space and stars into a bucket and put it in a paint mixer. How did that swirl even come about?
Bee stared upwards, neck craned as far back as it could go. "It's stunning..." he breathed. He felt like the constellation was watching him. Like there was a whole galaxy out there slowly draining into a focal point right over their heads.
As he watched, he felt like they were being sucked into the vortex itself. Like their craft was being pulled in wide circled, twisting in the waters.
Bee pulled his gaze away from the stars and looked down.
His mouth went dry.
The whole ocean was tilted beneath them, swirling in a trendous whirlpool to match the stars above.
And they were being drawn into the vortex.
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