middleofsomewhere | Into the Unknown Part Two

On day twenty-five of the month of Symphony, everyone is gathered together, at least everyone who follows the request for a meeting to be held.

One of the head scientists - named Till - stands before the group, a look of excitement on their face.

"We have found something, an anomaly in the void. We are not sure what it is exactly, but there is a lot of activity coming from its coordinates. More penitently, initial investigations have picked up readings that are constant with a void storm.

I believe from your own reports you have experienced void storms before, and you know they can be dangerous, but always fleeting, never lasting more than a few days. However, this storm seems to be static. It has not moved or changed since we first detected it.

We understand there may be people who do not want to venture into this storm, and we understand. The loops we have added to your tethers will allow you to stay on the base long enough for those investigating to return. You may experience some discomfort and disorientation during the time your craft is away, but it should only be mild and temporary.

For those investigating, we know little of what you will face. Every storm is different, and this one is already stranger than anything we have come across before."

The scientists stick around to reassure people and help them make their decisions. Those going to investigate are told to report to their craft in the morning.

INTO THE UNKNOWN: PART 2

SYMPHONY 26-29 ~ OOC POST ~ QUESTIONS ~ FIRST PART

JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN

Those willing to go will leave on the Voidtrecker Express first thing the next day, with only warnings and well-wishes to be careful to go with them. There is an estimate for how long it'll take them to reach the anomaly, about half a day's travel by the train's clock, give or take. But there's no telling the true time it'll take, nor the effects of the void that will be waiting for them. Keeping away from the windows or putting up blinds is advised as a precaution, just in case, and to monitor each other's health.

"Warning: Approaching Voidstorm, please take precautions." The train warns as they arrive on the edges, all the usual train precautions have been taken, the lab cart has been shut down, the ovens in the kitchen are disconnected. The train begins to shake as it enters the first layer.

LAYER ONE: CHANGING SHADES
They first experience changes by sight - literally. Around them, objects start emitting an aura that's unique to each passenger, colouring it to match their mood towards that particular thing. Coffee machines? Amazing, paint that gold. A boring book? Ugh, the entire thing is turning grey.

It's a small effect at the start, yet objects aren't the only things being affected - so are the people on board. Their own moods are changing their hair colour, eyes, and skin, shifting more rapidly than the furniture's paint job. And as time goes on, passengers will be able to affect one another's colouration and aura, giving away how they may feel about that person at that moment, if their feelings are strong enough. Never noticed how fondly one feels about you? Now you do.

LAYER TWO: LOOSE LIPS
Going into the next layer, there's an itch that starts to gnaw at everyone - an itch to talk. To friends, to strangers, to anyone; you have a need to chatter, and it has to get out. Attempting to isolate yourself only makes the need worse, and you won't be able to sleep it away. It doesn't matter if you don't know what to talk about - you'll find something.

A good chat will subdue the need for a while, but it will eventually return. So while listening to others talk might help keep it at bay, it won't forever.

LAYER THREE: CONFESSION - I THINK YOU'RE OK
The changes become stronger, and with them the urges. Passengers will feel compelled to tell those they know their feelings for them, whether it's as simple as finding them okay, to having stronger inclinations of friendship, dislike, or even love.

These urges can be held back on for a time, but it's easy for it to slip out; and many may still be suffering from the previous layer, where they get the sudden need to talk.

LAYER FOUR: A CAKE FOR MY BELOVED
Talking is simply not good enough in this layer: actions speak louder than words. You want to create ways of expressing your desires, regardless of how creative you actually are. Building a shrine to your loved ones, challenging rivals to duels. You can't stay idle, and your hands and brain need to be at work! What can you manage on this train?

EYE OF THE STORM

Finally, all of it stops. The colours, the emotions, the compulsion of dramatics; their minds go from being caught in the storm to completely calm (or, as calm as they ever are). It is much like waking from a dream, or going from one very noisy overwhelming place to complete silence.

A second passes, and then another, and then... there's a feeling. Fear, terror - even those who normally have no ability to feel the emotions of others can feel it, emanating from the train itself.

With it comes an invitation. Hard to describe, but a tugging at their mind. They can push it away no problem, but if they accept...

They are looking out. The familiar colours of the Void are all around them, but they can't turn to look. Ahead is a hole where space should be, nothingness curving and spiralling out from a point deep within that wound in reality, tearing and tugging at the unfortunate observer. The chaotic nimbus at the edge of their vision spins inwards to meet it, and vanishes at the edge of the hole. A void within the Void. And within that terrifying chaotic darkness there are shapes.

The train rocks as energy rushes past it, tossing the craft from side to side. It spins, lurching out of control, the connection snapping as everyone is thrown back into their own awareness as the train starts vibrating to at full speed.

But the tell-tale signs of movement isn't there, and a creaking of metal can be heard. The train shakes more as the view outside the windows shows them inching forward towards where the hole had been, and parts of the roof start to bend inward, water pipes burst and the electricity fails in multiple carriages.

Until there's a rush, a shaking and twisting, and the void flashes violently in the windows. The ever distant choral singing becomes a roar as a kaleidoscope of colours fills the interior of the train itself.

Then there is stillness. It calms, and there is no storm, no terrifying darkness. Just the void, as it ever is, ever changing.

OOC NOTES

NOTES: They will be in the storm for three days, each layer takes about half a day.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"You can teach others once you have the rulebook," Kaiba insists. He went to all that trouble to write it out and type it up for a reason...

But he digs in with his stubbornness. "I miss my brother every day. It hurts, that he's been without me over a year..."

But at least he's determined to make it back there. "But I don't want to let go of all of you. I...like this life too. I'll steal a voidcraft myself if I have to, to find you again."

Idia scoffed, "With everything that happened while I was away the only person I'd be able to teach it to is my brother," Which... yeah, Ortho would like that. "...yeah, ok, I'll take them. Ortho would like the game." He wonders what build Ortho will go with...

And as the topic fully switches to siblings, "I would rather bring Ortho here than go back. He's the only reason I want to go back, I'd rather leave everything else behind. He would love it too, he always wanted to go on adventures." Oh, he's never really asked before, not ever wanting to get too close to others, let alone talk about siblings when Idia was so far away from his own. "What's your brother's name? How old is he?"

Kaiba usually isn't in the mood to discuss this...but he's feeling rather loose-lipped right now, and so he answers:

"I hope you can teach him someday. It'd be nice to meet him. If Mokuba can forgive me...maybe he can meet him too."

That might be confusing, so he elaborates: "Mokuba would be about sixteen now. Right before I was taken, I...left to chase someone else I'd lost. He was angry with me, afraid I wouldn't come back. He was right, but I never meant to leave for this long. And because my comatose body was somewhere unreachable, he couldn't even find that."

He frowns deeply. That still hurts. "But he's a really smart guy. Determined. Friendly. He's going to do great things...I just hope I can fix this."

"Oh," Oh, that's perfect. "Ortho's sixteen as well. Well, kinda, it's complicated. I mean, he is sixteen, but also six. But also eight, I guess in a way, but not. It's complicated." Idia repeats himself on the last part.

Before getting uncomfortable with how Kaiba continued, moving to hug his arm to his side. "...yeah, I promised Ortho I wouldn't leave him again either but..." He did, by being brought here. He ended up breaking that promise. Also... "I donno how to feel about how similar our situations are... it's weird." Like super weird, wtf? "I guess I'm at least back at my family's facility to be taken care of. I know Ortho's there watching over me. Or him. Or... I donno, whatever we are."

Kaiba lets out a slow breath. "I hope we can show them what we've been up to. That we were needed out here in some way. I don't think even I can change the past...so I'll just go back to him and apologize."

But it is weird, isn't it. He frowns a little more. "I'm sure we're not truly that much alike. Most normal people care about their brothers. It's just the decent thing to do, and I'm...relieved to hear that about him."

"I was also thinking 'cause you're at least close to catching up to me intellectually, and a gamer." Idia explains as he thinks it over. "I guess you're right about the whole 'not only one with siblings' thing, not that I've really cared to ask about others and their siblings here. I was thinking of their age, but I guess Ortho is special compared to most, so yeah, not alike." Thanks for pointing that all out, Kaiba, it gave Idia a chance to set things right, clearly thinking himself better than Kaiba when it came to intellect, and that no one could be better than Ortho.

But hey, you come close, Kaiba, that's a compliment!

Into the Unknown Part Two

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chapter 6 spoilery stuff within/to come

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