Naia reeled at the implications of her own thought. Could the swirling vortex of chaos really be such a catalyst? One that had torn universes apart and caused them to be stitched them together at a Confluence? She glanced at Theia, wondering if the blonde had any idea. Her strange appreciation for the object grew more concerning to the Navigator.
"Can you interact with it? Maybe stabilize it for transport?"
Theia stepped forward again before Naia could answer the tactician. Her eyes were still fixed on the vortex. The woman's voice took an oddly formal tone that Naia hadn't heard her use yet.
"I don't think stabilizing is the solution here. This artifact… it was meant to mimic chaos with that pattern. Trying to force order onto it - a different order than it uses - might just destroy it."
The other pair with powers exchanged a glance. Both were surprised by Theia's sudden insight. What she explained was as good an explanation as either could divine with such limited data.
"Then how do we contain it for transport?"
Evander asked, a note of frustration creeping into his voice. Theia's lips curved into a smile that was equal parts excitement and determination. Then she said something that sounded insane.
"We don't contain it. We dance around to its beat."
The woman raised her hands, chaos energy crackling orange between her fingers. Naia felt a sudden surge of panic and reached out for Theia's arm.
"Wait! We don't know what will happen if you interact with it directly."
Theia paused the buildup of power as her eyes met the pair that looked like hers only from a bit of distance. Up close, it was obvious that some of the flecks of seafoam coloration were much more… orderly. In that moment of shared gazes something passed between them - a tacit understanding of the danger… or perhaps merely a mutual recognition of the other's abilities.
'Both of us could be right.'
The blonde woman lowered her arm completely. Evander took the opportunity and stepped between them, his ability clearly working at maximum output based on the glow shining on his glasses.
"We need a more coordinated approach. Naia, can you use your harmonizing abilities to create a... spatial buffer of sorts? Like the shells around a Dead Zone. Something to mediate between Theia's chaos and the artifact's energy?"
Naia nodded slowly, already working on the problem. Artificial ways of producing more safe zones like that which grew at the Confluence were a popular topic among the more scholarly of Navigators. She had read some of the papers they wrote herself… when there was nothing better to do.
"I think so. But it'll take intense concentration and I'm not sure how long I can maintain it."
"That's where I'll come in. I'll monitor the energy fluctuation and direct both of you. Be receptive. I won't have time to repeat myself if we're to pull this off."
As they prepared to attempt this dangerous and unproven maneuver, Naia marveled at how easily they had fallen into sync. Despite the tensions and uncertainties between them - at this moment they were a team. Vanguard Operations wasn't usually in the habit of putting people together that wouldn't fit.
Theia caught her looking around and gave her a small nod.
"Ready when you are, Navigator."
Naia inhaled deeply, raised her harmonic staff, and began to hum. When the cerulean energy flowed from her and created a shimmering field localized around the artifact, she felt Theia's chaos abilities begin to intertwine with her own. It was an odd sensation… like somehow feeling water and oil that was on fire start mixing together.
The tactician's voice became a steady stream of instructions, helping to guide their effort with preternatural precision.
"Naia, increase that harmonization in the upper quadrant by 11%. Theia, pulse a ripple of chaos in exactly three-second intervals, starting... now."
He tapped her shoulder to signal each, adjusting for her reaction speed. The artifact began to respond. The vortex of energies actually seemed to dance with their combined efforts. It spun as though sometimes resisting, sometimes yielding.
Naia felt sweat beading on her forehead, the strain of maintaining such delicate control taking its toll. It would be hard enough managing her own harmony, but mixed with a 'welcome' amount of chaos tired her further and further. Just when she thought she couldn't hold on any longer, something shifted.
The outer layer of the artifact's energies suddenly aligned with their efforts. With a flash that momentarily blinded everyone watching, it collapsed back into a small, crystalline object that fell into Theia's cupped hands… and looked unsurprisingly a lot like the 'infection' growing everywhere.
Except for the distant and constant rumble, only the sound of exhausted breathing could be heard nearby. At least until Theia let out a breathless laugh.
"Well, that *was* certainly my kind of party. It even had interesting music."
The tension in the room slowly dissipated and Naia found herself smiling despite her exhaustion. They had done it - together this time. But as she watched Evander carefully take the artifact from Theia while securing it in a specialized container… she couldn't shake a nagging feeling.
What had they really accomplished here? Perhaps more importantly, what consequences would their actions have for the delicate balance between the two universes already at war? The mission had become far more complicated than any of them had anticipated and she just couldn't shake the feeling that this artifact would change everything some day.
As the squad prepared to leave the building that would very soon grow unstable and fall into the encroaching Dead Zone, Naia's earlier question echoed in her mind: Was this thing actually an apocalyptic catalyst? If so, what did it mean that they now held it in their possession - what could it be used for and why?
The blonde woman who just joined up with them bumped their shoulders together and smirked provocatively before walking away. The probable attempt at being friendly barely broke the one with black hair out of her thoughts.
'Did Vanguard Operations even know what we had been sent after?