VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] middleofsomewhere2021-01-11 05:58 am

Fierce New World- Mission Start!

"Good Morning passengers. Today is day six of the month of Jelly." The voice echoes through the train as passengers wake up in their beds. Not long afterwards their SCA’s glow with the colour of the void and a holographic image will appear.

Preparation and Arrival

They have a short time to prepare for their mission, enough time to read their briefs, make decisions, meet in their teams and gather anything they may need.

A few hours later there is another announcement. "Shortly arriving on System #2207385. All passengers get ready to disembark. Next stop world #2207385. Exit from void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."

The train judders as it leaves the void, the colours from the windows turn into the blackness of space but quickly white as the train descends into the entrance of the biosphere.

The doors of the train open and passengers can enter the large white-walled holding bay. Currently, they are the only vehicle inside. There are four large doors around the bay each labelled with where they lead. Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.

The doors open easily, and their SCA’s show a basic route, though the non-linear nature of the sectors mean that obstacles will need to be navigated. While they are in a closed world, there is a day and night cycle: the panels far up above are designed to make it seem like there is a natural sky, brightening and dimming every ten hours.

Red/Summer

Empty Streets

Wide streets divide sealed-off factories and manufacturing pods that tower up towards the ‘sky’. It is hot here, though the fumes from the factories are vented out, leaving the air breathable if overly warm.

Sometimes the pods are not yet finished, empty shells that can be sheltered in. There are also stations for living, with plumbing and basic amenities scattered through the sector. Places to rest as they move towards the center and the Great-Summer that they seek.

Helpmates

Where factories are still being built they will find Helpmates, operating machinery or moving materials.

They will not pause in their tasks for long but are programmed to answer questions so can be drawn into a conversation. Or, if the Voidtreckers are unfortunate, they will find those that are malfunctioning turning on them as they approach.

They aren’t too difficult to fight, but can do some damage with the machinery if they manage to take a Voidtrecker by surprise. They can be fought with weapons or magic, or for those that think to use the panels they can be shut down outright.

Wild Weather

Though warm, the corridors remain a constant temperature that is not too unpleasant for people. For the most part. Unfortunately, due to the malfunctioning state of things routes may become impassable. Boiling air, freezing blasts, electricity crackling across a pathway.

Their SCA’s do a good job of warning them, allowing them to change direction or shelter in nearby buildings.

Purple/Autumn

Exploring

The Autumn sector is the least complete of the sectors, with shells of habitation pods and not much else. No one is expected to live here until nearing the end of construction, and so the pods are unfurnished, many missing doors, some missing internal walls.

Outside the streets are wide and clearly made to be pleasant to walk on; it is airy, bright and spacious, if a bit eerie due to the quiet.

There are panels on the walls, to call Helpmates to appear. Here they are primarily for helping citizens, giving directions and offering aid.

Malfunctions

Since there are more helpmates there is more risk of them malfunctioning. They attack with or without weapons, using any tools they can pick up to attack. They can be fought with weapons or magic, or for those that think to use the panels they can be shut down.

They won’t chase people into the houses, their privacy programming preventing them from doing so.

Turned Around

The roads seem simple, built in a grid pattern around the houses. However, whatever is going wrong here is affecting the very streets themselves. Sometimes there will be a wall where there wasn’t before or roads go in circles. Sometimes they find themselves at a dead end, trapped until structures shift again.

Their SCA’s do their best to keep up but it can take a while for them to reroute and by the time they do, that path might be blocked too!

Blue/Spring

Patchwork Forest

The Spring sector houses the hydroponics and pastoral sections. It alternates between grazing land and more heavily forested areas with rows of pine-like trees in a checkerboard pattern, with empty plots interspersed. Walkways divide each square, but all squares appear able to move about as required, as though on a conveyor system.

There are clear walkways to avoid stepping on any newly growing plants. In the grazing land live flocks of camelid creatures resembling alpacas with blueish wool, on average a metre and a half tall at the shoulders. Helpmates appear here as if on a timer to feed the animals and tend to plants.

Destruction


If the Helpmates here malfunction they attack anyone nearby, cause havoc to any farming equipment and frightening the animals.

They can be fought with weapons or magic, or for those that think to use the panels they can be shut down. The panels here are less obvious than they are in the more urban sectors, low to the ground, looking almost like energy panels. But once they know what to look for they will be able to use them to shut down the Helpmates.

Stampede

Frightened animals are likely to flee and unfortunately in this case it means rampaging across the grazing land to the newly growing trees.

They will need to be calmed, returned to their grazing lands and the plants restored. Or it might be that the Voidtreckers can stop the Helpmates before the creatures get too spooked.

Orange/Winter

Exploring

The Winter sector’s primary concern is life support. Huge banks of air scrubbers form artificial cliffs, while other sections are tanks filled with water in varying stages of processing or recycling.

The paths here are a lot narrower than they are in other areas, sometimes requiring moving between pipes or scrambling over layers of railing.

There doesn’t seem to be any easy or straightforward path through the sector, their SCA takes them on wild winding routes through the machinery.

Help or Hindrance

The fluctuating temperatures here are causing problems with many of the pipes, several sections are flooded, others are in danger of being so.

There are patch kits in easily opened panels, designed to be used by the helpmates and indeed there are many helpmates out.

But some are less helpful, those that are malfunctioning are more likely to cause more damage than they are there to fix. They will attack any one who tries to interfere with them. They can be fought with weapons or magic, or for those that think to use the panels they can be shut down.

Patch Job

Once the malfunctioning Helpmates are dealt with the pipes still need to be fixed. The patch kits do not have any instructions but are simple enough that anyone with a basic knowledge of how to fix things should be able to figure them out- though the more knowledge and expertise they have the better the fix!

For those that don’t, many of the jobs will need more than one person and so for those that don’t mind taking instructions they will find an extra pair of hands is always welcome.
azrthmtrnznthos: (If you say so)

[personal profile] azrthmtrnznthos 2021-02-09 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)
"I mean, I'm me. I'm used to being looked at weirdly and as creepy." There was a small sigh, and Raven ducked her head slightly. "But...you're right. I don't want to seem creepy all the time."
irrationally: (i don't even have a song)

[personal profile] irrationally 2021-02-09 10:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, that description is easy enough. Alice knows not a lot of bald people ever arrive on the platform, so a guy like that is bound to stand out - especially with the combination with the ears. Alice is sure she'll remember this conversation the moment she sees him.

"Sure." Alice says it so casually.

But she is still so serious about this. That guy better watch himself if he ever shows up on the train, because Alice has a lot of pent up frustration just waiting for a target.

"He must've done quite something to earn your ire."
flatteries: (you look like you've been)

[personal profile] flatteries 2021-02-09 10:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Almost in near sync with Tidus, Inigo lets out an "ow!!" at the same time. Look at them. Just a pair of idiots, both holding their heads after an entirely unnecessary headbutt, since those lips weren't planning on going near Tidus's at all!

(Then again, who could blame Tidus for thinking they would, when it definitely wouldn't be the first time at this point.)

But no, instead now they'll probably be nursing headaches for the rest of the day.

"What was that for?!" Inigo whines.

As if he doesn't know exactly what that was for.
happyends: (my feelings are all i can rely on)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-02-09 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Madoka looks over at the dome to see what happens the moment Yugi presses that button.

And something does seem to happen, at least! So this isn't totally anticlimactic. But even so, there's no door opening. Instead its roof opens up a little, and from the hole rises an.. wait, is that some sort of alarm?

Apparently it is, since it starts going off, and a moment later Madoka sees various alpacas heading in their direction.

"A-Ah, I think that's calling them over!" Oh gosh, and the animals look so excited too. Do they think it's dinner time or something?
blitzcheer: (full blast blush bro)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-02-09 11:26 pm (UTC)(link)
"What do you think!" Yeah, he's not playing!! And not about to explain how in his head, headbutting his bro seemed like a fairly good response to being teased, the most harmless course of action.

It turns out, their heads are harder than he gives them credit for.

"Ugh, can we get out of here already? I'm looking for Taiki and I'm not leaving him!"

With this declaration Tidus starts walking briskly, in a direction he doesn't know is a good one, but by golly is he going in it!!
worthallthis: (determined)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-02-10 12:10 am (UTC)(link)
Soldat crouches down and pries the panel open with a knife blade, then gets to work hastily hotwiring the right lines to get the helpmates to reset. It only takes a minute, and then all the holograms in the room flicker, vanish, and reappear back at their stations.

"It only lasts a few minutes," they say. "We should get outa here."
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971656)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2021-02-10 10:16 am (UTC)(link)
She nodded. "Yeah, I can get that," she replied. Kitty herself was probably the last thing that came to people's mind when thinking of people that seemed creepy, at least on the outside. But back home there were a lot of "normal" people that thought her powers were creepy too. And she'd hung around with Kurt and Rogue enough to learn better than to judge people based on appearances.

"Well, I know it doesn't really matter what I think..." she offered, "but you seem pretty cool to me."
adregem: (your plans are pretty good so far)

[personal profile] adregem 2021-02-10 10:55 am (UTC)(link)
The rambling only draws a smile of amusement from Roland, who is all too happy to hear her explain her powers and its setbacks. He thinks this not just as a team lead, but because it gives him peace of mind to know he can cover their flanks on a fight since he's more or less aware of where to help Yuume if she should find herself in a pinch.

"Well, you're not wrong. But I'm not too worried. You seem to know what you're talking about, and how to use your skills to the best of your ability. I'm glad to have your support on a mission." He reassures her confidently. Though of all the things she mentions to Roland, it's one particular line of thought he sort of hones his spotlight on. He hesitates for only a second before he speaks again.

"What...do you mean you can do medical work regarding souls, if I may ask?"
adregem: (cough cough)

[personal profile] adregem 2021-02-10 02:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[ They might as well stay stuck this way anyway, if roving walls were going to pose a problem the more they explore. It's strange how Roland has found a new love language in human touch, but he realizes it's reserved only for those closest to his heart, and Inigo has long occupied a place. ]

[ He doesn't seem to want to dislodge from Inigo either, movements equally stilled and minimal. ]

Not at all. I only have the one, pup. Bambosh never came from my heart. I only borrowed him for the time being. I figured having fire by my side would always come in handy, heh. [ He pulls back only slightly, just enough to rest his forehead against Inigo's. ] But the one who saved you...He's the only one I can understand. He's supposed to remind me of what it means to remain determined no matter what blocks my way.

[ The hands that rub his back slowly lower to hold Inigo's hand, where Roland then presses it against his beating heart. ] I guess I needed the reminder, after Nion. To keep going regardless of the obstacles. Yeah?

[ A reminder to them both. Or how symbolic it might be that Rannygazoo's knight form can destroy anything with it shield raised high above, knocking down walls that were separating them from one another. ]
adregem: (none of it is true)

[personal profile] adregem 2021-02-10 02:18 pm (UTC)(link)
'Does he think this is funny?!' Roland thinks in a flurry of panic, but the answer is obviously yes. A long resounding yes. Or Tidus just has a completely different version of fun that Roland's never going to understand, but here they are. There's no turning back when the wind kissing his face is sharp and cold, the spray of water dampening the bottom of his pant legs and parts of his skin. Too high up even for someone who's used Water Slide to go down thousands and thousands of miles deep into an Abyss at the bottom of the ocean. Whatever calm Roland tries to exude at this point has all but disappeared, his hands to his sides gripping Tidus's sleeve while he braces himself internally for whatever end comes.

"Tidus, this isn't practice!" He tries to shout amidst the ambient noise. At the same time, his heart is practically calling for the second higgledy to manifest now that the downwards arc towards the ground begins, descending faster and faster, gravity doing the rest.

"-Aaaaaaaaawwwhoaaa! Now's a good time to come out!" Which he doesn't say for Tidus's sake, but it does stir Rannygazoo's crowned little head to pop out from beneath them, some ways away still, appearing as dots in their vision. Ten others surround him, jumping in glee. Then, a bright flash of light greets the two riding the disk of water. Where once stood small, tiny little sprites; now, an almost six feet tall giant higgledy knight bellows out deep from its hollow armor, no longer high-pitched in squeal but an echoed cry that sounds almost inhuman. The sword in his hand is planted sluggishly into the ground, so that its arms are able to hold up its huge shield right in front of its body, the width covering his entire breadth, ready to meet the spray of water in full force.

'Higgle! Brave souls, it's time for a most wonderful landing! Piiiggle!'

Get ready to use the shield to ricochet to safety - ! Thank goodness for Hibber-Gibbers's synchronized understanding of the plan in advanced!
Edited 2021-02-10 14:18 (UTC)
adregem: (the plans look great!)

[personal profile] adregem 2021-02-10 05:50 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, we'll see about that. He doesn't know what we can do together, after all. He'll wear down and give in. Then, it'll be the three of us off to do some...crazy adventure on an alien world all over again. Hot springs or none."

He lingers where there hands are joined, imagining such a scene vividly in his mind's eye, before he slowly lets go and allows Inigo to continue the task of creating a gauntlet of flowers around his wrist. It's making some progress, as the trail of it grows more and more colorful the higher up the braids are being done. And the image of it - of what Inigo loves to see, to experience even on dangerous missions - is for his sake too. He wants Inigo to know that he's not alone, that they all care about one another and nothing's wrong with wanting to spend time with people who are close to you. Perhaps the best time to do it even, is when you're off the train and there's more experiences to be had in between tasks.

The Roland of old would never have even entertained such a notion. The work always coming first. He wonders if Inigo too, has seen a similar change in himself.

"Like right now, there's so much...nothing going on. I bet you he'd start daring us to do something silly, something wild that we couldn't do onboard. Otherwise, he'll get bored real fast." He tilts his gaze up, meeting an artificial sky, before chuckling. "Or even crazier still. Why don't you and I follow him once in a while? To another mission? We could surprise him."

Coming from a Team Lead himself? Oh, Mister President! How could you!
flatteries: (there's method in my madness)

[personal profile] flatteries 2021-02-10 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Guess who is just stumbling right after him. The ever-loyal little duckling of a friend named Inigo. Even though he's whining with every step, like Tidus just really, really hurt him.

(It does hurt! But Inigo is much more used to pain in general than his current whiny state is giving any credit to. But how else is he supposed to react to this Bro Betrayal?)

"Tidus." One time, and then another, more insistent: "Tiiiiduussss."

Whine, whine. Step, step.

"Tidus, my head huuuurtsss."

Isn't this a fun fun trip to try and find Taiki.
blitzcheer: (pouty times are here)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-02-10 06:49 pm (UTC)(link)
"Go ask someone to kiss it better!"

It's two whining teens on different ends of the whining scale, ... or somewhere at the middle and an end. Tidus isn't walking so briskly as to escape Inigo, so as long as he tries, he can catch up to Tidus's speed, whose mocking suggestion is just as sulking as Inigo's own whining is. Not really sincere, but just huffy because he can be.

Yes, this will be a perfect and natural state for Taiki to be gifted his two dumb friends in.
azrthmtrnznthos: (unsure)

[personal profile] azrthmtrnznthos 2021-02-10 07:42 pm (UTC)(link)
That made Raven blink in surprise. For a brief moment, the light flickered, reflecting that yes, she was surprised--thanks to her powers reacting. "...Thank you." She wasn't sure what else to say, honestly.
gundamofthedesert: (it's amazing)

[personal profile] gundamofthedesert 2021-02-10 10:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, let's try splitting up. We can always send each other a message if we find one that looks like it might be promising.
flatteries: (she said i know what you're scared of)

[personal profile] flatteries 2021-02-11 07:43 am (UTC)(link)
[ For a moment he just silently stares. At Roland. At the hand placed over his heart, able to softly feel the heartbeat even through clothes in the sheer silence of this place, only interrupted by little higgledy sounds from Jumblie as she decides to just roll around them while they're talking.

It's strange how one name can immediately instill so many memories into Inigo, like a film reel playing before his eyes. Not that he himself had a particularly hard experience on Nion - nothing worse than anything he's endured before already, anyway - but what threatens to tear his heart apart is the reminder of at least three separate situations where Roland looked like he was about to break apart.

It's a look Inigo never wishes to see on his father's face ever again, if he can help it. ]


Of course. [ The words spill across his lips softly, the look in Inigo's eyes soft as well - but also pleading. Even though it's not like it sounds as if he has to convince Roland in this instant, Inigo can't help it at the sheer memory. ] You can't give up. No matter what happens. I'll never let you.

[ He'll drag Roland through anything himself, if that's what it takes. ]
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971960)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2021-02-11 09:16 am (UTC)(link)
The flickering light surprised her a bit, but she smiled regardless. "You're welcome." Then she nodded to the direction in front of them. "Anyway, we should probably keep going. No telling when the next time everything around here is gonna change."
Edited 2021-02-11 09:17 (UTC)
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971809)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2021-02-11 09:18 am (UTC)(link)
Right. [ She gestures down one direction. ] I'll head down this way, and let you know if I find anything?
flatteries: (from misery; take it from me)

[personal profile] flatteries 2021-02-11 03:27 pm (UTC)(link)
It's a vision Inigo can easily imagine too. It's even possible right now - for Tidus to suddenly find them, to run around some corner and start some sort of shenanigans with them. Inigo sure wouldn't be surprised if it would suddenly happen under the current circumstances. It's not like Roland isn't fun, and it's not like Inigo himself isn't fun either, but.. neither of them can truly live up to Tidus's energy when it comes to things like that, huh?

It's a nice thought though. Inigo likes thinking about it. Even with as bad as the train can be, he's still glad he just got to experience this. To be this close with other people, to show them his true self without hesitation.

Even as he speaks up, he's still smiling a bit.

"That may just be the most irresponsible thing I've ever heard you say, mister team leader." But it's not scolding in any way. Inigo is laughing, his eyes forming small, smiling crescents. Roland does often seem more loose when it comes to the kind of suggestions he makes around the two of them, huh? Inigo can't imagine him suggesting that kind of thing when it would come to anyone else, just ditching his work like that.
gundamofthedesert: (another cup of tea)

[personal profile] gundamofthedesert 2021-02-11 07:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Sounds good. I'll head this way and see if I can find something.

[Hopefully they didn't get separated by more randomly appearing walls]
blitzcheer: (ho ho ho cape blanket)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-02-11 09:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"Just chill!" comes Tidus's response to Roland, swallowed up by the surrounding air. Even with the man right next to him, clinging onto him with a grip that Tidus won't ever make fun of, he wonders if he hears him, but he won't bother calling a second a second time. It's exhilarating to him, this daring rush of about them; the height secondary to the way his nerves become giddy and bewildered all at once, but he doesn't shy away from watching the returning view below.

"Wooooooohoooooooo!"

Which might explain that joyous cry as they advance back towards ground level. Tidus has his own grasp on the side of Roland's shirt, more for balance than fear, his other hand pressed to the side of his forehead, the length of his arm attempting to be used as a shield to keep his eyes drying out (no, it's not working out). Fist still squeezed tight, as if some reminder of the connection he's meant to be keeper. And through the same synchronisation with his own higgledy, Tidus knows their landing is coming; giving Hibber-Gibbers nothing but the faith louder in his heart than anything he could affirm with words. What he does speak, he does for Roland, tugging on his fabric of his shirt.

"Get ready!"

Everything happens, and it happens quick, but not as quick as it may seem. Hibber-Gibbers brings them downward but follows no exterior pull but his own. Gravity? What's that? No concern of Gibbs's, as by the time the shapes of walls and paths that make the unfinished city become more life-sized than toy, the air is nearer to a breeze than the hissing it was high above. They meet the shield, and there's a sensation under them that can only be described as a bump; the disk of water indeed bouncing off from the shield, it ascends only by a few feet and then lands on the ground -

and bursts, Tidus falling backwards with a "wah!" and taking Roland with him, to join the collection of water higgledy and Hibber-Gibbers already thrown around.

There was an error here, but it wasn't Gibbs's. Right now though, there's no room for figuring that out; only the sound of laughter coming from Tidus, the back of his clothing becoming thoroughly soaked.

Don't forget the squealing (happy) higgledys, either.
comefadeaway: (Hopeful)

[personal profile] comefadeaway 2021-02-12 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
"That's good...oh." Yoite looked at her leg with a bit of a frown. "I'm...not sure that's the kind of thing I can heal. I can try if you want, but it might be...a bit strange."

Yoite hadn't had a lot of experience doing things like that on purpose.

"Do you need help getting up?" He offered his hand to her maybe.
subcircuits: (oh come on then)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-02-12 03:13 am (UTC)(link)
"Mm-hm." He's a little distracted by what he's doing, but not so much that he ignores Romeo. He's just frowning and a little distant as he tells the boy, "I could talk to it and tell it what do to, or use certain movements of my hands to interact with it. Be a lot more sanitary than this is, that's for sure."
subcircuits: (appealing)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-02-12 03:21 am (UTC)(link)
"Maybe it just really likes this food? I'd think it would be able to just graze if it was that hungry..."

But what does he know?

He steps back a bit and watches the cute tableau as the animal lowers its head for another mouthful of hay. (He may or may not capture a photo with a twist of his fingers, because cute.) "Do you think it would let us pet it while it's distracted...?"

Apparently, while he was distracted with the door, he's missed that she already beat him to that.
subcircuits: (that crooked smile)

jou, honey.... and yeah, wrap works for me

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-02-12 03:24 am (UTC)(link)
Devero spends enough time with Techstead's young recruits to be familiar with their, ah, undiscerning appetites, never mind his own memories of the same from when he was one himself. So he just grins wryly and says, "Shall I keep you in mind for any other leftovers or questionable camp food experiments while we're out here, then?"