Deep Dweller: Start

[voidtreckermods]

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)

Comments

Gladiolus Amicitia | Blue Team - OTA

[callmegladio]

Mission Prep: Gladio was eyeing the tents. He kind of wanted to grab one. Yes, he knew that they would just have to be given back at the end of the mission, but...

He'd already stuffed himself into one of the flight suits, despite the bad memories that conjured. He had a bag stuffed full of anything and everything he could get his hands on, just in case...

"Space, the ocean, underground..." He sighed as he zipped up his bag. "I'd kill for a nice, lush planet with... bunnies or something." Nothing threatening. Just bunnies.


Arrival: He was waiting at the door, leaning against the wall beside it, his pack on his shoulder, waiting for the train to stop. Once it did he hopped out and winced and lifted a hand to cover his eyes as he peered up at the sky.

"Right..." Of course it would be a near dead world. He sighed and headed toward the cave entrance... only to find the caves not exactly built with him in mind. He had to bend a little to fit, canting his head to the side. He was going to ache once this was all over.


Night time: Come nightfall, while most everyone else sleeps, Gladio would remain awake.

He would doze, of course, but that first night would see him awake for most of it, keeping his eyes open for anything suspicious. And, should anyone wake, he would be there to reassure them with gentle words and reassurances that everything is alright.

Gladio is on guard.

Night Time

[sizedoesntmatter]

Yugi figured he might as well at least try and help out a little more and one of the things he decided to do was stay awake as best as he can at night.

So guard duty it is. As he walked he quietly looked around for any signs of familiar faces that maybe he could stick with for a time and soon that looking worked.

"hey, I guess you are doing the whole staying awake thing then?"

[callmegladio]

"Just doing my job." Gladio answered with a chuckle. Shield had to Shield.

He glanced back the way Yugi had come and then smiled at the younger man. "How's everyone looking back there?"

[sizedoesntmatter]

"So far... Okay, I think. Some appeared to be okay sleeping." Yugi himself not so much. It was just strange in its own way.

"Though you really should sleep at some point."

Prep

[adropofsunlight]

"Oh, bunnies. I'd love to see a world that is full of bunnies." Not that a world like that would need help maybe, but it would be a pretty neat thing to see.

Rapunzel was pretty much ready to go at this moment in time.

[callmegladio]

Gladio laughed, he'd not realised anyone was listening to his idle rambling.

"A world of bunnies would be something to see." He flashed her a smile. "You're all set for this one?"

[adropofsunlight]

"About as ready as I'll ever be." she said giving him the thumbs up before gesturing to the fact she had some of the items that she figured the train gave for a reason along with a frying pan she keeps taking from the kitchen for missions... because hey if it can knock out a guy, it can do other things.

"Unless there is anything I am forgetting."

Arrival

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita managed not to look too out of place with her outfit coloration - if she needed to, she could just cloak it with a spell later - but was looking after Gladio's condition with some concern.

"Want me to have a word with the rock, make more room?" she asked.

"... Or just focus on healing the muscle soreness once we stop?"

Though, they said an ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure, or something to that effect.

[callmegladio]

"A word with the rock...? You can talk to the rocks?" Did he know that? Gladio was pretty sure he'd remember if Nita had mentioned she could do something as amazing as that. Still, he laughed at the suggestion and shook his head as best he could. He lifted a hand and... could easily touch the roof of the tunnel.

"I should be alright for now. Hopefully there'll be somewhere to sit further on down." And he wouldn't feel as if he was being compressed.

/just tags

[unfavorableinstigation]

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?"

Mission prep

[les_magique]

"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."

[callmegladio]

"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.

[les_magique]

"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."

Re: Gladiolus Amicitia | Arrival

[only_one_wei]

"You...okay there?" Wei Wuxian asked Gladio, watching him having to contort himself to pass through the tunnels. "This was probably one of the few times he was grateful his new body was shorter than the one he'd had originally.

[callmegladio]

"Oh yeah, doing fantastic." Gladio muttered unhappily, before he shot Wei Wuxian an apologetic smile.

"Being tall doesn't help if everyone else is short." And the world around them is built for that shortness. Like the tunnels. Being six foot and change did not help him here in the slightest.

[only_one_wei]

Wei Wuxian looked at him and thought about the briefing they'd been given. "The Terrans are taller, how come you didn't go with Purple?" he asked.

Nighttime

[myblueskies]

Romeo had found a spot to put his sleeping bag and had fallen asleep quite quickly. He was tired after all the walking and meeting all the new Gry! It was always interesting to meet new people, especially ones who looked and acted so different to the people he knew.

But in the deep dark hours of the night he was gripped by a nightmare. Of being trapped, tunnels closing in on him, darkness and hot air.

He woke with a cry, sitting bolt upright in the darkness, as terror seized him. It's dark and he's so scared, it's like monsters will eat him if he dares move a muscle.

[callmegladio]

It didn't take long for Gladio to find the one who had cried out in the night. In the last few hours almost everyone who had fallen asleep had been woken by dreams. Some hadn't been as effected as others, but those who were, Gladio moved toward.

He had a cup of water in his hand as he dropped to one knee close to Romeo.

"Hey, kiddo. Bad dreams?" He asked, deep voice pitched low so he didn't wake anyone else, and as soothing and calm as he could make it, despite his growing concern.

[myblueskies]

"Hello sir." He blinked up at him in the darkness and nodded his head. "It was. I can't really remember... But it was dark and I think I was trapped."

It's still very scary, but the presence of another person, especially an adult person was making it seem a little less terrifying.

mission prep

[happyends]

"I would love bunnies."

If Gladio looks up from his bag, he'll see Madoka, looking.. much less prepared than he is. To be fair, she hasn't gotten time to get to the whole preparing part yet, considering she first had to talk to Tony about this whole situation. She only just came back from that to get ready, but it was then that she spotted one of the people she definitely has to talk to before all of this goes down.

"Um.. bunnies aside, can I ask you something though, mister Gladio? It's just.. you know.." She wants to say Ignis isn't here anymore. But it's still a little painful for her to say, and she can't imagine it being very fun for Gladio either, so her voice just trails off to instead leave the implication hanging very heavily in the air before continuing. "And.. dad can't come along on the mission either."

Apparently the question she wanted to ask isn't said out loud yet, but it's pretty obvious what she's trying to ask even while giving him a moment to react before voicing it out loud, right? Without her usual parental guidance around, she might need a bit of help from someone else.

[callmegladio]

"A bunny world would be really nice." Gladio confirmed with a chuckle, and then he did look over at Madoka. His laughter died and he immediately set his bag aside to walk over to her. Instead of his usual crouch, he sat on a bench to speak to her.

"You can ask me anything, Princess. What's bothering you?" Though... he had a feeling he knew. And as Madoka continued to speak, he had to repress a sigh. He would have to have some very strong words with Tony about looking after himself better, if not for himself, then for his daughter.

Gladio smiled and reached out to take one of Madoka's hands in his much, much larger one.

"I'm a poor substitute. But stick with me, kiddo. You'll be fine, I promise."

Re: Gladiolus Amicitia | Blue Team - OTA

[laurefindil]

"Our luck, the bunnies would be heavily armed," Glorfindel said with a laugh.

[callmegladio]

"Oh for... Glory, don't go ruining bunnies for me!" Gladio raised his voice a bit, even turned to waggle a warning finger at the elf. "Bunnies are universally cute!" And he wouldn't be told otherwise.

Night Time

[sonoflucis]

Noct had stuck pretty close to Gladio through the beginning of the mission when he could. Otherwise, he kept his eyes on Madoka. He tried to sleep at might, but in the early hours, when it was still dark, he went to Gladio's side. He sat down next to him, leaning on his shoulder.

"Can't sleep."

[callmegladio]

Gladio had just finished his rounds and had sat himself back down again for only ten minutes before Noct found him. He smiled and held himself still, waiting for him to settle down against his shoulder.

"... You're not having the bad dreams as well, are you?" He asked, voice pitched low but there was no mistaking the concern within it.