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

[blitzcheer]

"Right."

Tidus will lead him, since he doesn't know what else to do. They could stay and sit, but would that be any better? To let Taiki sink into his daze, when he was going to be in that anyway? Not that Tidus could know that, but he gets the hints of it early. Though himself--he tries to make it better, to keep whatever thread of Taiki's attention--or a means of distracting Taiki, to keep him in the present--through the way Tidus knows best:

"They want us to figure out what they're about, but I dunno how. Guess the easiest way is attacking them and seeing what they do--but we've got to be careful too if those labs went down because of these. I wonder... it said they appeared after a big storm, right? So... they had to come somewhere? Do you remember what else the mission read?"

His eyes look at Taiki, but if he gets silence, or not much, well...

[longforgottenpromise]

"Don't attack them." There's not much emotion in his voice, but it is quietly intense. He doesn't want violence. Doesn't want to think about Tidus, who is so kind, so good being violent.

Who knows what these spheres were? They could be life forms. They shouldn't be attacked.

He shook his head at the question, "Just that the storm was planet wise."

[blitzcheer]

Ah-- It's quieter, but as severe as when Taiki had scolded him over how he referred to Saku, and it makes Tidus silent, but he can understand. Maybe attacking them wasn't such a great idea. There were a bunch of ruined labs now after taking them in. Who knows if the scientists tried that?

At least Taiki gives him something else to bounce off of, even if he didn't really need the help to go on.

"Hmm, so a storm happened... well, it'll help if we can get anything soon from Orange Team." His voice then brightens as he recalls, "Last time somewhere went quiet, it was 'cause the Bui people fell asleep! Maybe they'll find the scientists snoozing too."

But the Orange Team--that reminds Tidus with a quiet 'oh yeah', and he raises his wrist with his SCA and presses at it, until he notices--

"The voice chat is back!"

[longforgottenpromise]

He doesn't expect to be listened to, not when it comes to violence. He knows the orbs will be attacked eventually.

"Perhaps." It would be a good thing, if the scientists were indeed just in a strange sleep. He blinked as Tidus held up his wrist. Oh yes...

"It is? So either it is something we will always have, or we need it for this mission."

[blitzcheer]

"I'm hopin' on the first," Tidus says, swinging his arm back down. "This way we can keep in touch with Inigo, right?" Ah, speaking of Inigo- "He looking any better to you by the way? What do you think?"

[longforgottenpromise]

"Yes." He nodded, keeping in touch was a good thing. He worried about Inigo. All the time. But especially on missions.

He thought for a moment, "A little. I think his friend from home arriving helped a little. But he's still..."

Inigo. Really. He doesn't so much think this is a case of Yuki's leaving hurt something in Inigo, more that something had always been broken and losing Yuki had brought it to the surface. It was harder to help.

[blitzcheer]

"Mmmm," Tidus hums in agreement, nodding. "He's not going to be better that quick..."

And what else could they do? Only what they were already doing, but the state of it--loss was always hard. Nobody had to lose a close one in the same way to understand that, just know loss in general. Tidus lets out a small grunt that ends as a sigh.

"We'll just have to remind him he's not alone. --Oh, here."

They were finally in a closer proximity to one of the spheres, metallic almost in the way the sun was hitting it. Tidus slows to a stop before getting too close, blinks at what he's looking at.

"These are, uh..."

Well. He's not really sure at all.

[longforgottenpromise]

No. It would take a long time. Perhaps he would never get better. But as his friends they needed to try and keep trying. He was clearly used to people giving up on him, so they had to make sure they didn't.

He looked up in surprise at the orb in front of them.

"Big... Bigger than I thought."

And beautiful. In a strange alien way, he tilted his head, studying it.

[blitzcheer]

"Nothing I've ever seen," he declares, pulling his mouth askew as his brow dipped at the sight of it. It was like a suspended raindrop, or a droplet falling from a tap-head, never meeting the ground. Was it as liquid to the touch? Or heavier.

But in the quiet that perhaps comes between them in the moment of studying it, Tidus does break it. "Have...you ever had a Red mission like this before...? Studying things?"

[longforgottenpromise]

Taiki watched it, as if it might move. It might. He has no idea. He's seen nothing like it before.

He wants to reach out and touch it. But he is also wary.

"I... I don't think so. But I've never been on one before... They all sounded like more fighting."

Lord Gyousou had chosen to go with blue on both their previous missions, and the one Taiki had done whilst Lord Gyousou had been missing before, the mission cut short on the first day, he had gone with blue then as well.

[blitzcheer]

Oh? No Red mission before...but that makes sense. He'll have to ask Light later then, in any case. Right now, Tidus didn't want to move away from their subject so soon, not without at least trying something. And there was a most obvious something to try, with Tidus raising his hand up and looking over at Taiki.

"I'll touch it!"

Any objections, Taiki, 'cause you may be able to stop him juuust before he puts his hand on it-!

[longforgottenpromise]

"No." He shook his head, "Be careful..." He reached out instead. As quick as he could though he was aware Tidus was probably quicker than him.

His hand was wary, gentle even as he reached towards the strange orb.

[blitzcheer]

Tidus does listen however when Taiki says no, looking over to him and with his hand still, and then...Taiki touches it anyway?

????

He needs a moment or so to puzzle that one, though he doesn't get...why....but Tidus won't stop him, doesn't think to. Maybe there is some secret kirin power thing he's going to do...!?

[longforgottenpromise]

No kirin power. Just the wish to protect a friend. Along with the practical knowledge that out of the two of them, Taiki being injured would cause less trouble to the red team than losing one of the people who were actually useful.

Fingers pressed against the silver orb, sinking in slightly. It wasn't liquid. But it wasn't solid either.

"Oh..."

[blitzcheer]

...Tidus still doesn't understand because he cares for Taiki a whole lot more than Taiki cares for Taiki and meet him in the pit of love, but he watches nonetheless, curious as he was before. Still not sure if there weren't some magical...know-how going on.

"What is it? Did you feel anything in it?"

Did you feel a kick?? Wait, no.

[longforgottenpromise]

"It's strange. But I don't... It doesn't hurt." It doesn't feel dangerous. It doesn't feel like anything. Except strange. "It's soft though..."

He hadn't been expecting that. He drew his hand back, it was clean.

[blitzcheer]

Tidus eyes Taiki's hand, eyes going back to the orb, and he eventually does the same as Taiki, does what he was going to do in the first place. Laying his palm over its 'body', and...strange, the texture of it is definitely strange. Does it ripple like water when he shakes his hand over it like a beer gut?

Either way, Tidus pokes at it after, once, twice; and then lets his finger sit on it, watching as it starts to sink it.

"What is it...? I've never seen anything like it."

[longforgottenpromise]

It does indeed ripple, catching the light in new and beautiful ways. Taiki watched carefully as Tidus explored the surface of it.

"I don't know. I've never seen anything like it either."

[blitzcheer]

Tidus pulls his finger back out. "It looks kinda like a f--"

--except his finger doesn't come out. He tugs, and it sticks, and Tidus blinks. 'Huhs?', and pulls again. And again, it doesn't come out.


...


...

[blitzcheer]

"....Taiiiiikiiiii!?"

TAIKI HE'S PULLING AND SHAKING HIS ARM BUT?!

[longforgottenpromise]

"Tidus?" What happened? Taiki hadn't got stuck. His eyes widened and he reached to take Tidus' hand and pull it out. But it is stuck. "Just... Stay calm..."

He reaches towards the orb again, trying to push whatever it is made of aside, to dig Tidus' finger out.

[blitzcheer]

Being calm still means he can try and give himself small tugs, right?? Because that's what Tidus is doing even if he's keeping calm in every other manner, since what if it eats his hand.

or finger. He still wants that finger, thanks!

Taiki's fingers slip in easily with his patience into the orb, while Tidus does eventually stop wiggling just because he's afraid of yanking his finger off. Why hiiimmmm....

[longforgottenpromise]

Taiki moved very slowly, as if this orb was some large dangerous animal he was trying to pet. His fingers moved slowly through the weird substance until he found Tidus' finger.

"Okay. Just relax... I'll try and get it out..."

[blitzcheer]

is this what giving birth is like

At least it didn't feel like anything was happening to his finger, though the part consistently bothering Tidus was the one where his finger wasn't coming out. But Taiki was moving his fingers in (was that really a good idea?), and Tidus watched nervously for the both of them...

How many digits were going to be lost for his single one...! Gyousou was gonna be mad at him when he found out!

[longforgottenpromise]

"Stay relaxed, I will try and pull it out."

If he pulled too hard he could feel the substance going hard around his hands so it had to be slow. Gentle. He pressed his fingers against Tidus' and began to draw it back as slowly as he could.