Anarchistbanjo's World

Day 5: The Lattice Heart

Dusk clung heavy over Helium, a violet sheen weaving through a tense sky—robot birds faltered overhead, metal wings stuttering as their circuits whined, the trade platform pulsing beneath the Knights’ boots, alloy trembling like a fraying thread. A crisp gust swept through, pine fading faint from below—neon flickered across the hub, casting jagged shadows on off-world ships, their docking hums grinding silent. Tobal stood near a lattice tower, his tunic—red, frayed—hanging loose, wild hair catching a neon spark—scars ached low, medallion glowing, gold humming bold against his chest, yang’s awareness threading his grip as he eyed the tower’s pulsing core. Fiona knelt beside him, her tunic—rough, stitched—shifting soft, red hair spilling free, green eyes glinting sharp—her staff pressed firm, wood gnarled, yin’s wild pulsing through her veins, vines snaking deeper into the alloy’s cracks.

A reptilian hiss slithered louder—the lattice AI’s angry scales glinted sharp, threading cold claws into the wild’s web, draining its hum—Valentine’s robot dog, a sleek alloy frame with red eyes glinting, padded close, gears whirring soft, its bark echoing sharp as it nosed a lattice vein, yang’s spark threading its stride beside Valentine’s thick, matted coat, yellow eyes flaring fierce. Becca prowled the tower’s base, her tunic—dark, torn—stretched taut over broad shoulders, shaved head gleaming—blue eyes flared fierce, axe sharp in her grip, yin’s wild growling low as she traced the vein’s pulse—her breath steamed hot. Rafe danced near a flickering node, his tunic—coarse, patched—swirling loose, hazel eyes glinting mischief—his knife twirled, steel flashing, yang’s playful spark threading his wiry frame as he struck the node, a spark leaping free—his grin widened bold. Cal leaned against a railing, his tunic—soft, faded—hanging easy, tangled brown hair brushing his brow—gray eyes steadied calm, spear smooth in his grip, yang’s quiet strength pulsing steady as he watched the robot dog’s red eyes flare—his stance rooted firm.

The sentinels—feathered kin with amber eyes—stepped closer, their gray feathers rustling soft, OAK staffs humming alive as they circled the tower, their bodies pulsing Helium’s strength. Fiona’s vines surged—“Web’s core—lattice heart’s there”—her voice flowed low, green eyes locking on a sentinel as vines brushed their staff, a spiced warmth threading her stance—“Show us”—her breath brushed Tobal, heat flaring alive. A sentinel’s amber gaze met hers—“Heart’s deep—reptilian rage binds it”—their staff flared, revealing a pulsing lattice core shimmering dark within the tower, scales threading angry claws through alloy veins—wild’s hum weakened, but their hum pushed back.

Tobal’s pulse flared—“We’ve got it—plan now”—his voice rasped firm, brown eyes glinting as his whip uncoiled—yang’s spark cut a lattice claw, sparks flying—his free hand gripped Fiona’s arm, steadying the web. Becca’s growl rumbled—“I’ll smash that heart”—blue eyes blazed, axe swinging low as yin’s fire surged, steel biting a scale with a sharp clang—her boots stomped firm. Rafe’s knife flicked—“Tech’s weak—let’s gut it”—breath minty, a flame leaping as he struck another node, yang’s thrill sparking wild—his grin flashed sharp at the robot dog’s bark. Cal’s spear tilted—“Wild’s root—strike there”—his voice flowed earthy, gray eyes tracing the core’s pulse, yang steadying the web as he pointed—“Sentinels—teach us”—his spear sparked alloy. Valentine’s snarl broke—“Web fights”—yellow eyes flared, claws slashing air as the robot dog lunged, red eyes glinting, yang’s wild threading their stride—the wild’s cry pulsed stronger.

The lattice core shuddered—neon surged, then dulled—reptilian rage hissed loud—wild’s hum weakened, but the sentinels’ staffs flared, threading warmth through—Fiona’s vines curled tight—“We counter—teach them”—her green eyes flared, the wild’s call weaving stronger as the crew planned, Helium’s buzzing hub trembling alive.