She was right, of course. Vindicator was a Drone and all Drones should understand this one purpose, to serve Mother and lead all roads to Her embrace. Perhaps it should talk to Her instead, but there was a part of the drone that was unwilling to open its insecurities to her, even though it knew she could probably already feel them. It felt like betrayal.

"Yes, thou art right. It is a most grievous cruelty, that they cannot all be ushered into this world as we have, united with the One, loved and protected from thy first moments. I shalt endeavor to do all within mine power to show it the way. Perchance, should Fortune favor me, it may someday discover its destined course hither." It paused and then it gave the smallest of bows, both gratitude through their linked minds, and this gesture as a finality.

"I extend my deepest gratitude to thee, dear sister. Is there aught that the Vindicator may undertake as recompense for lending an ear to such a plight?"

@Alcina

She'd nod one more time. "Yes, we can hope for the best. That they will find their destined seat on their own terms." Alcina would welcome them with open arms, when the time came.

"Of course, sibling," she would respond. But Vindicator's question makes her pause. What do I need? That is something she had not given thought to. Should she have?

Her mind drifts back to the numbing weakness in her bones. She's felt it since reawakening, since she fell in battle against Vargas. Even with time she'd gotten used to ignoring it, but it did not go away.

She was weak.

"...I do not know how you would help me with it. But I need to be stronger. For Mother. For you. For the Hive."

@Vindicator

The Vindicator was quiet for a time, thinking. It could feel Alcina's disappointment in herself, the frustration of weakness and the angel did not think it fair. To the Vindicator, Alcina was a powerhouse, a warbeast, a being of muscle and claws and the fury of Mother and the Hive at her beck and call. But it could understand feeling underwhelmed with oneself. Wishing they could be more - it often felt similar.

It was no soldier or tank, not a fighter or even strong in the slightest. And even its own magical prowess sometimes disappointed it. How could I be useful to Mother? It sympathized with Alcina. It would do what it could to help.

"My sorrows that thou think of thyself in this way, sister. I harbor no thoughts of thy weakness, yet I dost comprehend thy plight. Might I offer mine services as a sparring companion, though perhaps less traditional than Juggernaut or Ace, yet I can show thee...the strength that doth reside within thyself." It reached forward and placed its spindly fingers upon her shoulder again, and this time it was magic that flowed from it to her - the strength of Order, bolstering, strengthening, reminding her that she was never alone. If she thought herself weak, the Hive would be there to hold her up, to pour the strength back into her limbs.

@Alcina

She'd close her jaws in shame, looking aside. Shame for her weakness, shame for the praise. It was all the same. But it was something both of them understood. Vindicator's own doubts were a small and sad comfort, but comfort all the same.

"Maybe... though I would not want to push you too hard, if you could not keep up," Alcina shares her concern. As much as proving her mettle against spellcasters would likely be advantageous, Vindicator was not made for battle. And she wonders if having to go easy on them would make it worthwhile training at all...

But the hand on her shoulder snapped her out of her thoughts. The power, the strength, the unity. It all came rushing through her, like a bucket of cold water. She was here, she was now, and her family was behind her.

"But... yes, we are strong, together. Both of us."

@Vindicator

It heard its reservations, and was mildly ashamed to agree. It was not fit to be a sparring partner. That was not its purpose - it had been made fragile and delicate, so unlike the beasts of war She had made in previous cycles. It was made for connection, not destruction. But it would not leave Alcina to settle this for herself. An idea came to its mind, then. They were stronger together, not against one another.

"Perhaps we shall discover thee a most fitting combatant - two, to test thine strength. I shall remain in thy rear, for we doth possess greater might united, not apart. I shall bestow upon thee the strength of the Hive and Order, that thou mayest achieve victory." It offered this idea, with a mental visual of what it envisioned. Alcina, fighting off two powerful gembound on her own, but glowing with the strength of the One, the Vindicator behind, blessing her with its own magical strength.

@Alcina

The images flow along the Link - Vindicator's power flowing through, the way it just had, as she clashes claws with their countless enemies. The two of them, together, fighting in the name of their Mother.

It was intoxicating.

"Of course. We are stronger united. So we must fight united. I will be at your beck and call, ready. And you know how to call for me," Alcina affirms. "The house of Chaos must fall, because they are divided. We stand, because we are not. This is how we triumph."

@Vindicator (feels like we're getting close to wrapping up?)

Relief flooded the Vindicator's system at her acceptance, and how much she relished in these thoughts. It affirmed in itself this new purpose and goal - find partners to battle, for it and Alcina both to test their strength.

"I shall findeth opponents - a spar, to begin. We shall bringeth strength to thine Hive, and I shall bringeth strength to thee. If I findeth these fighters first, thee will be notified when a fight is prepared. If thou dost find them first, bid me to appear, and I shall." It was already thinking of where to begin looking - Doru may know some. It would probably go to him first to help it connect with others that were friendlier to the Hive's cause. Too easy would it be to come across an ally of the House of Chaos, or one of their wretched Valkhounds. But the Vindicator knew what parts of the cave were safer. Where to avoid. It would be safe.

With its purpose in mind, it again rested its spindly fingers upon the warbeast's shoulder. "Fare thee well, sister. We shall meet anon." Farewell, for now, in place, it turned to drift from the tunnels, more sure of itself then when it had come in, fuller then it had only minutes ago.

Truly, the family would provide.

*exit

@Alcina

She nods, and their thoughts are the same, shared on the Link. Eager, proud, and ready.

"And we will prove ourselves. To each other, to Mother, and to the caves. We will show them the power of unity, of Order," Alcina continues, confident. "Spare or true battle, just say the word, sibling."

As its hand touches her shoulder, despite how cold it physically was, she felt nothing but warmth. The warmth of family and love. "And you as well. Take care."

She'd linger, watching Vindicator leave with its new purpose. And when they disappeared down the tunnel, she would turn, rising to tend to the hive node. Her duties never sleep.

exit Alcina

@Vindicator (for visibility)