video; @Qubit

[superposition]

[ Though Qubit generally prefers text, he's found that for whatever reason, people seem to think he's more sincere when he uses video. So he goes with that - you only get one first impression. ]

Good morning, Anchor. You may have noticed a grocery store, of all things, has appeared just outside the main airlock... Ah. I'm Qubit, by the way, should have led with that. Anyways, I've taken the liberty of scouting the place out, and I have good news and bad news.

Good news - near as I can tell, the food's still fresh. Bad news - that's more than I can say for the customers. If you do go, don't go alone, and be ready to defend yourself. It turns out the place has a bit of an undead problem.

[ He shrugs, as if to say "because of course it does." ]

On the plus side, the radiation levels are rather lower than I expected. I'd still recommend suiting up if you can, but you should be all right provided you don't - aah!!

[ As he was talking, something whirred in the background, and now a laser bolt hits the wall not a foot from his head. Startled, he drops the comm, but his voice can be heard receding in the background. ]

Son of a bi- [ the feed ends. ]

Comments

[superposition]

[ If nothing else, Qubit doesn't seem too bitter about the whole endangerment thing. Look, he's repeatedly had to work with people who did actively want him dead; a little unwitting endangerment is small potatoes by comparison. ]

I don't know. Could be any number of mechanisms, and with magic involved, your guess is probably better than mine. We'd need further testing to be sure.

[ Which they could get started on now, if he's up to it... ]

[abheirrant]

[Qubit might be nonplussed by this turn of events, but Carlisle is doing his damnedest to not look as utterly horrified as he absolutely is. Though he's the one who was asking, he has a suspicion on just why it is the undead are listening to him, influenced by his very mood. He had the ability to compel the living before, a "gift" from his curse; when agitated, his grasp over it would slip, letting it affect those around him. Why would he not have it now?

His control over his affliction worsened over the years, leading him to seclude himself more and more -- better that than to wrest someone's free will from them by accident. The main difference here is that he was never able to compel the undead before, and certainly not with such relative ease. He used to have to command people verbally, anything passive occurring only in times of peril. Yet even now, his current fears are manifesting in the zombie on the floor, just as it had in all the ones around when he'd been so angry. They turned on Qubit because he was furious, all because of an accusation that was technically true.

But he'd never felt his grasp over his abilities slip. He'd always been able to feel the pull of his own aural influence before. Can he only control the dead now? Are the living also affected? Qubit didn't seem to be, but that doesn't rule out the possibility entirely. This does require further testing, no matter how terrified of his full potential he may be. The Blight Heir managed to bring an entire region to ruin all on his own. Who knows what Carlisle, in full control of himself, could do if he wanted?

He shifts uncomfortably.]

Right. I... I suppose I would prefer knowing the extent of this, um. Effect. Even if I do not yet know the exact cause.

[superposition]

[ HANDWAVED: They do a few further tests and discover that yes, Carlisle can also control the zombies intentionally, "to his absolute chagrin." They take out a few more zombies before calling it a day. ]