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

Arrival

[singlefaith]

Ran had given him very clear instructions, yes. Last mission had proved that even on the Orange team, generally given assignments that did not involve fighting, fighting was certainly still a possibility. He was seven years old, tiny for his age, and she'd only just started teaching him self defense. She wasn't willing to risk him, and so she'd told him firmly that this time he was to stay with the train and not go on the mission at all.

. . . Yet as the train pulls away, she catches the sight of a very familiar small figure in the crowd. Immediately she breaks away from her path, grabbing for the back of his shirt. "Conan-kun."

Her voice is pure ominousness, promising doom.

[deductiongeek]

Conan twists around and tries for a bright smile as he looks up at Ran.

"Oh, hello Ran-neechan! I guess you caught me!"

He was probably doomed. But it wasn't like he hadn't known that this was the most likely result.

[singlefaith]

Ran looms in the expert way she's managed to perfect over the years, particularly in the time he's been with her as Conan, her fingers tightening on the back of his shirt. She's not sure why she trusted that he'd stay; he has a habit of doing this kind of thing. Maybe she's too trusting. Maybe she keeps hoping that if she presents it in the right way, he'll listen.

One eyebrow twitches. "Don't 'oh, hello, Ran-neechan' me! What are you doing here?? You promised me you'd stay on the train."

[deductiongeek]

"I'm sorry Ran-neechan." At least he makes an effort at looking contrite, even if it wasn't very sincere. "I didn't want to stay on the train alone."

[singlefaith]

Not good enough. She's not buying it, continuing to eye down at him. "I know you don't, but we talked about this. Conan-kun is too young, too small, and these missions can be dangerous. You could get hurt."

Or worse, but she doesn't like to think of it. What does she have to do to drive this home to him?

[deductiongeek]

"I'll be careful! I've gone on lots of missions before, and its been okay. And Ran-neechan is here now too!"

And there was no way he was letting her go on a mission like this alone.

[singlefaith]

Bringing up the other missions right now may not be in his best interest. Of course she knows he's been on other missions, logically; he's been here for longer than she has. Obviously he's even survived them, or he wouldn't be here in front of her. But the fact that he's gone on these missions, that he could get hurt, lives in the emotional part of her, the part of her that's afraid to lose him.

And suddenly she's near tears; they well up in her eyelashes even as she swipes them away. She's still angry. Angry and suddenly so helpless. What can she do; the train is already gone. How is she supposed to protect him -- on this mission or any other time?

"It's dangerous." The words are still angry, though they're offset by the tears she swipes away again. "Mou, how can I get you to understand?"

[deductiongeek]

Ran. He'd made her cry again. He never wanted to do this, but he kept doing this, over and over again. No matter what he did, he only hurt her.

But how could he have left her to go through a mission alone?

He reaches up for her hand.

"Ran-neechan.... if I didn't come along, you would have been alone. I didn't want to be alone on the train either." A small, sad, smile. "And the safest place for me is beside you, right?"

[singlefaith]

As his fingers brush hers, then grasp, her opposite hand slowly releases his shirt. Swiping at her eyes again, she squats to be at his eye level. "You stay with me," she informs him, hand squeezing his for emphasis. "Always in sight range. Do you understand? This isn't a game. This isn't home. We don't know what's here, and it doesn't play by the same rules. You're smart; I know you are. But this isn't the same as home, and smart only goes so far."

Her fingers tighten again. "Stay with me. I mean it."

[deductiongeek]

He nods, not making any move to pull away from her grip.

"I promise. I'll stay right by your side the entire time."

For once, this was an easy promise to make. He had no intention of leaving Ran to face this mission alone.

[singlefaith]

He'd promised last time, too, and it's hard -- because how much recourse does she really have in this environment? At home privileges could be changed; here, they're often set by the train, and things like the SCA are there to keep them all safe.

For now she has to trust . . . and with the way he is sometimes, it doesn't put her at ease.

Watching him a moment more, she releases a breath, pulling back into a stand -- though she keeps hold of his hand. "Let's go find out what we need to do."

[deductiongeek]

"Okay! Maybe there's someone here we can help!"

But he watches her carefully as she stands, worrying about how well she was doing.