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

Katsuya Jonouchi | Blue Team + Prep Prompt | OTA

[luckydragonsfoot]

[PREPARATIONS]

Hohhhhh...!

[Being the first mission, Katsuya is looking fairly excited. For the moment, Kaseri is at his side- he's convinced her to temporarily sit in the ball when they first disembark however. Just In Case.

Hopefully nothing happens while she's in the ball. Anyway.

The blond grins, pulling up a harness to hold while the ponyta noses a few of the other tools.] We got rock climbin' stuff!

[Exciting! Excit-] Nyh? What's th- ...A flight suit?

[Oddly, there's nothing to Say it's a flight suit, and no one said a single thing in the time he made that self correction.] Th' hell we gonna need flight suits for....

[Concern is increasing.] .................Hmmmmmm. [HMMMMMM.]

[ARRIVAL | CW: Implications of growing Panic/Panic Attack]

[[OOC - Muses can tag at any point in time within the prompt!]]

[This? This is cool.]

Hohhhh...so tha's where we're goin' huh..? [It's really cool, at least that's how he thinks of it. The cave isn't very dark. It's very simple as well, just stone, and dirt.

He thinks of the dream he had. It's not pitch dark right now, he'll be fine. He'll be more than fine. Katsuya breathes, and before they enter the cave he lets Kaseri out- scooping her up and taking a deeper breath as they walk. Nothing is going to tackle him. Yet.

...YET.

(He swears he hears screams, and while he knows that's not got anything to do with the vision, or with where they are, he can't shake the feeling he always has when he dreams of That place)

There's a pair of kids there.]

Hohhh! Cool spears!

[For the rest of the first day as they're shown around, he's being an awful lot louder or quieter about things depending on what they're being shown. Sometimes the engagement seems forced. He needs the distraction. Needs it, he can't think about anything else. At other points it doesn't work however, and he lets himself drift to the back of the group holding Kaseri as he breathes.

It's nothing like the tunnels that other him went down into one last time before never waking up, but go figure this is how he finds out it's close enough.] Hfff....hfff...

[He just needs to breathe.]

[Night Night- Sleep...Tight..?]

[He is very, very used to dreams. Sometimes they're simple. Sometimes they're not. These, he finds, are even simpler than he expected. He walks in a tunnel and it grows darker and darker. Too dark- impossibly dark, he remembers the conversation with Honda in the vents-

You c'n see yer hand even in complete darkness right?

It's too dark. Too dark- he can hear the sounds, hear the scuttling Things around and then-

Then it's all fire. Then the dream twists into something more unfortunately familiar, body locked in place as he sees the sneering face before him with the blade in their hands. Tell me my future, they ask, and he finds his lips moving. He can't hear his own words, but they aren't the words this man wanted to hear, and so-]

Khhh-OOOOUHHHHA-! Kh! Hah..!

[Katsuya wakes, and he wakes choking. He rolls over in his sleeping bag and Kaseri comes over immediately. And that's weird, he thinks idly, that's weird that she wasn't here- it looks like she was sitting near one of the Gry instead?

Hands meet the pony's dully shining mane and almost immediately he begins to calm down, holding the ponyta close.] Hahh...hahhh....s...shit...

[Figures he'd have to think about 'that' on top of everything.

(That first part of the dream was so strange though...)] Nhhyyyy....

Wh..? [Lightening the hold on Kaseri, Katsuya watches in confusion as she seems to consider trotting to someone else again.] What, someone else needs..?

[WILDCARD - Got something else in mind? Something precise? Hit me up on discord or plurk and we can come up with something!]

Arrival

[sizedoesntmatter]

[Yugi was starting to wonder why they always had to be under something. Last time was underwater, which he avoided and now underground. The only exception had been when they were in space. So with Yugi wearing an Orange flight suit which really in his mind made him stand out a little bit more than the others and his duel disk had made sure to at least stick close to his friend.

Looking over now and again and he could easily tell that something was up.]

Hey... Just breathe slowly, okay. [it was something he figured he understood, a fear and how it can affect you.]

It will be okay. I'm here, even if that isn't the most reassuring thing.

[luckydragonsfoot]

Hfff.....hahhhh...

[One arm holds Kaseri- it's easy enough, the pony held like a little lamb in a nativity if Yugi's ever even seen those before. The other, somewhat shamefully, ends up groping around in the dark until it comes in contact with the wall, fingers digging into the side.

Shaking.] Y...Yeah. Yeah I... [He's distracted admittedly- by the scattered thoughts he keeps batting back, trying to focus on things like the Gry's tour, or maybe others in the group. It doesn't work, but if he shakes his head and focuses on his friend, his friend who is right there then that's something.]

...Tch. [A pained smile comes to his face.] What're y' talkin' about Yugi? Yer probably the most reassurin' thing here after Kaseri, 'n tha's because she's got magic t' cheat with, [he jokes, the horse in question rubbing against the blond's own suit front.] I...

...

I must look real stupid, huh..? Doin' th's in th' middle of a tunnel...

[sizedoesntmatter]

[He shook his head slightly. He honestly could understand the feeling he must have. Being uncomfortable in such a situation. But unlike that time he wasn't sure there was such an escape that the other could get away to.]

I don't think it's stupid. I was sort of in an uncomfortable situation last month where I was like this. But that was underwater.

[luckydragonsfoot]

I mean 's stupid 'nough that I didn' see it comin'... [he grumbles, only to flinch.] Under th' water?! Wai' why would th-

[He cuts himself short almost immediately- one part because he realizes why, the other because he sees why. The duel at the docks isn't an easy thing to forget.] R...Righ'...

Geeze, [he mutters,] That ain' fair, I'm th' one who nearly drowned more but you're stuck w' tha'..?

[magicurls]

"...hello?"

There's a sleepy young lady rubbing her eyes nearby. She shivers like she's felt something too, but the strange thing is the pastel pony glowing in the dark, whinnying near a young man she's only seen from a distance.

"Are we still dreaming?"

[luckydragonsfoot]

"Eh?"

Katsuya blinks, Kaseri already trotting over with a glowing horn. "Uh...N-nah, you're good. Kaseri's jus' tryin' t' calm folks down," he explains, only to frown.

"...wai' we all had nightmares!?" Or. "...Er...Most of us? How'd so many of us have nightmares..!?"

[magicurls]

"She's yours?"

Mami squints against the light as the pony trots closer. She's very pretty...almost like something from a much happier dream. She looks back at the human and shakes her head.

"I can't remember what it was about...but I remember being afraid."

The closer the pony comes, the more that feeling recedes. Hm.

[luckydragonsfoot]

"Yeah, sounds abou' right..." He rubs his head, scowling. "I feel like I had some kinda nightmare b'fore...a worse one," he finishes lamely. "But 's th' second one I remember clearest..."

Which figures, because the second was a repeat. The first though? What was that even about? There was darkness, scuttling, and fire? That's...That's it. That was it!

What the heck! "Anyway, you gonna be alrigh'?" he asks, Kaseri nosing for one of Mami's hands in the meantime. "...Y' can pet Kaseri if y' want, she won' hurt y'."

arrival

[spikelet]

[This is bullshit. She can't see anything. And she's aware of the irony, thanks. Her flashlight is on, shining from her SCA randomly into the tunnels and caves, because more light's better, right? No one can call her on helping people.

Luckily, people are talking, making noises, kicking rocks and soil. It's not actually THAT hard to follow the group. The weird aliens are even easier, their limbs scrape and click as they move, and they must be doing it on purpose, because she's not been startled by one yet.

Katsuya is even easier to locate, because his breathing is bad. She sidles up.]

What's wrong? You're acting weird.

[luckydragonsfoot]

[They haven't shared space that long- just a few nights, that's all they got after all. A-Qing has definitely seen the blond wake up at least once in the middle of the night to breathe raggedly before clutching the ponyta like a lifeline.

This is like that, but at the same time not. He knows where he is- he's not dreaming of the past, and he's definitely not seeing anything of the future (and he can't help but feel a bit grateful that the latter form of his abilities has stuck to little heads up on things like who's stolen the shower before him).

But he's definitely not alright, no matter what he says.] I...'s nothin', [he insists all the same, swallowing hoarsely.]

I jus' gotta focus, y'know..? Jus', ah... ...Weird place righ'? [he offers quietly as an excuse, however paper thin it might be. He tells himself it's a good thing the other can't see his expression- not to mention the rest of him. He looks about like he expects the walls to swallow them at any second.]

[spikelet]

Are you holding Kaseri? [that helps, right? he always grabs the little spirit horse whenever he's scared.

she hates this too, okay? enough that she doesn't bother with a gentle act as she snakes a hand out and takes his elbow.]

Don't lie, if you're scared you should just say so, or we'll have to deal with it when you freak out.

[luckydragonsfoot]

Yeah, [he starts, before bristling.] Ah- O-oi! It ain' tha' bad!

I've dealt w' worse... [he mutters, though he doesn't refuse the other taking his elbow.]

I don' ev'n know that I can call it plain fear, 's just...real intense nerves 'r somethin'...

[There's probably a word for this, and he's pretty sure Kaiba or someone would know it, but that would mean going to one of them about it and he's sure not doing that.]

someone ordered a lil gry!

[voidtreckernpcs]

[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.]

[luckydragonsfoot]

[Katsuya rubs at his face a bit, but hurriedly sits up more to explain the ponyta before anything goes weird.] Ah- 's alrigh'!

She's jus' helpin' y' calm down, don' worry! Uh...

[Sheepishly, he rubs the back of his head.] She uh...normally jus' does that f'r me back home 'n such...

[Right, well beyond that.] Oi, you alrigh' though?

[voidtreckernpcs]

Oh! Thank you, little alien.

[ She pats Kaseri gingerly on the neck. The translator is clearly doing some serious legwork; the Gry's motions don't match up to how he hears it at all. Like sign language, dubbed. ]

Yes! [ Her voice is hushed. A large proportion of the cavern is still asleep, after all, though most have subsided into more restful sleep. ] I didn't think I'd get a vision two nights in a row, you know? Super weird.

Night Time

[callmegladio]

Gladio had moved towards the sounds of distress and crouched down next to the kid who had woken from a seemingly bad dream.

"Hey, everything alright over here?" He asked, keeping his voice pitched low so as not to wake anyone else up. So far a few had woken, Gladio had gone to as many as he could, though he knew Yugi was on the prowl as well so was sure those he didn't pick up on, his friend would.

[luckydragonsfoot]

"Ahhh..." Katsuya grips the ponyta, Kaseri easing herself on top of her trainer so he can better get a grip of the mane. It takes a moment before he answers- the less people paying attention to his nightmare he feels, the better. "Y..Yeah, 's all good. Jus' uh..." He coughs. "...Jus' a rough sleep I guess..."

[callmegladio]

"You're not alone, kid. A few've woken up from bad dreams so far..." He gave him what he hoped would look like a reassuring smile in the dim light. It was hard to tell what seemed creepy and what didn't when shadows were involved.

"You gonna be alright? Need anything? I can go grab you some water?" Gladio knew there wasn't much he could do for the nightmares themselves, but he could do his best for those who'd had them.

Re: Katsuya Jonouchi | Arrival, plus a bit

[only_one_wei]

Wei Wuxian definitely noticed the kid with the pony as he fell toward the back of the group. He was no Lan Zhan with his guqin, but he knew the Song of Clarity pretty well by this point.

He pulled out his flute and fell back near the other man and started playing it softly.

[luckydragonsfoot]

That-

...Is a very nice song, he thinks as he grips the wall, the motion growing slightly less tense as his body relaxes. He's not exactly losing all of the stress- it takes a lot to just cast off things associated with one's death and all that, but it's becoming easier to ground himself the more he listens. With each deep breath he can tell himself more confidently that they're in an alien tunnel instead of some other ancient cavern, and as Katsuya briefly closes his eyes he slowly brings his hand back from the wall entirely.

It takes a bit longer to realize that the music is actually there. And not in his head, or...or something. It's-

"Nyh-"

He turns, trying to pinpoint where the flutist is. "...Who's playin tha'..?"

It's so dark in here, he really should turn on that light before they go any deeper huh.

[only_one_wei]

Wei Wuxian smiles around the mouth of the flute, and stops playing for a moment. "Wei Wuxian. I'm one of your team mates," he said.

He was also appreciating the Song's effects. The Cavern of the Tortoise of Slaughter was still heavily imprinted in his memories.

Arrival

[myblueskies]

[This world was very strange. Hot and dusty but it wasn't long before they were going underground.

It was very dark and he stuck close to the others. It was a bit like the caves under the mountain when they helped people in the ice cold world! But warmer. That was good. He had taken his hoodie off and wrapped it round his waist, his SCA torch was on and he was making his way slowly down the tunnel.

He saw the man who seemed to not be too happy as they were talking. He skipped across to his side. Elfnein had went with orange team so he couldn't be a weasel right now, but he could still help keep everyone's spirits up!] Are you okay sir? Do you not like the dark?

[luckydragonsfoot]

[This is his curse apparently- the curse of people who CARE!

For what it's worth, Katsuya likes to think he's at least somewhat decent at hiding just how crappy he really feels. Which is a lot. It's a whole lot, he's pretty sure. It's sort of bouncing back and forth thanks to the tide that is Kaseri's magic going back and forth.

He's arguably more deep within some distant memory than anything else as Romeo approaches, which does not help his case with him specifically however.] nHHYHHH-!

[Katsuya jumps from shock, turning to see who spoke.] Oh- Geeze, I didn' even hear y' comin'...uh...

[Technically, he almost says, it's not the Dark that's the issue. No, the dark is fine. It's...

The tunnels, if anything.

But like heck he's saying that.] Awww...I'll be alrigh', don' worry about it- Jus' uh...I dunno, guess I gotta adjust...

[myblueskies]

Sorry sir! I didn't mean to startle you! [He was even more worried now! But he drew up next to the man and smiled at him.]

It's a bit weird in here! It's funny to think people live all the way underground like this!