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.
gentle_jim: (pout 2)

Patch Job

[personal profile] gentle_jim 2021-01-13 01:19 am (UTC)(link)
"Come on, kid- it's not that hard," Jack groans, stepping behind Rich with a gun in hand. He's been watching the kid struggle for a few minutes now with an unimpressed expression on his face.
firewalled: (I'm unable to go back)

[personal profile] firewalled 2021-01-13 03:01 am (UTC)(link)
Rich whirls around at the sound of Jack's voice and nearly crumples the patch in his hands.

"Who the fuck gave you a gun?" Sorry, Jack, but his is going to be hard, especially when someone he's freaked out about is hanging around and making him feel even more nervous.
gentle_jim: (listen here)

[personal profile] gentle_jim 2021-01-14 12:35 am (UTC)(link)
"I gave me a gun. With some help from a siren." Jack scans the area, watching for incoming help-mates. So far, so good.

"Would you rather I be backing you up with nothing? Shut up and concentrate."
firewalled: (Mayday)

[personal profile] firewalled 2021-01-14 01:30 pm (UTC)(link)
"You're..." Huh. So maybe doing a good deed did help after all. Rich turns back to the pipe.

"As long as you don't aim it at me, we're good, then. Just give me a few to get this patched."
gentle_jim: (i'm being serious)

[personal profile] gentle_jim 2021-01-14 07:16 pm (UTC)(link)
"Don't tempt me."

There's a few minutes of awkward silence during which Jack shifts from foot to foot, the fingers on his free hand twitching at his side like he's playing an invisible instrument.

"You know... I'm only doing this because you're a teammate and it would suck if you were out of commission. Mostly because I'd have to do more work," Jack says finally, mimicking what Rich said to him in the medical car.
firewalled: (If you want to)

[personal profile] firewalled 2021-01-14 10:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Rich does glance back once or twice, just to make sure he's safe from threats (Helpmates or otherwise...), so he notes the way Jack is fidgeting. It reminds him of his own movements, oddly enough... Rich has never been the type to sit still for long.

"Yeah, you don't have to give me excuses. Whatever the reason... I'm glad to have the help right now." Being grateful is... probably a good idea. Gives Jack another reason to do this again, should they end up in the same position.

"Okay, done. You see any other pipes around that're leaking?"
gentle_jim: (AHAHAHAH)

hello fellow ADHD child

[personal profile] gentle_jim 2021-01-17 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
"Good."

Being grateful is an excellent idea it turns out, because it at least stops Jack's bitching. And fuels his hero complex- but its debatable whether that's a good or bad thing.

"Nope. 'Cept your dick," he says and then starts laughing like its the funniest fucking thing on the planet.
firewalled: (Strangely it comes out as yes)

sometimes you just gotta fidget your problems away!

[personal profile] firewalled 2021-01-17 09:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Perhaps this is a surprise for Jack, but Rich actually doesn't seem insulted by the joke, and in fact snorts as well.

"Hey now, you can say what you want about me, but even you know I ain't the type to jizz in my pants. For one thing, you need an actual penis for that."

He smirks, as if wondering if Jack will even figure that puzzle out before turning to head down the hall.

"Sure there're plenty of other pipes that need your attention though, my dude."
gentle_jim: (squint)

or strangle someone, whatever

[personal profile] gentle_jim 2021-01-20 09:53 pm (UTC)(link)
He starts to argue that he doesn't know anything about Rich's ejaculation habits, when the kid just casually informs him he doesn't have a dick. It takes him a second or two to process that. Oh.

"Whatever. Like I care what you're packing," he grumbles, feeling stupid.

"And wait for me, unless you want to get brained by one of those little dudes with a wrench!"
firewalled: (Hey mayday!)

that's... not rich's usual coping strategy

[personal profile] firewalled 2021-01-21 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
"Good. Because you shouldn't care." Rich replies quickly. Even if Otoha had been accepting once he understood what Rich's experience was, it's a lot easier when people just don't make a big fuss over it.

"Don't worry dude. I won't be letting them get anywhere near me." Mainly because he'd bolt if he saw one coming.
gentle_jim: (pout)

probably for the best

[personal profile] gentle_jim 2021-01-21 09:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"You saying you don't need my help anymore?" Jack scoffs, cocking his head at the sudden confidence.
firewalled: (To die)

[personal profile] firewalled 2021-01-22 05:48 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm saying if you're going to be all sour because you didn't know I had tits, you're free to leave."

Rich has at least noticed Jack's grumpiness, though he's certainly misattributing it.
Edited 2021-01-22 17:51 (UTC)
gentle_jim: (listen here)

[personal profile] gentle_jim 2021-01-23 07:23 pm (UTC)(link)
"What?" Jack gives Rich a look like he's just grown two more heads.

"You thought I- Oh my god. I'm mad 'cause it ruined my stupid joke! Now I have to think of something else or look like a dumbass!"
firewalled: (Would you kindly laugh at me)

[personal profile] firewalled 2021-01-24 01:11 am (UTC)(link)
"...Oh." Well, now Rich is feeling a little stupid, but he does his best not to show it.

"If it helps, you always look like a dumbass to me."
gentle_jim: (AHAHAHAH)

[personal profile] gentle_jim 2021-01-24 07:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh really? Same to you, butt-face!" Jack retorts, grabbing Rich around the neck with intent to noogie.

Unfortunately, its a move that might be a little too reminiscent of when they first met in the luggage car...
firewalled: (Making peace with the enevmy)

[personal profile] firewalled 2021-01-25 04:09 pm (UTC)(link)
The affect is immediate. Rich's face freezes up in horror, his hands reaching up to grab onto Jack's arm. His breath is quick and shallow, and there's almost an animal whimper from him as he thrashes in the robot's grip.

It's not just Jack, at least. He's been in a position like this before, though then, the stench of alcohol is thicker.
gentle_jim: (worried)

[personal profile] gentle_jim 2021-01-27 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Jack's grip falters as it becomes clear this isn't just playful thrashing, especially when Rich makes that sound. He let's go with a confused expression on his face.

"What's your problem?"
firewalled: (Mayday)

[personal profile] firewalled 2021-01-27 08:48 pm (UTC)(link)
"S-Stop!" Rich cries out, voice pitched up with panic. "Don't touch me! Please!"

He finally ducks away from Jack entirely and stumbles backwards, a hand at his chest as his heart threatens to pound out of it.
gentle_jim: (listen here)

[personal profile] gentle_jim 2021-01-27 08:56 pm (UTC)(link)
"I was just gonna noogie you a little, you dork," the AI huffs, putting his hands on his hips.

"Are you gonna lose your mind every time I touch you now, or what?"
firewalled: (Once more?)

[personal profile] firewalled 2021-01-27 09:01 pm (UTC)(link)
"I... I- sorry, I just... I don't know what happened." His ears are still buzzing with static, and he swallows hard against the panic.

"It just felt like you were gonna do something else."
gentle_jim: (eyebrow raise)

[personal profile] gentle_jim 2021-01-27 09:05 pm (UTC)(link)
"Like what? Strangle you?" Jack supposes that's fair actually. His has big hands and he's prone to strangling people.
firewalled: (Looking in the mirror)

[personal profile] firewalled 2021-01-27 09:08 pm (UTC)(link)
"You know you can't act like that's ridiculous..." After their first meeting, of course Rich is going to be a little wary. And he does know that was bullying, at least now.
gentle_jim: (pout 2)

[personal profile] gentle_jim 2021-01-27 10:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Jack rolls his eyes. "You don't have a port, so stop worrying about that," he grumbles, dismissing the problem entirely.
firewalled: (Unable to keep up this deception)

[personal profile] firewalled 2021-01-28 01:01 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah? And if I had a port, would I have to worry? You make it sound like I would. I know it's easier for you to bullshit, but if you actually want me to get along with you, you're going to have to stop doing it around me."

He's willing to give this teammate thing a shot, but only if Jack isn't going end up pulling the same act his SQUIP did.
gentle_jim: (i'm being serious)

[personal profile] gentle_jim 2021-01-28 06:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Jack's gaze hardens, his flippant demeanor sloughing off like melting snow. This is the second time this kid has essentially demanded he be genuine and honest with him and it's starting to become a problem.

"You want honesty? Okay- how about this? What would I do with you, if you had a port? What could your body provide me that I don't already have right now?"

This is his Business Voice- his negotiating a contract voice - his what do you have to offer Me, the superior Company, voice.
Edited 2021-01-28 18:58 (UTC)

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