middleofsomewhere | Deep Dweller: Start

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Deep Dweller: Start

After the dreams some of the voidtreckers report on day Four of Grasshopper those that have been on the train for a little while will be expecting what comes the next day. Their SCA's glow with the colour of the void and a holographic image will appear.

Preparations and Arrival

As promised the dressing carriage is opened for optional extras. There are flight suits, similar to those they wore into space but without the helmets. There are instead hard hats and some basic climbing gear as well as bags to put supplies in. There are even a few red tents if any of those planning on tackling red's mission want to grab one, they hold six people in two inner compartments and are relatively easy to put up and take down.

They have a few hours of preparation before the announcement comes. Soon approaching system #789327772. Planet Terra. Drop order: Orange, Red, Blue, Purple. Orange to doors. Leaving the void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. A sharp jerk, a judder and the view from the window changes from the void to dark cloudy skies and very red sand.

They land smoothly, and indeed it seems they have landed on train tracks. A few moments later they pull up outside a huge metal and glass building.

Orange Team

Arrival

Jumping down from the train they will find themselves outside large metal gates. Noticable is the spotlights that shine even in the day time, reflecting oddly off the red sand. It is hot and dry outside, a slight breeze sending red dust rolling around their feet.

The gates aren't locked. There is no lock though they will notice devices that are probably security cameras. The doors are glass and inside is light and airy. They enter into a large lobby, a large circular desk in the centre and a glass walled waiting room to the side.

It is empty. No people at all. All the lights are on. Time to explore.

Exploration

Going up two floors and down five the lab is large and full of all manner of interesting things. Scientific equipment, monitoring stations measuring chemical levels in the air, temperature, water levels. Where to even start is a good question. The lights remain on, which might be annoying at night.

Red Team

Arrivals

Red team to doors. The train continues travelling along the train tracks, looking out the windows they will see endless rolling red sand. Factories rising up from the ground, dotted across the landscape. As the train gets close the air outside seems hazier, through the fumes. They may even see in the distance, strange silver floating orbs.

Eventually it pulls up at a station. Just a raised block really, but easy enough for red team to disembark.

The land stretches out around them. Train tracks criss cross the surface but apart from that there don't seem to be any boundaries. No fences, roads or sign posts.

It won't take them long to find the first orbs, strange silvery spheres and seem almost liquid, until they are not.

Night Time

It grows dark quickly after sunset here, which might take them by surprise. Taking them more by surprise however may be the scraping, scuttling noises in the dark. Skittering close. There is no light out here on the surface, they are far away from the research facility that Orange found themselves in.

If anyone manages to catch a glimpse they will see grey, long limmbed creatures. They shy away from light but anyone in the dark is likely to be attacked. They fight with claws and teeth.

When the sun rises they are gone.

Blue Team

Arrival

Blue team to doors. The train continues across the landscape, passing more orbs, just floating there silently. It stops at the entrance of a cave.

The cave slopes downwards into darkness and soon turns into small tunnels. They don't need to go far when they meet the first ground of Gry. A group of young Gry, practising with spears in an wider section of cave.

Despite being very surprised at the sudden visitors no weapons are pointed at the voidtreckers, instead they are met with curiosity. They are soon led further into the tunnels and soon come to the living areas.

The Gry lead simple lives but they are all pretty fascinated to see their visitors and will allow them to look around their home and answer any questions they have.

Night Time

Most of the Gry sleep in a large communal sleeping area and the Voidtreckers are welcome to join them, though the Gry won't be insulted if they choose to seek out a more private area.

If the Voidtreckers awake in fear in the night, after strange dreams they will find they are not alone. Many of the Gry have awoken too and will reassure the Voidtreckers, tell them it is an honour to communicate with The Burrower.

Purple

Arrival

Purple team to doors. The train continues on the tracks and soon enters a tunnel itself. It's a bit of a bumpy trip, this train was clearly not made for warren systems but after some uneasy twists and turns they pull to a stop.

They are at a train station, not that it's easy to see because it is pitch black. But it is clear there are people around, some looking very confused at the very odd train.

Once the last of those going on the mission leave the train it speeds off into the darkness.

The Terran's are large and tower over most of the voidtreckers but they are friendly enough, if a little confused, once it is explained that they are here to help. They will be led over towards the collapsed section of city.

There is a lot of activity. People digging at rubble, others using their sheer size and strength to hold up beams. There is an array of rescue equipment and a group of official-looking Terran's holding large devices that are comparable to a tablet-computer and discussing solutions.

There is plenty to do to help, smaller rubble to clear, injured people to tend to. Worried Terran's to calm and reassure. Those brave enough can volunteer to use their smaller size to help get supplies through to those trapped and those with any scientific know how, great strength or magic can put their skills to good use.

Rest Time

Throughout the day people are rescued and other parts of the tunnels stabilised. There is more work to be done but the Terran's seem to be working in shifts and they will encourage their surprise allies to rest as well. They will offer to host them.

They live in large groups and will happily invite the voidtreckers into their homes. They will be curious about the voidtreckers but will also answer questions. Telling them about the strange storm and the collapse of the tunnels. They are urged to sleep early and the next day it will be back to work.

(OOC: Information is here)

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Someone hadn't been briefed on his plan.

Packaged fusion particles ripped through the air, hammering into an encroaching beast before it could quite reach Reno. Though their actual impact had little effect, the light they carried provided some utility -- and Orisa was capable of putting out an incredible volume before needing to recharge.

"Get to me! I will keep you safe!"

Orisa observed this with more than a little confusion.

"I am not certain how violence is equivalent to scientific analysis."

Nita tilted her head, glancing backwards briefly along the way they'd come.

"It's called the Mason's word. Watch."

With that, she began to speak - quietly and politely - in the Speech to the nearest wall, one hand pressed gently against it.

/Excuse me, I just need a little extra room for my friend here - just for him, you won't have to hold it that long.../

And, obligingly, the rock shifted. Enough so that the urge to hunch over would be lessened, that he couldn't touch the ceiling.

"It should only do that where you walk, and it'll stop when we get all the way down," Nita announced, pulling her hand back. "But... how's it feel?"

"You know the labs that took these in got blown up, right?"

This is somewhere in Reno's third or fourth baton poke, which he's witnessed, and seen the guy not get blown up, so. Good job. Tidus is somewhat concerned, but he can't deny that he's curious as well--and has been eyeing up the bizarre orbs with a want to touch them to, if due to having no other clue what to do with them.

There is some jest to his remark nevertheless as he approaches the area, wearing...! Boring purple shirt and half-leg pants--his standard train gear. And even his purple team hoodie tied around his waist.

Someone didn't bother to dress nicely for the mission.

Wester, for their part, is nervously rolling their wrists and popping and unpopping their polo shirt. This is their very first mission, and honestly, they're terrified. Not because of whatever unknown horrors await out there—they've dealt with plenty of unknown horrors in their lives—but because they're pretty certain everyone on this train hates them now and that hardly seems like a health work environment.

But Wester can't just ignore a scared kid. "Want to know a secret?" they whisper to Alice conspiratorially. "I'm not feeling particularly brave today either."

Mission Prep: Duo had opted for one of the flight suits, just in case anything happened. He didn't want to ruin any of his good clothes, especially not his leather jacket. What he DID wear over the flight suit was his cloak though. The one from the aborted mission. Dark brown, hooded and long enough to reach his ankles.

He'd braided his hair and tucked it under the cloak, but fly-away strands hung in his face as he bent to packing rope into a pack he'd grabbed. There was also a travel mug shoved deep into the pack.

Duo looked... exhausted. His movements slow. Pale and with bags under his eyes.

But if someone catches his eye or speaks to him, he'll answer with a ready smile or laughter.

Arrival 1 - Stepping off of the train into darkness was unplesent. Duo sighed, rubbed at his eyes and then lowered his hand to te floor and activated his flashlight to allow him to see what the hell was lurking in the darkness.

"... I've seen this movie. Light is my friend." He muttered to himself.

2 - While he wasn't one of the people who approached the natives to find out what was up, Duo did his best to get involved.

Being slim and experienced, he somehow ended up being one of the people to wriggle through the rubble to take supplies to those trapped.

He sat, legs crossed, covered in dust, his face streaked with dirt and drinking something he really, really hoped was water that one of the natives had given him once he'd returned from one of his supply runs.

Rest Time: Duo... didn't sleep.

He was offered a bed, a place in one of the homes of the Terrans. They were nice enough, even if they were tall as hell.

As politely as he could, Duo had to say no.

Instead he sat outside of one of the houses, he'd at least agreed to a few blankets he'd sat himself down on. And he leaned against the wall, sipping from his travel mug.

One good reason, perhaps, was that the work he did helped those who could heal. Such as Dread. Though the Roegadyn looked like he ought to be using his size to haul and lift, healers were in even more precious supply. So he did what was most needed.

As Gerome hauled aside a large chunk of building, Dread spotted a figure within. Lifting his star globe, he channeled aether through it as the cards spun around it, then threw a healing spell onto the fallen person.

-Arrival, OTA-

Samata paced nervously as the train grew close to their destination. She didn't like being expected to stick her neck out for these strange worlds she had never known, but she also didn't like leaving people to suffer when she could do something. And there was usually trouble wherever the train stopped.

She bit her nails while staring out the window into the void. She had a full set of spells prepared, a backpack full of whatever she could get her hands on that seemed like it might be useful, and one of the flight suits on. (A red one, although she wasn't planning to go with the red team. Red team always seemed to run into things that wanted to kill them, and she knew her talents did not lie in that situation.). Any minute now, the count down was going to begin, and then she would have things to do, to keep her mind occupied. But for the moment, there was nothing to do but wait. What would this world be like? Full of steel and space? A beautiful tropical island? A rural city?

Help a girl out with her nerves?

-Landing, Orange-

Boots on the ground. Samata hopped off the train and took a moment to look around. Sand and dust everywhere, smog overhead, no forests or cities or bodies of water in sight. Just this one facility in front of them.

"...What a dismal world. I can see we're in for a treat."

But she shouldered her pack and set off towards the front gates. Curiosity drew her on.

Oh, hold on.

[Dread puts away his stat globe, the cards spinning around it flying into their individual slots on the holster at his side, then lifts his fists. The runes on the back flare to life, energy curling around and into Dread as he concentrates on opening his chakras.]

[Then he uppercuts the holy hell out of the rubble, with raw aether burning life fire around his fist. In the wake of the drifting dust and crumbling pieces, he takes a step back so Della can get her leg.]

"Bunnies, yes. Or maybe a nice cafe by a library."

Samata deals with pre mission jitters by being extra ridiculous. "Maybe some musicians on hand to keep us entertained."

A little warning could have helped. The suddenness of the spell was almost enough for Gerome to drop the chunk back on the person, but he at least had the presence of mind to twist himself and toss the heavy slap of stone and mortar away.

Then he stepped to the side, removing some of the smaller rocks and allowing the other male, the one who had spooked him with the spell, deal with the fallen Terran. Gerome... was not exactly a people person. He had no idea how to handle it other than to demand they get up and out of the way now they'd been healed. And even he knew that would have been rude to say...

[The common area is filled with Gry, some asleep, some awake and talking in whispers, some going about nightly tasks around the edges of the main sleeping area. The Gry Kaseri trots over to is clearly in the ending throes of her own dream, antennae twitching back and forth.

As the Ponyta reaches her, she sits bolt upright with a click of alarm.]

"Thankfully, most of our time should be in the laboratory." The voice chiming in seems to be coming from an extremely tiny child - Haibara('s body) is 7 and looks it. She's clad in a blue hoodie - she wasn't going to be caught dead (or alive) in one of those flight suits.

"This really doesn't look like Earth, though. I guess everybody was telling the truth about going to different worlds, huh."

He did seem a bit on the skinny side, but she had learned not to judge from appearances. She smiled, taking the leg - dusting it off - and then popping it back on her stump.

"Kind of! 'I've led an interesting life' is the short answer." She moved the leg around, making sure it still functioned. "Thanks for the assist.

"They sure were!"

And then, regrettably, Samata reacted in the way that Haibara probably gets a lot. She leaned over with her hands on her knees and spoke in the kind of condescending voice one uses for small children. "Are you going to be okay out here on your own, sweetie?"

Haibara is used to it. But more importantly, it means that the ruse is working. As long as people around her are convinced she's a normal child, she'll be safe from the suspicions of the organization out for her life.

"I'll be fine," she answers matter-of-factly. Then she kind of gestures back with her head to where people are probably still disembarking from the train. "Besides, I have a chaperone."

Masumi Sera had apparently volunteered to keep an eye on her. Not that Haibara needed it, of course.

"If we're going to those extremes, a nice spread of food and cold beer on tap. Sounds like perfection to me." Gladio chuckled. Maybe Samata was being ridiculous, it didn't bother Gladio none, he was happy to play along.

He would love a world with cold beer for the taking, that wasn't flavoured with ginger.

"Beer or wine. Or fancy coffee in tiny cups and rich pastries. Sunny weather, while we're at it, with a light breeze."

A small sigh. "It'd be nice."

Preparation

The last mission had not been terrible, all things considered and though Taiki would never be happy about being in a situation where there might be violence or bloodshed, he was feeling a little more confident this time round.

Only slightly. He and Lord Gyousou had read through the mission brief earlier and after a little discussion, Lord Gyousou had figured they could go with red team this time. Investigating orbs. He looked at the things in the luggage room, picking up a harness and some rope. Even if they weren't going underground it might be a good thing to have.

He can also be found in the greenhouse kneeling next to a plant. The kouji had grown enough now that there were a number of seeds. He packed one, it might come in handy. After all last time they had had to light a beacon, it would have been useful then.

A shock: Disembarking

The world was strange, not like anywhere he had ever seen and the heat hit him when the doors opened. At Lord Gyousou's nod he stepped off the train onto the platform, he looked around, taking in his surroundings.

When all of a sudden his heart plunged into darkness. The light of the ouki vanished. One moment it was there, Lord Gyousou had been right behind him and a moment later it was gone. He was alone, the train doors were closing, the train was leaving and he sunk to the ground where he had been stood, for a moment just staring at nothing.

Orb poking

He follows the others numbly. He engages in conversation if spoken to but for the most part walks silently, head down.

His interest is piqued when they come to the first orb.

He looks at it with a slightly tilted head, wondering if it is safe to touch.

Night Time

He sticks near those he knows as they begin to settle for the evening. He isn't expecting the sun to set so quickly. He definitely isn't expecting the monsters.

Eyes wide he stumbles in the darkness, fear and horror gripping him as fighting starts around him.

"Alright, just making sure." When had they gotten such a tiny child? Must have been in the last batch. She couldn't keep track of EVERYONE on this damn train.

"I'm Samata, what's your name?"

Samata had just stubbed her toe on a door and let out a small curse. The boots made it not terribly painful, but it had still made a noise.

She shot Kaiba a glare. "Why? We're the only living things here, and I don't think ghosts care how much noise we make."

Kaiba grumbled as he turned back to his notes, shaking his head.

"We don't know that. There could still be something lurking in here---maybe not a living being, but laboratories are often full of dangerous surprises."

"Taiki?"

Tidus's voice is faint, if it wouldn't already be for the state that Taiki's found himself in. He's farther along outside, idly taking in his surroundings, but waiting to see familiar faces too. One of those being Taiki, though Tidus doesn't catch him falling.

Only once he's crumbled in on himself, head hanging low.

Tidus jogs on over almost immediately, the fiddling he had been doing with his purple hoodie (did he want to keep it on in this weather? probably not) discarded to see to his friend. Calling out his approach before he's by his side, "Hey, Taiki! Did you trip? Need a hand?"

And he'll offer out a hand even, once he's there. There's no shame in tripping!

"I can't deny it's fairly creepy. It looks like everyone just got up an left in the middle of what they were doing..."

While he was working at taking notes, Samata was using a borrowed kitchen knife to carve sigils on the floor. Remote eyes she could use to look around later, if she needed to.

[ Tidus catches sight of Della sometime after the mission announcement, during the buzz of it all. Face lighting up and a grin spreading across his face as he goes over to her. ]

Mission tiiiiime!

[ YOU READY DELLA? ]

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Page 5 of 108

Deep Dweller: Start

Night

Orbs

/just tags

ii orb

Departure

Duo Maxwell | Purple Team - OTA

Arrival 2

Samata Mahto | Going with orange this time

Purple Mission

Mission prep

no subject

someone ordered a lil gry!

Orange Landing

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Taiki | Red

no subject

exploration.

no subject

disembarking

no subject

wildcard;