The pod chamber
The pod room is rather crowded, the pods nearly touching in places, so it's a bit of a squeeze to move around, but certainly not impossible.
Attilisk:
Attilisk pulls up his sleeve and then one of his pant legs. "Tattoos are designs and words and pictures added to your skin. They can make you more unique or help remind you of important things." As he seals up the jar, he raises it to not-Q'nur. "This is to examine more later. I want to understand it better. And maybe it will come in handy." He returns the jar to his bag and wanders around the room more, breaking out his sketch book to take down some of the more interesting designs of the chambers, the patterns of the pipes, the facets of the crystals.
"
Words," not-Q'nur says, seemingly thoughtful. "
I am seeking certain answers, and questions. Is there a symbol or tattoo-word for a Seeker? It is the best name for what I am."
Q'nur:
Q'nur looks somewhat confused and looks not-Q'Nur in the eye.
"You owe me nothing my friend. You are your own being and can go and do what you like.
So what are the Brethren? What are forms?"
not-Q'nur, or perhaps Seeker, as he has named himself, gestures to the other pods in the room with an expansive sweep of his arm. "
The Brethren are here. We... find Forms, use them to answer questions. The questions are hard to say. I speak now because I took your Form, but not all of your words match what I can say. A Form is an expression of shape. Yours is an interesting Form."
----
The entry shaft
Eleisai:
The older woman observes their companion with some relief before looking with curiosity as Cube's miniature copy coalesces.
"You seem to have company, friend Cube..."
She stops, and listens attentively as the sounds of distant voices drift into her ears, and exchanges glances with the twins.
"We seem to have company as well..."
She far-steps down to join her companions, and moves toward the mini-Cube curiously with empathic senses extended.
"'Peace be unto you.' Can you understand me?"
She scans the mini-Cube and a nearby portion of the original Cube, comparing them...
The mini-Cube quivers all over for a moment, then produces an echoey small voice, similar to Cube's. "
I understand."
In scanning Cube and mini-Cube, she finds that both are made up of organic matter that seems to be identical.
Cube:
The Cube doesn't really have a trailing end, or much limitation based on friction or joint stress that most creatures have, as such the transition between moving in one direction and reversing that motion to slam full speed into the smaller but likely still threatening Cube happens far more quickly than most creatures would expect it to.
Cube attacks with its usual gusto, slamming into its odd little follower. Instead of crushing it, the mini-Cube seems to lean into Cube, absorbing into its body. Those outside Cube can see the outline of the mini-Cube inside Cube's body.
Cubes inside cubes. A cubeception, if you will.
Cube "hears" a vibration much like its own speech from the enveloped form inside itself.
"Oh my!"