middleofsomewhere | Ongoing: All Teams

Ongoing: All Teams

The first few days are taken up with solving the problems in the various sectors, all the while getting closer to their goal. The Great-Winter, Great-Summer, Great-Spring and Great Autumn.

On Day 9 of the month of Jelly they will see on their map a clear indicator of where to go. As they draw near it will be obvious what they are looking for.

The Overseers

In the centre of each of the sectors there is a large metal tube, hundreds of pipes lead from it, spanning up to the ceiling above and down below, creating a field of pipes and tubes to clamber over and crawl under to reach the central tube. On the tube itself there is a panel, wrapping around it in a circle. The SCA's of the Voidtrecker show an exclamation mark, if they click on them they will see the message.

Reach the panel, enter the inner systems and give your aid.

As Voidtreckers step towards the tubes it will seem as if the world shifts around them. Instead of metal and wire they will see trees. The Great-Spring is a tree in blossom, pink leaves spreading up across the canopy. Great-Summer has strong green leaves, Great_Autumns leaves are brown and falling and Great-Winter has no leaves at all.

The panel is still there, the only part of the scene that doesn't look organic. As the Voidtreckers move towards their goal the tree begins to move, branches fighting against those trying to get through the roots. The aim seems to be to push intruders away, going as far as flinging them back with higher branches.

The branches aren't the only security measures in place. As they push forwards they will find creatures coming at them from the trees.

Strangely the creatures look like creatures from their own worlds, any creature they would expect to see in a tree. Regardless of species they attack with claws and with lazers from their eyes. They don't move far from the branches, but try and stop invaders from getting close to the trunk.

For those that get through they will find that as they draw close to the 'trunk' the attacks stop, as if they have reached an eye of a storm.

Going Further

The panel is a simple glowing screen, there are no instructions but their SCA's will beep softly and if they press their SCA to the panel they will find everything vanishes, the trees, branches and weird animals.

Or perhaps it is they themselves that vanish as they find themselves in a large white room, everyone is together here. No matter what sector they had travelled through and which overseer they entered through.

There are four tubes filled with liquid, pink, green, orange and white towering over them.

"Our systems have been compromised." The four voices ring out. "Heal what has been harmed, destroy what should not be here. Find the source and purge it from our world."

The overseers and the room vanish and the voidtreckers find themselves in a forest, a forest that is slowly being choaked by red sickly vines.

The Voidtreckers themselves will find themselves looking different, almost like the hard-light holograms of the Helpmates though they certainly feel like themselves. They are carrying a sturdy stick but nothing else and depending how imaginative they are will quickly find they can alter their appearance to fit their wishes.

Heal and Destroy

The voidtreckers will find themselves drawn towards the vines, if they touch them they will be able to soothe, a glowing blue light from their hands that runs down the vine before it fades away, freeing the trees that it held in its chokehold.

There are many pathways, many vines and it will be a long task to clear it all. It is not long also before the first threats find them. Threats that look like mongeese, small creatures that will lunge at them, teeth bared and claws out.

Luckily the Voidtreckers will quickly learn the ability to soothe is not the only power gifted to them.

On the Outside

For anyone who does not enter through the panel it will seem like their fellow Voidtreckers have entered a deep trance. The area they are sat around the tree is calm, no threats enter there. But outside that area there are still threats, the branches attack, the animals attack and sometimes Helpmates try to evict those they see from the area, claiming it 'restricted.'

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Right, Siebren can't...see through these branches. He latches on and calls out. ]

Let go now!

[ They're close enough that he can hop between then, slamming through squirrels and eying up a pathway. ]

And follow my voice!

[ Nearly there. He's still being attacked now and then, but he can fend off most of it. ]

[He releases his grasp when directed, taking the brief moment to hurl another squirrel who's gotten a little too close into the trunk of a tree, shattering it. He looks up at Seto's voice - good, he's not falling - and moves in that direction.]

On my way!

[ Seto's trying to take out as many squirrels as he can. He's close enough, unfortunately---and gets grazed, but nothing he can't bear, except---

---thought that too soon. He feels his stomach drop, but manages to regain a tenuous grip.

Positives of dangling precariously: the branches shift enough that he can see their target. He calls down again, a little out of breath. ]

I see it! Almost---agh---there, if we can break through this way!

[He sounds different, and that worries Siebren - enough to have him glancing up through the trees as he moves. He has no luck the first few times, but finally a branch moves enough, and he sees Seto, hanging-]

[He stops abruptly and raises a hand, grabbing hold of Seto's gravity. He can withstand whatever else happens to him; Seto is first priority.]

I have you!

[The approaching squirrels can wait. He will not let Seto fall.]

[ Seto doesn't need to be told. He can feel the shift in his gravity, no longer pulling him down---honestly he's starting to feel nauseous from all the shifts, but he can handle it a little longer. They're nearly through.

He takes advantage of this to release the branch and twist himself down, getting a better look at what's ahead. There's a clear zone ahead that he's pretty sure is the core. ]

45 degrees, straight shot!

[ He tucks his arms in and straightens, prepared to 'shoot' on through. ]

[He calculates the angle and sends Seto along it with a swift gesture. Seto is once again out of his sight, but Siebren trusts him to communicate - they've been doing pretty well so far.]

Tell me when-

[He's cut off as he takes a laser shot to the ribs and stumbles. His aim stays true - he'll live - but he is getting damned tired of these squirrels.]

[ He lands in a peaceful wintery clearing, the attacks ceasing once he passes the threshold. Apparently the branches can't bend backward. ]

Let go, I'm safe!

[ He still has to get Siebren through safely too---so Seto turns right back around to the opening he came through, calling out and extending an arm. ]

Come on! I'm right here---

[He releases Seto's gravity when directed and breaks into a run in Seto's direction, ducking branches and doing his best to avoid laser bursts from squirrels as the melody rises. He curses inwardly - he will not bring Sigma out for a handful of squirrels! - and reaches for Seto's hand.]

[ And despite being a fair bit shorter and smaller, Seto locks on to Siebren with all his strength and hauls him through, staying close so he can support if needed.

It's peaceful on this side of the tree wall. A little...too peaceful, it's kind of eerie, and that's not even getting into what's waiting at the panel.

But he'll wait here, to let them catch their breath (and to let Seto's head stop spinning). ]

You okay?

[Seto pulls him through, and his first act upon finding his footing is to recall the barrier he'd left behind and redeploy it, cracked but still standing, right at the gap he'd stepped through. He waits, eyeing the forest as he catches his breath, but...nothing happens. No trees reach for them, and the marauding squirrels patrol elsewhere. It seems they have reached a safe zone, for whatever that is worth.]

[He breathes a sigh of relief and steps back away from the barrier.]

One of the advantages of laser fire is that it is self-cauterizing.

[...Siebren that's not funny]

Are you alright?

Self-cauterizing?

[ And Seto is immediately scanning Siebren for the damage. It's easy to spot, and he flinches with something like guilt. ]

I should've---ugh--- We'll find you a healer. Come on, I think I see our target.

[ The great tree and the panel are just ahead...but when he sees a smattering of his teammates unconscious before the panel, he falters, the pieces terribly slotting into place. ]

...oh.

[...definitely not the right thing to say, then.]

I am alright. They are minor injuries at best.

[He's had worse. Seto has seen the proof.]

[He walks alongside Seto, freezing for a moment at the sight of bodies-]

[No. Wait-]

[He moves forward, takes a knee next to one, takes hold of their wrist, and-]

[There's a pulse, and they are breathing. Good.]

[...their SCAs would have returned them to the train had they died, he remembers a moment later. Of course. He'd- forgotten. Overreacted. Their teammates are alright, for certain values thereof. It's fine.]

They are alive, and unconscious.

[It's only then that he looks over his shoulder and sees the expression on Seto's face.]

What is it?

[ Seto still looks dubious, and he's going to flag down the first available healer if he can...but he kneels down beside Siebren and frowns, looking at the panel in front of them. ]

Enter the inner system. The computer difficulties, the projections...their minds are inside some form of virtual world that contains the star's maintenance protocols, I'd bet on it.

[ And that's what bothers him. ]

I think I told you about my last experience inside one. My father had survived his apparent death through digitizing his mind...he intended to imprison me in the virtual world and upload his mind into my body, and with all his cheating he could've succeeded.

Point is, this position leaves us vulnerable. And I don't know if the SCA's evacuation protection will work in this case.

You did, yes.

[That Seto would be worried about a virtual world makes sense, especially after his experience with them. And if he is correct about the evacuation protocol not functioning properly...]

[Siebren gets to his feet.]

I will remain here. Someone needs to monitor the situation, and if anything occurs, I will hold the line.

[ Seto nods, grateful for that at least. And it'll give Siebren a chance to heal, as long as someone comes along...

But he has to consider his own actions. The idea of putting himself at risk again is...worrisome, to say the least. Are there enough people on the mission to complete it? He glances at his teammates' sleeping faces, thinks a few moments longer, and comes to a decision. ]

I think I have to go in. I have more experience operating within a digital environment than many of them do, and that could be the difference in getting the job done.

[ A heavy sigh. He stands and stretches before sitting by the panel, still half-turned to face Siebren. Seto's apprehension is still there, but he also feels gratitude, reflected in the tiniest of smiles. ]

...if anyone can protect us, it's you. But I hope you're talking to the first healer who comes by.

[He worries about Seto heading into that virtual world - partially because of Seto's previous experiences, and partially because Siebren cannot help him in there. But Seto has made his choice, and Siebren his, and it is now up to Siebren to keep his promise.]

I will. [The wounds are minor, but if the assurance sends Seto on his mission with a clear mind, then so be it.] Be careful in there.

I will. We'll come back.

[ He has to believe that. People he cares about are inside already, and he has to join the fight. So with one last look at Siebren, he takes a deep breath, presses his wrist to the panel...

And it happens in an instant. He slumps onto the grass in a heap beside the others, wrist dropping with a thud. There's a reason he didn't do this standing up. ]

[It is unnerving to see Seto slump to the ground like that, even if he had been expecting something of the sort to happen. He observes for a moment, waiting for something to happen, but...there is nothing. He is alone.]

[He takes a breath, feeling the burn in his shoulder and side where the laser blasts had hit home, and lets it out slowly. A wave of the hand recalls the barrier, allowing it to recharge for when he needs it. He moves to stand at the edge of the clearing, waiting and listening for anyone on approach. There will be others soon enough; they will need his help, and he will be ready.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ongoing: All Teams

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject