voidtreckermods: (train)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] middleofsomewhere2020-05-21 05:22 am

Under the Sea: Conclusion and aftermath

Ritual

The jellyfish is no more and as red team take stock of their injuries, or collapse from exhaustion the lights zip around them, singing their song of joy. They gather around the light that had been inside the jellyfish and now that it has been released it is obvious this light is different. Stronger. They surround it and the song gets even louder as they begin to move towards the plinth.

In the caverns where the purple and orange team are there is a stillness. For those in orange team still in the cavern they can only hope that the instructions they gave out had been followed. Luckily for them they have been, Purple team have done a remarkable job of defeating the crabs and cleaning the temple. The priests gather around the shell on the alter, arms linked together in prayer as they seek to re-sanctify their temple. As their prayer begins they will invite the voidtreckers to join them, though no one is forced into taking part in the ritual. They suggest that they use their strange wrist jewellery to open communication with their friends in Bui.

The monster on the beach is defeated and though the fight is still raging against the crabs, a beacon has been built and lit. The islanders who are not fighting gather around it, linking arms, drawing any voidtreckers who don't object to joining them into the circle.

The song begins hesitantly, almost as if everyone has forgotten the words and only half remembers the tune. The SCA translates, the prayer is simple, a blessing on the land and its people, deliverance from the darkness and hope for the future.

The light from the jellyfish reaches the plinth and is set upon it. The song heightens and the light shoots upwards, blinding in its brilliance.

Through the dark storm clouds a light streams towards the island, most of it towards the beacon on the island though there is a break away light that goes towards the train, where some of orange team have set up a second beacon. It swirls around those on the train roof, singing a song of happiness and bounces back towards the island.

The light reaches the main beacon and hits it with a strength that lights up the whole sky. The light splits more solidly into two and speeds off over the ocean. Light pours into the underground caverns, not caring about the ocean and rock in the way, the light pools into the shells, the caverns glow warmly.

Outside the storm calms, clouds roll back, the sun shines. The sea stills. The wind stops. The sun is rising, a beautiful dawn. Any monsters left scuttle away, vanishing into the ocean, away from Bui.

Those with any powers that they couldn't reach before find them returned in a rush. Those who can sense life find this world teeming with it. A song that dances between every plant and creature.

Some of red may have evacuated to the train but those who stayed to see the ritual through, the world around them seems to melt away and they find themselves back next to the rock pools. Among their number there are some confused looking islanders who intrinsically draw closer to those who helped free the lights.

Orange and Purple

Down underwater there's noise and a babble of voices as the citizens of Bui wake up. There's a shimmering around the city now, like a shield though they can pass through easily. Parents scramble to locate their children and all check on loved ones and friends.

The familiar voice of train announcements is heard through Orange team's SCAs. Orange return to the VoidTrecker Express. Once everyone is on board it flies low over the ocean, skimming the waves.

In the underwater temple the priests finish sealing the ritual and then it is time to begin the return trek. There are no monsters this time and after a few hours, as they emerge onto the first of the sandbanks they will find the VoidTrecker Express is waiting for them.

Red and Blue

The monsters gone, those of the island gather everyone from the rock pools and for a few hours everyone sleeps.

At about noon the islanders begin to stir, begin putting things to rights. Wood is moved from the strategic points to more communal campfires on the beach. Any dead monsters that haven't been gathered for food have been washed out to sea, disappeared into the depths. They begin to prepare food and won't turn away any helpers. Though those who have been fighting are encouraged to rest.

The islanders bring blankets and start to gather. Everyone is exhausted but the children, in the way of children find the energy to play in the sea and the sand.

Beach Day

Early afternoon the train lands on the beach and everyone gets a holographic message to their SCA.

Mission successful. Well done Voidtreckers. Enjoy the rest of your day. You will find suitable clothing in the dressing room. A new recipe has been added to the kitchen information points.

The dressing room is indeed open once more, this time it holds swimsuits of every style, shorts, t shirts, wraps and beach skirts. Sun hats and sunglasses can also be found. It's a bit of a mush mash but they should be able to cobble together something other than their uniform wet suits.

Time to laze around on the beach or for those who still have energy swim or play. A few hours later a ripple across the water brings some of those from Bui and they swim or lounge on rocks to talk.

Food and stories

Food is cooked and shared, the islanders will happily try the voidtreckers' offerings and share their own. As the sun begins to set they gather around the fires. Stories and songs are shared and there's even some dancing for the brave.

Voidtreckers can choose whether to sleep in their own beds or spend one last night on the island before the train flies off into the sunrise and into the void.
shutupnail: (more grumpy than evil.)

[personal profile] shutupnail 2020-05-25 05:08 am (UTC)(link)
"I know," he said rather bluntly. He did go on though. "It's different here. Or maybe I'm just meeting a lot more different kinds of people here."

"That must be frustrating. I wonder why it was brought here," he said, assuming she hadn't requested it from the shop since it seemed pointless without anything to use it on.
pleple: (Drinking out)

[personal profile] pleple 2020-05-26 01:52 am (UTC)(link)
"The variety of life in the broader reality here is staggering." Elves and aliens and... stuff!

"It was simply on my person when I arrived. It would be nice to have the machine it goes with for larger-scale combat..."
shutupnail: (crossed arms.)

[personal profile] shutupnail 2020-05-26 04:55 am (UTC)(link)
"I've met a lot in my day, but there's even more than a single person could imagine out in the multiverse. I've known that for a while but I can remember what it felt like to be newly introduced to the idea. It's still amazing even after it has time to sink in."

He nodded. "Understandable. Is it...one of those large robots?" From the dream.
pleple: (Pacifier)

[personal profile] pleple 2020-05-26 04:57 am (UTC)(link)
"Like... one of those, yes. The one it goes with is a little bit smaller than the... Psycho Gundam there." Short, but with very wide shoulders. "...the reminder would be worth getting over."
shutupnail: (more grumpy than evil.)

[personal profile] shutupnail 2020-05-26 05:14 am (UTC)(link)
"So your specialty is operating one of those." There was a memory of something similar to that somewhere in Piccolo's head but it was vague and hardly worth note. Still, he was aware that giant robots were a thing in his universe so it was something not completely unfamiliar. "A giant robot made for war."
pleple: (i ran out of lyrics)

[personal profile] pleple 2020-05-26 05:22 am (UTC)(link)
Ple two nodded. Quite a bit larger and probably far more destructive than what that Pilaf fellow had available eh?

"They're the centerpiece of warfare in my time. I was... raised to pilot, using my abilities." Especially big scary ones.
shutupnail: (more grumpy than evil.)

[personal profile] shutupnail 2020-05-26 07:34 am (UTC)(link)
Definitely more destructive and sophisticated than anything that silly old 'emperor' had.

Piccolo did think Ple Two young for a war veteran but then he had no right to point that out considering his own history of teaching/forcing the young straight into combat. "Well, you're a good pilot and very intuitive in battle. I'm glad you're on our side." He offered her a small smirk. "Do you enjoy it?"
pleple: (Default)

[personal profile] pleple 2020-05-27 12:38 am (UTC)(link)
Gohan was tiny as hell! At least Ple Two's age was in the doulbe digits.

"I... enjoy succeeding at a task." Enjoying war wasn't a good thing, right?
shutupnail: (smirk.)

[personal profile] shutupnail 2020-05-28 04:55 am (UTC)(link)
"Nothing wrong with that. As long as you know the difference between succeeding at something you're good at, and succeeding at doing something for the wrong reasons." Or something like that. Basically, Piccolo saw no reason not to like being good at something. Just as long as that something didn't hurt others without justification.

After all, Piccolo loved the thrill of the fight. He had a warrior's heart. But he would never want to hurt anyone who didn't also enjoy the battle, or anyone that didn't deserve it for some reason.
pleple: (The street desire)

[personal profile] pleple 2020-05-28 05:04 am (UTC)(link)
Hurting people was her primary talent - but she also had to keep it in perspective. Soldiers could do good by protecting people, right?

"Well... I'm improving my understanding of that constantly, at least."
shutupnail: (more grumpy than evil.)

[personal profile] shutupnail 2020-05-28 05:16 am (UTC)(link)
Right!

"Good. It can be hard to break away from old habits and ingrained reactions, but everyone can change if that's what they want."
pleple: (Skeletons)

[personal profile] pleple 2020-05-28 05:57 am (UTC)(link)
"I've been... raised... to be quite dangerous. So I have to reconcile that with who I would like to be." Violent, and prone to solving problems with it. Heartless and cruel.

Yet even before the Voidtrecker she wasn't entirely that...
shutupnail: (Default)

[personal profile] shutupnail 2020-05-28 07:59 am (UTC)(link)
"I understand that." He told her his story once. The rage and anger in his heart from the moment he was born. The cruelty he took pleasure in.

It's how he knew people could change. And he believed she could, too. That she already had. She seemed kind and caring enough to him for someone who knew only death and bloodshed in her past.
pleple: (Doesn't make side to)

[personal profile] pleple 2020-05-28 06:01 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's good to have someone else who... understands." At least she could use it for the good of people here.