voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] middleofsomewhere2020-07-09 04:39 am

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)
happyends: (then i can certainly create a miracle)

preparation

[personal profile] happyends 2020-07-12 04:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Blue and purple just happen to be the last two teams to be dropped this time around, which is why Madoka - despite being dressed in blue rather than in purple - has a chance to talk to the other girl before they have to get off the train.

Especially since Itsuki.. kind of looks like she could use it? Not that Itsuki looks panicked or anything, but there's something vaguely uncertain about the other girl, Madoka thinks. Although she does know she could just be projecting..

So she makes her way through the crowd of people waiting to be dropped off until she's by Itsuki's side.

"Itsuki-san." She waits until she has the other's attention and then smiles. "This is going to be your first mission, right? I'm sure you're going to do well!"
sunbloom: ([+T] I'm not sure...)

[personal profile] sunbloom 2020-07-12 08:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Itsuki is occupied enough that it takes her a second to notice the other girl settle next to her, but once she does, she smiles, even if it doesn't entirely reach her eyes. "Madoka-san," she greets softly. "I hope so. It feels like it's important work, and I don't want to mess up. It feels like the other teams are doing more involved work, too. I don't know, I'm just... unsure?" Her expression is complex but largely neutral.
happyends: (i still feel like)

[personal profile] happyends 2020-07-13 02:00 pm (UTC)(link)
"That's okay," she replies, trying to make her tone as understanding as possible. There's no doubt Madoka has grown pretty used to these missions, considering this is already her fifth or sixth mission or so.. But it can still be scary sometimes even now, and she very much remembers how overwhelming her own first mission felt.

"I think everyone feels that way before they go on their first mission.. But it'll turn out okay in the end. Everyone is working together, after all! Even when you're confused, or worried about something.. you can just ask someone else for help, and I have no doubt that they'd help you right away."
sunbloom: (What did you say?)

[personal profile] sunbloom 2020-07-14 06:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Madoka's certainty is reassuring, and it helps her a little, but she's still not entirely convinced. "I'm hoping it goes that well. I'm just worried, I guess. Going off on adventures at home is one thing, but this is something else entirely," she admits. "But if we're all working together, it might be okay. I'm probably just panicking over nothing... maybe. I've gotta watch out for my friends, too."
happyends: (i'll explain all i know)

[personal profile] happyends 2020-07-14 09:41 pm (UTC)(link)
She quietly listens to the other, just slightly nodding along.

"You're right though that it's something else entirely. Um.. I mean.. I'm not sure what kind of adventures you had back home.." Madoka is honestly thinking more of regular kid adventures rather than anything actually involving action or fighting. Like exploring some forest near town for fun or something like that. "But they probably didn't involve monsters, right..?"
sunbloom: (I'm not liking this.)

[personal profile] sunbloom 2020-07-19 08:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Hmm. Well, a lot of what she did at home is declassified, so to speak, but given the new environment, how much to reveal...? "Well, sometimes they did. Home was a strange place sometimes. There was a certain organization that wanted a power found in people's hearts. So... they would attack people. They got me, once. It was a bad experience and I'll spare you the details." Read: even if she were revealing everything, she still hates talking about that, and she shivers now saying that much. "But they had monsters of several sizes. They had a lot of little ones to throw around, but one-on-one they weren't so tough." Even now, she's convinced she could handle a single Sunacky untransformed. Just one, but when you couldn't find a safe place to change, being able to do anything made a huge difference.

"So if it's anything like that," she goes on, "I'll be able to help, but I'll leave the big stuff to someone more... qualified." Which does, at the end of the day, include her! Just. Not in this form.
happyends: (if my voice can reach you)

[personal profile] happyends 2020-07-20 11:19 am (UTC)(link)
"Wow.."

That's not something she expected Itsuki to say. Madoka really thought the other was just from a normal world! Kind of like the way her own world was before everything got awful really, really quickly.

She very much notices the way Itsuki shivers though, and she knows better than to ask further about that. Madoka doesn't want to. She would never want anyone to have to recall something that particularly bad - especially since she can already understand how hard that is, considering some of the stuff she's experienced.

So she's quiet for a moment, as if she needs time to take in all in, but then Madoka smiles just a bit. She hopes it's encouraging.

"That's.. pretty amazing, Itsuki-san. I already thought you seemed like a great person, but it's even more amazing that you've actually dealt with monsters before, and that you're willing to do so here again.. You're really strong."
sunbloom: (That's fine.)

[personal profile] sunbloom 2020-07-29 02:33 am (UTC)(link)
There's a pregnant pause for a moment, where Itsuki begins to wonder if maybe she shouldn't have said anything. Madoka had been intrigued enough by her earlier that she couldn't help but think it'd be fine, but... even the short version of her old enemy wasn't anything to take lightly.

And then she smiles, and Itsuki realizes she's probably in a little deeper than anticipated. She returns a smile of her own, if one that's a little cheerier. "Maybe a little, but it's more that there are people to protect here, too. And I'm... a little scared that something could happen to me again, if I'm being honest. So the best way to prevent that is to strike first, right? Take no chances."
happyends: (what can i see again in)

[personal profile] happyends 2020-07-30 03:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Madoka nods, though something about it seems a little hesitant. It's mirrored in her smile, really - which seems genuine, but there's a hint of something awkward about it as she speaks up.

"Y-Yes, but.. um, maybe wait just a moment to see if they're not friendly after all.. Sometimes things that might look like a monster to us are really just the way all people look in a world!"

Well, both that, and Madoka is just way, way too meek to be a 'strike first' kind of person, but ssh.
sunbloom: (Something happen?)

[personal profile] sunbloom 2020-08-01 12:20 am (UTC)(link)
"Ah, well, that's important," she says quickly, recognizing she got a little excited. "No, I'm not talking so much about beating things up as soon as I see them. I'd feel bad doing that. I more meant... not waiting until I can get a proper team together? I don't want anyone getting hurt when I can do something about it, myself included."

Itsuki runs a hand through her hair, making a soft sound of annoyance. "I don't know if I'm explaining myself right, sorry. But you're right - I don't want to shoot first and ask questions later, and something that's monster-shaped to us isn't necessarily bad. But by the same token, things that are people-shaped aren't necessarily good, which is part of why I'm nervous."
happyends: (i was drawn towards it)

[personal profile] happyends 2020-08-02 02:36 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ah-- N-no, I'm sorry! I thought you're explaining yourself very well!" Madoka speaks up quickly. Maybe almost too quickly, but she really wants to get the idea that Itsuki could be doing or saying anything wrong out of the other girl's head! Madoka would never want to make anyone feel that way!

"We just meet a lot of people who.. um, look pretty different from us on these missions.. So I didn't want you to feel too startled right away when you'd run into them. I know it can be a little surprising, depending on what kind of things you've seen back home. But.. Itsuki-san, you're cool. I'm sure you'll be able to handle it and make the right judgement."

She gives the other girl a tiny smile.
sunbloom: (Good.)

[personal profile] sunbloom 2020-08-03 10:35 pm (UTC)(link)
The strength of the denial is extreme - and with a bit of strange flavor at the end; she's reminded of Tsubomi a little suddenly? - and Itsuki is taken back for a second, but she lets out a breath after a second, making a mental note to question that later. "Okay, that makes sense. I don't... I haven't met anything monster-shaped that wasn't out to kill me, but like I said, I've met enough people-shaped things that are that I try not to take it for granted," she adds. She hesitates for a moment, then continues, "I'm not sure I'm worthy of all that trust you're putting in me, but I'll do my best."
happyends: (cars honking far away)

[personal profile] happyends 2020-08-04 09:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh no. All Itsuki has to do is say just that - I'm not sure I'm worthy of all that trust you're putting in me - and instantly Madoka is worried about whether she maybe is putting too must trust in the other girl. Not since she doubts Itsuki, oh no, she's more just worried that she's putting too much pressure on her.

Hence why Madoka goes quiet for a moment, her hands fidgeting as she tries to figure out what the best thing to say here is.

"Um, I.. think anyone here would believe in you like that, really. Most people on the train are so sweet, and they always seem to think the best of people.. so I'm sure that if you asked around, anyone would tell you the same, Itsuki-san."

.. okay, so Madoka may be slightly nicer and more complimentary than most.. but it's not like the girl herself realises that.

"Please take care on the mission though, okay..? I really hope to see you again once we're done with all of it."
sunbloom: (A-as I was saying...)

[personal profile] sunbloom 2020-08-06 12:53 am (UTC)(link)
For a moment, Itsuki's concerned she's put her foot in her mouth as she watches the pink-haired girl react, but when Madoka actually speaks, she's blown away again, face flushing a bit. "I don't know about that, Madoka-san, but... if you say so, I guess I'll believe you?" On the one hand, sure, she's trying to be a functional human being. On the other, she hasn't done anything to earn that yet, right? She has a hard time believing that someone she met a couple weeks ago has that much faith in her, and thinks everyone else does too, but... maybe? It's a good feeling, even if she's not a hundred percent sure she's on board with it. Still-

"Um, thank you for your confidence. I'm..." She pauses, taking a breath; when she starts again, she's more sure of herself, smiling again, even if there's a bit of pink in her cheeks still. "I'm sure everything will be okay. And I'll be careful. I didn't get this far by taking too many risks. We'll meet again. I'm sure of it." Even without her powers, she'd be careful and not get herself in too much trouble. If push comes to shove, though, Sunshine's might is enough to get her out of anything but the most dire situation. There are people here that are worried about her. She can't let those people down by not coming back, right?
happyends: (not to worry anymore)

[personal profile] happyends 2020-08-07 09:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Don't worry, Itsuki, this is just the amount of faith Madoka has in everyone. These kinds of things just happen when you're a literal omniscient goddess of hope in the making...

Though Madoka does look relieved when the other girl says she's sure everything will be okay. It's what Madoka likes to believe about these missions too, but.. it's just nice to hear someone else mirror the sentiment, isn't it?

"Then.. I'll be sure of it too." She even offers a small smile with those words as she says them, before turning. She still has a few last preparations to make before they're dropped off-- "Bye for now, Itsuki-san! See you later..!"
sunbloom: (Someday.)

[personal profile] sunbloom 2020-08-12 07:25 pm (UTC)(link)
This is sure going to be a strange record to review someday, isn't it. Of course, they still have to get through the coming trial first, but... it'll be fine. She has to convince herself of that before she can convince anyone else, though. Madoka seems to take her at face value on that, at least, and that's a start.

Itsuki relaxes somewhat as Madoka turns to get back to things, raising a hand to wave. "Best of luck, Madoka-san. Take care."