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Eureka Subway, Part 3 - RPLOG

2023-08-08T14:39:50Z

Narwen:

Eureka Subway, Part 2 - RPLOG

2023-08-08T14:39:30Z

Narwen: Add links to other parts

Eureka Subway, Part 1 - RPLOG

2023-08-08T14:39:10Z

Narwen: Add link to RPLOG of third part

[[Eureka_Subway,_Part_1_-_RPLOG|Part 1]], [[Eureka_Subway,_Part_2_-_RPLOG|Part 2]], [[Eureka_Subway,_Part_3_-_RPLOG|Part 3]]

=Participants=
* [[User:Junes|Junes]]
* [[Narwen|Narwen]]
* [[User:Pteryx|Pteryx]]
* [[User:Theia|Theia]]
* [[User:Ysadora|Ysadora]]

=Date=
23/7/2023
=Log=
<div></div><div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx tries to walk behind the group. The mutant's brightly coloured shirt contrasted just about everything about this situation, socks and sandals, on his back legs, a pair of rather worn short jeans, he looked to be about as unbattle ready as possible should things go rough. Some small drones surround him, possibly to make up for his own lack of dexterity. Plastered on his face is a growing sense of dread, as he walks along the others going in the same direction. Looking for just about anything to break the ice, he says as loudly as possible, "Uh, every heard of them mutant that lost their left arm and leg, well they're all right now!"</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Brushing tunnel dust off one rolled-up sleeve of her black leather jacket, Theia hurries down the tunnel with her head bowed, clearly keen to spend as little time as possible in the dirty tunnel. In her haste the feline accidentally nudges the wall of the tunnel on more than one occasion, much to her clear annoyance. Reaching the room she was directed to before any others, she finishes picking bits of rock out of her pale hair and awaits the arrival of three familiar mutants she recognises, one hand resting on her hip just above her holster. "Hey guys! At least I'm not stuck down here all by myself... you here for Elena's notice too?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora picks her way carefully through the mines. The dust in the air has combined with the water vapors hanging around Ysadora to form a patina of grime that coats her clothing and clumps her hair into a matted mess. Every once in a while, she stops to shake the excess off like a dog. "Um... Elena Martin, Elena Martin... Does someone actually have an office down here?" Despite her grimy state, Ysadora's voice and manner are upbeat. "It's cozy enough, but it'd be even better with some wooden walls or something." Sputtering light fills the tunnel as Ysadora raises one hand holding a candle. Another hovers limblessly behind her, loosely grabbing the handle of her scythe.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes came running in nearly tripping but tails moving to readjust their weight as you see a chimeric skunk look back up with a wave "wow good to see you all! sorry i got caught up a bit" district their unusually open sweater and tights off "any prep we should take or plan?" patting their backpack</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Elena's Office in the Mines<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> It's dirty, it's dusty, it's noisy. The Eureka mines began life as Termite tunnels, and this office sits in a side branch of hard-packed earth. It has a mix of sturdy, industrial furniture that's been dragged down here -- filing cabinets, an ancient battleship-grey steel desk -- and a few unvarnished wooden chairs that look to have been put together on the spot. A fold-up camp bed in steel and canvas, heavily chewed up by nanites, is propped upright against a wall. There are no computers or electronics in sight; the most advanced piece of equipment is probably the stapler.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> The air here is cool but a little damp, and room smells of that, of paper, of rust, but mostly of its main occupant: a human female. The earth muffles the noise of the city above, but less so the constant irregular sound of pickaxes striking rock, less-frequent thumps from something heavier -- hammers? some mutant's iron-hard fists? -- and the constant chatter and cackling of the miners.</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) It was a small adventure just getting here. The entrance to the mines is easy to find -- just follow the sound of pickaxes -- but the inside is literally a warren: old Termite tunnels, dug out and then abandoned, now taken over by workers from the city. An exhausted group of miners, heading out after their shift with cash in their pockets, pointed you in the right direction to get to "the Boss's office". And here you are, shuffled into an appendix of the tunnels that barely fits even this many people plus the battered, industrial furniture.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> "Listen, thanks so much for coming. I'm Elena. I run the mine, day to day." She's standing with you, leaning against the desk and running a hand through short-cropped brown hair -- and it's actual hair, not fur. In fact, as far as you can tell, she's entirely human. Not so unusual out here in Eureka, but a strange sight for anyone coming from Fairhaven. She's maybe five-six and lean, boots and denim, wearing a hard-hat like all the other workers you've seen. There're bags under her eyes. "I wasn't sure anyone'd show. I can't pay you, can't offer any reward -- the mine belongs to the city, and the city doesn't give a shit as long as ore's coming out -- but if you can find Linda I'll buy you a drink or six." She breathes in and out, organising her thoughts.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> "Linda's from Third Shift. Doug here's the shift lead," she says, gesturing to the other new face, some kind of human-rodent mix, taller and a lot heavier, wearing orange coveralls. "The missing worker's named Linda McKee. She's a bit shorter than me, mostly human but got a bit of coyote in her. Red-brown hair, tanned. Tail. She would've been wearing coveralls -- grey, right, Doug? -- and boots plus a helmet and lamp. She's been gone a day and a half now. Everyone's supposed to take spare water with them, but if she didn't, or if she lost it, and she's stuck somewhere, she may not have a lot of time. We already searched all the active parts of the mine, plus the tunnels we've worked out. Spent a whole shift on that, and I can already hear the Council typing up angry notes about the drop in output. There's no cave-ins, no flooding, and she's not asleep in a storeroom somewhere. But," she continues, taking a breath, "there's the old tunnels, all the mess the Termites dug out and whatever that leads to. We don't go down there, because -- well, because we're not idiots, basically. I took a look at the entrance to the upper part last night, didn't see anything, but I'm not sending my guys in there and losing a whole crew. Needs someone who can actually handle themselves." She smiles wanly. "That's you, I hope."</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx stares with curiosity, human!? Pure human!? Though he tries to catch himself from the moment. The skunk beast tries to get up on two legs, reaching out for mayhaps a handshake... Showing off 4 arms before he crashes back to all fours... "Dag nabbit... Howdy huma... I mean Elena, thanks fer them physical description on the missin, any er, unusual behavior frum em as of late too?" Lookin 'round the place, this... did not look too safe as a working condition, but them workers seemed to know what they're doin.... "Oh right, howdy, names' Pteryx and if we find yer missin, also a human? We can fix em up in too shakes of a lambs tail! Or at least get 'em stable enough fer sendin ta a hospital..."</div><div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) The snow leopardess raises an eyebrow at that last part of Elena's explanation. "So, you won't go into those old tunnels because you're not idiots... but *we* are idiots for even considering it? How does that work, then?" Theia lets out a long sigh, before unfolding her arms, both her expression and her voice softening. "Listen. I'm sorry about your miner. We can go look for her. And as you were upfront about it, we can do it for no pay too... we just need to know what we're getting into. What's down in those tunnels that's gotten you so concerned?" After waiting for Elena's response, the feline nods thoughtfully. She turns to the rest of the group to see if they're happy, before continuing. "And while I get that you can't pay us... salvage rules apply here instead? If we find something of value down there, it's ours if we can carry it out and we get a cut if we can't? You're asking us to risk ourselves, after all!"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora waves with a free hand. "Ysadora here! I wear many hats, but I work with the Embassy sometimes so that's probably the closest official business I can claim this time. Hey Theia. Pteryx. Junes. We should be able to handle this, right? What's down there in the 'old tunnels' that's a match for a buncha veterans like us?" After slapping Pteryx heartily on the back, she glances at Elena briefly but doesn't actually wait for an answer. "Do you have any other information, or uh...something Linda might have worn?" Realizing how this sounds, Ysadora raises a couple hands with palms out. "Not like, anything sexual, but maybe one of the others can get a whiff of her scent to help track her down.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes nodded to ysadora before giving a quick hand raise to elena and doug "junes! and yeah i wouldn't mind going in after her but she has a point" looking to the snow leopardess and then surprised at pteryx "i thought you saw other humans around before? huh" brushing at their okami head and looking down at their currently different form, primarily skunk but waving into view are the familiar nine kitsune tails with a range of colors and utility "any natural dangers like structure and gas leaks? oh and" pulling a small compass out of their bag curiously to look "any directions or things she said before heading down?"</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) "I try to run a tight ship, but we're working with manual tools and the nanites chew everything up. It's as safe as we can make it, and we make it as safe as we can with what we got, but we're on hand-me-downs here," Elena says, starting to lean forward, then sinks back and waves a hand. "Sorry, sorry. Not your fault. The old tunnels're what the Termites dug out. They're not shored up, and-- well, I can't tell you exactly, but I'm pretty damn sure there're ferals down there. Big bugs, not sure what else. We're tough but we're not soldiers." The question about salvage seems to faze her. "The mine belongs to the city, if you pull ore out you gotta turn it in -- but I guess if you find other valuables, that's none of my business. Can't say I expect you to, though. Doug, you want to tell them about the shift?"<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> Doug reminds you a bit of a beaver, though he's something different, without that wide, flat tail, and he's only partly infected: one arm, his legs -- which are stumpy in proportion to the rest of him and end in blunt-clawed paws, no boots -- plus part of his face and one ear sticking out from the hard hat. Maybe his general body shape too, unless he's just naturally round. "She clocked on. I saw her from time to time working the face. Don't remember seeing her towards the end of the shift, but people work different parts, or take breaks, or punch out early. Sometimes they punch in and plain forget to punch out. It happens." He looks away for a moment and sighs through his nose, making a whistling noise. "Mostly happens to her. She's been distracted recently. So it took a while to realise she was gone, then a while to check she wasn't in any of the places she's supposed to be, then a while more to send runners to make sure she wasn't just in a bar, drunk off her ass. I was sure she'd just be in someone else's bed and show up the next day like nothing'd happened. Was all set to chew her out. But she never showed." He shakes his head. "She sometimes missed a shift, but I never knew her to miss a payday." Ysadora's question comes back to him. "Should be a change of clothes in her locker. Maybe more, couldn't say."</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx wings puff out on Ysadora's slap, "Eek, gotta couple frayed nerves 'round these parts... Red-brown hair, tanned, coyote tail, standard grey miner's uniform..." His head shivers along with his drones, a kind of headset with a large antenna on his left ear has its emblazoned Z glow a bright green. "Ugh, it ain't nano magic doohickey stuff but them brain tech still tingles... Drones should be set ta focus on folk matchin them description!" Trying to whisper to Junes, he mentions, "They still ain't too common..."
<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>As Elena's description of what may lie ahead of the group, Pteryx lets out a sudden loud laugh, with no joy in it, only nervousness... "B--bugs ey?" A shiver cralws through his whole system. Taking whatever he could get from the... rather haphazardly mutated beaver morph? the only thing he could really get out of was... "Distracted?" A histry of alchohol use was moot in the age of nanites, so there wasn't much he could think ado with such information. "Well sounds like itsa good think ya had a search earlier than later! More likely ta find folk that way!"</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Nodding along to Elena's words, Theia seems satisfied with the answers she received. Well, most of them. "Bugs... are not fun. But that can't be helped I guess, can it? Lets try not to waste too much time down there..." The feline turns around to Junes, in a somewhat different form to the last time they met. "Heya, Junes... how's your sense of smell in that form? Not sure if your, uh, 'changes' have made that better or worse. Might be worth a try?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora nods, then places a hand on her forehead to stop it from rolling off her shoulders. "We'll get started then, unless you've got more you think might be helpful. Which way's Linda's locker?"</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes shrugs "always can track in whatever form... usually anyways im used to being mixed up but yeah i can track just fine, hmm if we know what bugs are here hopefully we could defend against em better but for now those clothes should definitely help with finding her so to the lockers!" </div><div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) "Yeah, let me take you to her locker," Doug says, leathery hand on the door, then pauses as Elena steps towards the group.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> "Thanks again, I really appreciate this," she says, starting to reach out her hand for a shake, though with a slightly awkward glance to Pteryx as she does so. "Just let him know if there's anything you--"<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> All of a sudden, a rumbling starts -- you feel it as much as hear it -- and the place starts to shake. Dusty earth trickles down from the ceiling. It's not violent, but it's not stopping.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) In a panic, Pteryx opts to duck and cover! Throwing himself under a steel desk, his drones following him. "Uh, is that one of em quakes!?" </div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Instinctively dropping into a half-crouch the moment the earth started the shake, Theia raises an arm to shield her head from the shower of dust from above - and thankfully nothing more than just dust, for now. "What in the heck is that?!" she shouts Elena's way. "Is this your guys' doing?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora quickly slaps her hands to her body, one pair to her head, one pair holding her feet, and the others clustered around her torso. Trying gamely to keep herself together without falling over, she shouts over the noise: "Is this normal?!"</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes looked up with a tail shielding their eyes of dust "we better move on fast, that doesn't sound good so once this is open we should head down there fast before things get worse..."</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Elena's under the heavy desk, squeezed in next to Pteryx. Doug's standing in the doorway, more or less blocking it. You see them exchange a look at the rumbling continues -- but this is not The Big One, and nothing collapses or even falls. As it goes on, you realise there's a pattern to it -- it's not continuous but more like thumpety-thump, repeated again and again. The sound of pickaxes from the rest of the mine has stopped, replaced by surprised yells. After perhaps ten seconds the noise starts to die down, then fades to nothing.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> "Everyone all right?" Elena asks. More or less simultaneously, Doug has ducked out of the office and yells out into the mine: "Everyone all right?"<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> "That wasn't us," says Elena. "At least, I hope to God not. Never heard anything like it, and it sure as hell wasn't normal."</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) With nothing colapsing, Pteryx takes a curious peak out of the desk... Hearing them 'quake' has a pattern, "Huh, kinda sounds like a big machine? Ain't nothin natural from them kinds of sounds., or ain't nothin I can think of"</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Still visibly on edge, Theia stands back up straight and unclenches her fists. "I have no idea what that was either, but that can't be good... you think it's a coincidence that your miner vanishes mid-shift, and then a day or so later this happens?" She turns to Doug, or where he was standing anyway. "We should go see if the other miners are okay, once we're done here at least..."</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora frowns, her normally cheerful eyes now creased with worry. "I'm with Theia. If there wasn't a cave-in before, that could have changed now. We'd better hurry and check things out." She blinks, momentarily nonplussed. "You know, I'd say that sounded a lot like a train. A subway line or something. But that can't be right; Eureka doesn't have a subway or we'd have heard about it by now, right?" Ysadora swivels to Elena and Doug, looking to them for confirmation.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes nodded to ysadora "totally sounds like a train but who knows maybe its another piece of...well unearthed it seems history that was hidden away, i wonder how far it goes but anyways we definitely need to go down, get her out and then see if we can find that crazy train and get them to stop so you all can reinforce the place before it gets more unstable, got a key for the locker?"</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) "It'd be a pretty damned big coincidence," Elena says, pushing her way to the door. "I've gotta see to my guys, find out what the hell happened, make sure everyone's okay. Doug, you get these people what they need, okay?"<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> Doug looks at you, shrugs, and starts leading you to the locker room. "Hell of a day. Does sound a bit like a subway, don't it? But we don't have one here in Eureka, long as I been here."<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> You arrive in the locker room. Doug taps at Linda's with a blunt claw. It has a big 'DON'T MESS WITH MY STUFF' sign taped on it, and there's a padlock. "Don't got the key, though. Locker's personal. Could get some tools?"</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Looking somewhat confused as they all head into the locker room, Theia turns to Ysa and Junes in turn and asks "'Trains'? What's that? Is that something from the Old World? The same as a 'subway'?"</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes quickly went into their bag and pulled a small case out, opening and bringing a few careful tools out, one tool being stuck into the tip of a tail while two others in the other hands, left hand tilting a tool deeper and up slowly, right hand ready to tilt the tumblr and tail slowly going forward as their left hand does most of the legwork as the tail goes further and finally a click, their right hand turning as the lock opens!</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) As curious and worried as Pteryx would be on the status of them other folk 'round from them disturbances, he had an assigned job already, look fer them Linda folk. Seein them locker they had though, well he sure had no idea what ta do with it locked. Being just as confused as Theia, he'd also find himself asking aloud... "Ain't heard of them stuff either. Pre PDay artifacts I reckon?" Hearing a click, looks like Junes already solved them locker business.</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora searches for the words. "A train's a mode of transport from before P-Day, yeah. They're so useful, I wouldn't be surprised if somebody reinvented or repaired one, though. It's just a big engine that runs on tracks, fast and direct and can carry a lot of stuff, but more limited than a car. A subway's basically the same thing but underground." Ysadora leans forward as she speaks, craning for a look inside the newly-cracked locker. "...I wonder what kind of stuff she's got in here she doesn't want touched, eh?"</div><div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The padlock is a pretty cheap one, and the main thing that makes picking it tricky is just how much the nanites have chewed it up inside. But Junes manages to pop it open after a minute or two of work, and the contents of the locker are revealed. One set of casual clothes -- way more suitable to a club than a mine -- that are relatively clean, and another stuffed at the bottom. A bottle or two, half-full, looks like liquor. A battered purse holding keys, wallet, and other personal items. There are a few faded photos taped to the side, mostly showing people -- including mutants -- celebrating, and one with a naked foxboy raising his eyebrow to the camera.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) "Welp, sure hope them Linda don't get too angry at this... if they're still alive or conscious." Having a gander at the locker, he doesn't take too much interest in them stuff, 'cept fer them naked foxboy photo. With a lecherous grin, he wolfwhistles, "Guess them Linda's got good taste!"</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Nodding at Ysa's explanation, Theia finishes dusting herself off from the earlier 'quake'. "That makes sense - I think I've seen those metal tracks above ground in various places, always wondered what they were for..." The feline indicates at the more ruffled set of clothes at the bottom of the locker. "Junes, those look worn, they should have Linda's scent on them - these work for you? I don't have the nose for this sorta thing, I'm afraid."</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora pokes around the locker with one of her hands, raising up the club clothes for a critical eye. "Her fashion sense wasn't terrible, I suppose." Folding it up, she hands one of the pieces to Junes before grabbing another. "Awful color coordination, though." Although she speaks with confidence, Ysadora isn't exactly showing the peak of fashion in her simplistic black-and-white outfit either.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes swiped their face with a tail and put the tools away, seeing the clothes they grabbed the purse and took a whiff "yeah this should help, the clothes maybe too but this might have a photo in here and well, purse is used more I think so stronger smell?" putting it on their shoulder "id be more excited on the train but is anybody else missing or just linda?" looking up to sniff the air seeing if a trace of her is here "and should we have a plan before we go down there or with these quakes should we just head in and plan as we go"</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Junes grabs the purse and clothes. Purse first: there are some interesting smells there, but they're mostly drowned out by leather, and it's difficult to get a lock on the owner good enough for tracking. Still, there's something off, something chemical... there! A little plastic baggie, mostly empty, but with a few traces of dust or powder at the bottom. Being wiser than to sniff _that_, Junes turns her wolf-like to the worn clothes and gives them a good ol' snoof. Yep, they smell mostly like a female mutant, human and coyote blended together. Junes files that information away. A few other scents hang in there, but they're faded and weak in comparison, probably just people Linda hung out with.</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Just then, the rumbling starts up again, just the same as before: rhythmic thudding that shakes the mine gently. It's definitely coming from somewhere down below. The mine goes quiet again, then voices start up. It's bare seconds before Elena, now wearing a high-vis jacket, runs through the locker room. "This is too much. I've got to get this place evacuated," she says as the rumbles die down. "It may be connected to Linda going missing, but I've got fifty other guys to keep safe. Doug, can you..." she begins; he nods to her and answers: "On it." Elena turns back to you. "I can't ask you to risk it -- but I won't tell you not to. Either way, good luck." And with that she's moving on, yelling at people to head to the exit.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> Doug looks at you. "Can take you to the old tunnels, but then gotta get out m'self. Got kids need me."</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Lookin 'round shifttily, Pteryx has one of his drones get near the foxboy photo. Emiting a quick flash of light before going back to circling the gremlin sized skunk beast, currently just whistling to himself, trying ta look busy. With the rumblin and shakin back, and no steel desk ta hide under, Pteryx can only find his nerves fraying. "Uh, what should we do!?" He yelps in panic!</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) When the shaking started up again, Theia was simply shaking her head at Pteryx's drone's 'sneaky' photo-job, the slight grin playing at the corners of her mouth making it clear she felt more bemusement that anything else. As before she instinctively drops half a foot down as the quake hits, knees bent, eyes and ears alert for any sign of danger. It takes a few seconds for her to recognise the symptoms of the quake and acknowledge that she's not under attack, removing her hand from the gun at her belt and instead trying to shield herself from the dirt falling from the ceiling, for as long as it takes for the rumbling to cease.
The feline simply nods at Elena's retreating back as she leaves; she couldn't exactly argue with her there, getting the workers safe had to come first. She turns back to the rest of the group before asking, "Do you want to head down there? We might get trapped down there. All it would take is one tunnel to collapse and our way back to the surface would be cut off. I've got a backup plan", she notes, bringing out a small vial of semi-clear silvery liquid from a pouch at her belt, "but it would only really work for myself... if you want to leave with the miners, I wouldn't blame you."</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora stashes one of the smaller items of clothing from the locker just in case. Then, she turns to Theia. "Of course I want to go down there. What's the worst that's gonna happen? Buried alive? Too late for that!" The ghost smirks. "I guess I wouldn't begrudge anybody who wants to duck out, but we've all got our own ways of dealing with the unexpected, I'd reckon."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes smiled to ysadora "you sure do love your dirt naps, anyways im in too but how about you pteryx, staying or going but no hard feelings either way" looking to Elena with a nod "just point us to the way and ill get us the rest of the way by scent hopefully" they were glad ysadora held onto the clothes and took a baseball bat out just in case</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Never having been one to make big decisions, Pteryx goes along with the general group concensus. "Down it is!"</div><div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Doug leads you down through tunnels lit by rickety strings of bulbs and, very occasionally, some kind of glowing nanite sphere, paws slapping down as he picks his way between abandoned pickaxes and sacks of raw ore. The path winds this way and that, but mostly down, and the tunnels change from packed earth to chipped rock to oddly rounded, almost organic-looking shapes. Junes walks up front with him, sniffing at the air. At first it's a complete jumble of scents, all the miners mixed together, throwing off sweat and fear and lust. But as you get further in, Junes picks out a trace of the same scent from the locker, faint at first but coming clearer as there are fewer and fewer competing scents until that's the only recent one in the tunnel. Linda did come through here.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> "Gotta turn back now," Doug mutters, coming to a halt. After the yelling a few minutes back, it's strange to hear him speaking softly, not much louder than the occasional drops of water that splash down from the ceiling. Still, he hesitates. "You got everything you need?"</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Lookin 'round, them place was dreary... Pteryx dpuble checks all his drones... no actual quakes so far, just shakes, so none damaged... Still feelin them antenna on his ear and a first aid kid strapped to his side, seems like he's still got everything he'd need. S...so, Ysadora, you know these kindsa places right, real spooky down here..."</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) With a kindly pat on the shoulder, Theia lets Doug return to the surface. "We're all good, thank you - stay safe, and we'll see you topside." Her voice is confident, but she does unclip the cover on her holster just the same, just in case things don't go to plan further down the tunnel. As the mutant vanishes back up the tunnel, she turns back to the group and tries to defrost the tension slightly. "At least it's not as dusty down here, right?" With that, she heads further down the tunnel to hopefully find the source of the ground shakes.</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora pats Pteryx comfortingly on the shoulder. "Sure! I love being underground. It's just so cozy. Although...I don't know this place, as such." She keeps her voice low, mimicking Doug's whisper as she follows along just behind Theia. Her eyes shimmer with a dull blue in the darkness. "There could be any sort of thing down here. Have you heard the old saying, 'dug too deep and too greedily'? Mines always seem to end up finding stuff that was supposed to remain buried." After a moment, Ysadora seems to realize this might not exactly be comforting to Pteryx. "But look on the bright side! There's a subway or something down here, and that means people, which means civilization, and I'm sure it'll all be safe and fine."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes went into their bag and took a flashlight out, flipping it on and shining it forward and said to doug "stay safe, hopefully nobody else is down here but we'll find out" turning back and holding the bat in their left hand while looking at their tail briefly wondering before shaking it and looking forward with the light in the right while quietly speaking "yeah best to keep it lower if we go deeper, hmm and if we find a way to the train should we investigate there after getting kinda out?" sniffing for traces of her as they continue forward </div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The tunnel suddenly seems awfully quiet and dark after Doug heads back, but you keep going. It twists and turns repeatedly -- it's hard to imagine why people would make it this way, but all to easy to picture some giant worm or serpent eating its way through the earth. The flashlights pick out spots in the tunnel, and Ysadora's lonely candle sheds light in a tiny sphere, enough to light you up but not much beyond. For Ysadora and Theia that's enough to see the tunnel clearly, though for Junes and poor Pteryx there is a lot more dark than light. The path forks a couple of time, but with some careful sniffing, Junes is able to pick out Linda's scent and keep following it. The next section opens up into a larger cavern, scattered with stalagmites, and you can hear a trickle of water running through it somewhere.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) The skunk beast not really being one to lead, Pteryx just tries to nab one of Junes' tails to hold on, they seem to have some sense of direction with them scent they look ta be sniffin 'round! He has his drones float over and ahead, to try lighting some spots in case of... whatever could happen down here. All the light from the drones may draw some unwanted attention if any though.</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) "Now this was not dug out by termites..." Theia wonders, more to herself than anyone in particular, as she tries - and fails - to make out the far sides of the cavern with her keen eyes. Her pointed ears twitch and pivot off towards a point in the far darkness, and she becomes very still for a few moments, clearly focusing on something. "There's running water over... over there! A stream maybe? It's more than a trickle, at least." she exclaims, a pale-furred digit indicating a point deep in the cavern and beyond her eyesight. "How do we want to do this? I dunno about you guys, but I do *not* want to get lost in this cave..."</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora lifts her head to blow out the candle, instead relying on her darkvision to paint the cave out in monochrome. With the light snuffed, she nanomagically fades away until all that remains is a ghostly silhouette against the darkness of the cave. "I'm still with you," Ysadora whispers. "If there IS anything nasty down here, I'd rather get the drop on it." Sha pauses before answering Theia, "I've got a pretty good sense of direction, but that might not be so reliable in a windy place like this. Hey Junes, didn't I see you with a compass earlier?"</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes looked back and shone the flashlight over looking for the water as they try to listen for the source and brings the compass out once again, handing it out and waiting for a phantom to grasp it before shining a light and finally the water is seen but realizing something "hey theia you could see the water in this darkness...mind if i do something?" asking while still holding the compass out "and hmm should i leave something for us as a crumb trail actually?"</div><div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) As well as the sound of water, Theia's sensitive ears pick out the sound of regular -- and deep -- breathing. There's something in this room, and it's probably sleeping. Or, at least, it was... she hears a whuffled intake of breath and a rattling noise. Then, something scrapes against the ground. It's not moving yet, but whatever it is is no longer asleep.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> Drifting up above, like a-- well, like a ghost, Ysadora looks down, eerie eyes seeing through the darkness. There's definitely something there, something big and insect-like, with a plated hide, but too many legs, plus weird tentacles wobbling out in front of its face. It's maybe the size of a family car. There're some droppings and the occasional shed plate but you don't spot anything else, and in particular no trace of a coyote woman.</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Junes can still scent Linda's trace, hanging faintly in the air.</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) As the group discusses next steps, Theia's large ears pivot towards something new. She throws out a hand palm-first to get everyone's attention, then holds her other finger to her lips to motion for silence. The feline is motionless for a few long moments, not even daring to breath. Then, as silently as she can manage, she gestures for herself, Junes and Pteryx to stay here and stay quiet, and then gestures for Ysadora to... jump? Fly? Hand gestures are not her strong point. To do *something* in a very specific direction she indicates to the ghost girl.</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora stops with a strangled gasp of air as she spots the creature in the darkness. She casts around to the group, then phases back into sight to raise a pair of hands and wiggle her fingers. Another pair of hands float up to her temples, where they extend a single finger and sway around. Pointing at the monster, she simultaneously cocks her head at Theia's motions. Hesitantly, she hops once in place. There's no sound, but the amount of distance beneath Ysadora's feet stays static, as though she's standing on an invisible ground just a few inches above where it is for everyone else. She shrugs.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Confused at Theia's hand gestures, Pteryx, most likely fruitlessly, signs what are you saying!? in ASL, though judging by the gestures the mutant made they may not have known it... He's confused enough to just keep quiet thoughm unknowingly following Theia's attempted message. Spooked by Ysadora popping seemingly out of nowhere... he should probably be use to that by now, but with how they were gesturing... Pteryx dims all the drone lights, and commands a single one of them to go as far towards the direction Ysadora was pointing, as opposite from them as possible. The small Z on their antennae glow dimly... as the drone suddenly flashes a light as bright as it can, mayhaps as a distraction, a lure?</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes thought about something and wished they had telepathy right about now but...! bringing a tail into view and getting a scrap of paper they carefully wrote ( group up to plan and i can try something with theia? ) handing the paper to ysadora and getting another few bits of paper letting anybody use their tails to write if needed and pointed the flashlight up so the light would be against the ceiling without a risk of shining it onto whatever was around </div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The creature reacts slowly -- maybe just waking up, maybe having trouble making out the sounds now that they've suddenly gone quiet. Theia, and anyone else straining to hear, can make out shuffling noises above the splash of water as it walks in a slow circle. Then-- a blaze of light from one drone! The creature makes a weird, trumpeting hiss and scuttles towards it.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> Junes still has Linda's trail.</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The creature quails for a moment as the drone emits a burst of sound and colour, but that drone is just too interesting to it. It's headed right for it, clearly about to pounce on it. It doesn't seem to be paying attention to the rest of the group right now.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) With whatever that thing is being distracted so far, Pteryx looks to anyone else for ideas!? Trying to keep to a whisper, "Uh, Junes? Ya know anythin 'bout trappin critters, or er, Theia, ya got a gun right? Ysadora's got them spooky powers?"</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Seeing the creature follow the drone - and thus straight to them! - Theia grabs Junes and Pteryx by the arm and drags them perpendicular to the direction the creature is travelling in, keeping low and out of sight. Once the creature has passed, she motions for them both to bring their heads together and in a quiet whisper responds to Pteryx's question. "I've got my gun... I'll fight this thing if I have to. Or. We could just keep going, and hope it doesn't follow us to the far side. What do you think?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora pauses for just a moment at Pteryx's question. "What makes you think we're gonna fight this thing? It's like, a Rust Monster or something! Nasty business, eat your gear as soon as look at you. No, I say we keep going. If it follows us, we'll be just as well off finding a place to hide as we would be risking a fight here." She ducks down next to Theia, keeping a low profile and turning her head all the way around to catch glimpses of the monster.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes nodded "yeah it is dangerous but we do need a plan later when we get linda out of here, speaking of" smelling and looking for the next spot to go mentioned "and theia mind if i borrow something? you won't lose anything but figured to ask" pointing where the scent seems closer to and heading there</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The creature jumps at the drone, and suddenly the bright light winks out, leaving the room almost totally dark, with just Junes's flashlight and the very dim glow of a few drones. Pteryx's sensors report that the drone has gone entirely. There are some contented sounds coming from back that way. Meanwhile, the group hustles across the cavern, keeping low, and follows the scent trail out into another tunnel.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes shone their light forward as you hear the occasional sniff leading further away from the creature, keeping a pace that was faster but not straining "since we need to go back i have an idea to deal with that thing, ysa you can go over while theia is around to get" looking to pteryx "your webs and a drone for more distraction or maybe me and then when it trips or gets stuck maybe i can shock it or hmm...i can add some features to the web or use my own wire and some things to raise our odds.. some water and...oh! ysadora or theia mind if i grab something too, it won't be long but curious about your eyes since your eyes since you can both see so well"</div><div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) "Welp, guess even child proof has its limit, dag nabbit that one had that foxboy photo.... photo." Walking behind Junes following them scent, Pteryx listens in, "Would need an anchor point ta stick on to trip anything, or just make the stuff as sticky as possible and shove it on the ground."</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Theia raises an eyebrow at Junes' request... before realising the skunk probably couldn't see the gesture. "Sure, just be quick about it, yeah? We don't know how long that thing will be gone. Lets keep moving if we can. We can always set traps on the way back - if we have to come this way, that is?" The feline gestures towards the direction they should be heading in, towards a particularly large and odd-looking stalagmite. "I want more distance between us and that thing - I'll meet you by that wonky one over there. Then we can keep on moving."</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora furrows her brow as she scurries along after Junes. "What is it you want to borrow? Are you talking about like, sharing senses or something? If so, I don't mind." She flinches at a particularly loud crunch from behind them. "I think that thing's sated for now, though. Like I said, Rust Monster, they eat metal, not people. At least, that's what it seems like. It's definitely not natural, I can tell you that. A mutant or...something else."</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The bone-rattling thumpety-thump, thumpety-thump comes again. It's louder this time, shaking the whole tunnel, and you can hear a high-pitched whistling squeal along with it -- and it's definitely coming from up ahead, further down this tunnel. As you round the next corner, your eyes catch a glimmer of yellowish light, just a reflection from the water that glistens down the wall, but after moving through near-total darkness it's impossible to miss.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Seeing some sort of light ahead, it was a beacon compared to all the darkness. Still a ways away, Pteryx would just follow the pace of the rest of the group, not really lookin to end up vulnerable if he rushed forward alone.</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Drawing her gun from the holster at her hip, Theia goes still in mid-stride as the shaking starts up again, visibly tensing as a new squealing sound follows the rumbles. She turns to Junes and Pteryx and gestures towards where she sees the glimmer of light, not sure if their eyes can pick up that glow. In a low whisper, she warns "There's another creature down the tunnel. Still some way away. Lets keep it quiet, and hope it wanders off..."
Theia sticks close to Junes as they all head down the tunnel; periodically checking to see if the skunk was still following Linda's scent, and growing increasingly wary as they grew closer to the strange light.</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora visibly relaxes as a smile forms on her face. "Now that's a familiar sight! It's gotta be the lights of a subway tunnel. Who knew there was something like this down here? That is...unless I'm totally off the mark, but I don't think I am." Activating her vanishing nanomagic once again, Ysadora fades from sight but continues to speak at an elevated volume over the rumbling. "That begs the question of who's riding it, or operating it at least, and why? What are they moving? People? Monsters? I can't wait to see." She edges forward eagerly, but not so far as to steal the lead from Junes.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes continues along and saw the light but answered "sure looks like it, and as for the thing i need well" looking back at ysadora's eyes with a certain look to it "i should be able to get...a...hmm that's weird" looking to theia's eyes though you could see junes looking intently and soon enough something in them seemed to change "oh! there we are, okay so pteryx wanna hold the light or should the drones be enough?" in junes eyes you noticed a sort of reflective property to those brown eyes, like a cat would have "but yeah im guessing she found this spot too huh... I wonder but should we try and see if there's another way out from this subway so we can avoid a collapse or...oh right!" slowly you saw one of their tails get wetter as it lightly pokes the ground with what looks like ink "i nearly forgot about our breadcrumb trail but the way back should be fine enough" continuing to walk as their tail drags paint behind in a trail only occasionally pausing feeling some things that are surprising or unusual</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The off-white light gets brighter as you approach, and you hear sounds of... people, voices, movement. Whatever is up ahead sounds bustling. Scents grow stronger, too: Linda's trail moving that way, but drifting down from there a tangle of other scents: humans, machinery, oil, stale air. Then the rattling, squealing noise comes again -- Ysadora and Junes definitely recognise it as a subway train -- and noise and movement picks up. The warbling, distorted voice of a tannoy comes through, something about doors about to close?<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> You move forwards. The slick, rock-walled tunnel opens up to -- yes, a tunnel, concrete-walled and artificial, with a subway train actually rolling past in front of you, deafeningly loud. The lights of the platform, reflecting off white tiles, are just ten or twenty feet away, and a few feet up. Seems like a crowd of people has just exited the area.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx looks to Junes and just nabs the flashlight from em, though that won't be needed soon enough. As the group closed in on the area Pteryx would see something completely unfamiliar, yet somehow innately disturbing to him, "Are those... cars" His last word drips with venomous animosity. </div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Keeping an eye on the light as it grew ever closer, Theia follows the group out into the new part of the tunnel, suppressingly a flinch as the shaking and squealing started up once more. "Surely this couldn't have been dug out, not something this smooth..." she wonders, mostly to herself. This time however the noises were getting closer, and fast! Eyes flicker from point to point, trying to spot the source of this, when suddenly she sees it - the light racing towards her, impossibly fast. How can any creature run that fast! She drops to one knee and aims her handgun at the approaching... thing, closing one eye to preserve her vision against the ever-brighter light, and just takes time to spot the metal-grey face of their attacker behind the source of the light...
Her gun knocked to one side, Theia throws herself back against the wall of tunnel, dragging Junes to safety with her as the creature bears down on them both... and ignores them all, hurtling past them and down the tunnel. It was as if they didn't exist to the creature; no acknowledgement of their existence at all. The feline stares at the body of the snake/worm as it passes, stunned at the myriad bright lights projected from its side... from inside it? Was this creature hollow? As it passed and disappeared off into the distance, she sat there on the floor stunned for several long moments. "What... what was that? And how did you know we weren't in danger?"</div><div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora sees Theia lining up the shot and acts fast. A distortion runs through the air as one nearly-invisible hand whips out, palm open, more focused on speed than finesse. Ysadora manages to slap the gun to the side just in time to flatten herself against the wall as the train barrels by. The sheer force of the passing giant blows her hair into an even wilder mess than usual. "Yikes! That was too close. That's a subway train, Theia. Just a vehicle, and it runs on these tracks, see?" Stepping out from the tunnel, Ysadora hops on (or a few inches above) the tracks in the train's wake. "As long as you aren't standing on these, it won't harm you. And there are people riding it, so be careful." <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>With that, she starts making her way down the tunnel toward the platform. "It'll be safer once we get out from here and up where people are supposed to stand. Who -are- those people, anyway?" Ysadora cranes her head to get a look at the figures vanishing from the station above. In doing so, she nearly slips, three hands whipping out to catch herself on the wall. "Oh! And watch out for that." A fourth hand points at the big rail in the center of the tracks. "It's electrified, all the time. Never, never touch it."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes watches the train with a sense of nostalgia and is quite literally pulled out of it, by theia "woa-" on the ground and a tail hanging over them "yeah sorry, these are safe and that goes for you too pteryx their fine in fact i could help with that electricity issue if we need to but i wouldn't be able to keep up my painting ability" wiping their eyes as they adjust a bit to the feeling "and its been so long since ive used this, feels weird on my eyes" pointing up to the platform "alright people lets get to safety where we wont be trampled or electrified" one tail still on the ground as they stood before a few other tails were held out front offering to hold as they made their way and attempted to climb up "but yeah who's running this place?"</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The station is brightly lit, and as one by one you make your way up onto the platform itself -- grey concrete floor, with a white line running along the very lip -- a fresh wave of people is starting to come down from the stairs. They look both familiar and very strange: they are all apparently human, and dressed in clean clothes that, in most cases, look new or at least whole. Very few show signs of nanite degradation, with a few wearing jeans that are just chewed away at the knee. Several are in suits, worn only by the most senior of Zephyr staff. These people (obviously, Theia and Pteryx might conclude, very important) seem quite busy and distracted, occasionally exchanging words but mostly just queueing up on the platform and staring off into space.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Having spent just about too much time near these 'trains' overly long cars, Pteryx opens up his wings and lauches himself off the tracks, right on to the station in a quick burst. Lookin 'round, sure are a lot of folks round here... a lot of, humans? It was quiet an odd sight to Pteryx, just gawking at the view, before he notices some rather well dressed folk... Like a button flipping, Pteryx's tries to fix himself up, his posture stiffens, and he tries to look as presentable as possible.</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Taking a couple of skipped steps as a run-up, Theia launches herself upwards towards the platform rim. She doesn't quite make it all the way, but comfortably grabs hold on the edge with her hands and brings herself up and onto her feet rather elegantly. Dusting herself off, she finally takes a proper look at the other inhabitants of the platform - a whole motley collection of people, all human, all apparently in normal clothing, unable to spot a single weapon. She can't help but stare, having to tear her gaze away to ensure her companions all make it up without problem.</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora walks up to the platform's edge, but finds her small size a hindrance in this case. She opts to climb the ladder, which presents its own challenges, but after getting a foot and a hand stuck twice, connecting nanotubules wrapped around the rungs, she manages to make it up. Surveying the apparent humans filling the place, she quickly brushes the hair out of her eyes and tucks her extra hands in the sleeves of her robe. With the hem of the same covering up her lack of legs, she almost passes for a pale, short, disheveled human. Almost. <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>With a genial smile, Ysadora approaches the nearest traveler and greets them. "Excuse me! I think I got off at the wrong stop. Uh, where is this train headed, again?"</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes looked and gave a heavy sigh "ysa...i think you know whats happening here cause well its happened before, hmm everyone see the guy in that suit?" waiting for everybody to look before flicking counter nanomagic on for a few seconds to see the results and then stopping it</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The people here seem completely unphased by your presence -- in fact, they don't seem to be paying attention to you at all, barely noticing the leopard woman, the pair of skunks, or the ghost, other than to step a little out of the way if you get in their personal space. When Ysadora approaches one -- a man in a suit, wearing a beige trenchcoat on top -- he takes a moment to react and then gestures up at a LED panel, which specifies that the next train is for EUREKA in 1 minute, then the next is for EUREKA in 4 minutes. "Eureka," he mutters, then immediately looks down at his wrist and off in the direction of the other tunnel, where the hint of lights is starting to appear. Then, Junes fires off her nanomagic at him and he collapses, screaming in agony.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> Every single person in the station turns to look, shocked, some gasping or clutching themselves. When Junes shuts the nanomagic off a few seconds later, he does not get up.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx's ears twitch at the sound of agony, and he finds himself drawn to it like a magnet. "Junes... what did ya do?" Pteryx aims for the wrist to check for a pulse and... nothing? To the neck... nothing either, not even breath. Lookin over the feller, they already seem ta have rushed into a... meltin stage? Were them nanites eatin the body up already? And them clothes too? "Well, I ain't wastin ma breath, that feller's deadzo donezo! Though..." Pteryx looks to the body in apt curiosity, his claws seem ta itch, he doesn't even notice that he let his own intrusive thoughts out in the open, "I ain't seen somethin like that 'fore, if I had sum tools or a scalpel I could see them whole system degrade insdie and out..."</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Seeing Junes focus for a moment the way she'd seen them do many times before when demonstrating nanomagic, Theia flinches as the crowd start suffering in various ways. Rounding on the skunk, Theia demands "What did you do?! Junes, what's going on?" Her hand instinctively goes to the gun at her belt, but she releases it a few moments later. Something bad just happened, but it's not something she could fight or trick... so she was out of ideas.</div><div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora flinches back as the man collapses in front of her. She twists from side to side, checking to ensure the other passengers aren't reacting with hostility, then blinks a few times. "Dead and...melting? He said this train was going to Eureka, too, but this is...Eureka Station. Something really weird is happening, and I don't think it's the same thing we ran into with the bunker, Junes."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes saw this and their eyes widened before rushing over, horrified if this is some nanite reliant...melting thing? or genuinely murder "this wasn't supposed to happened! i made him exist outside of the bubble!" bringing their hands together and above the goo to let out the effect hoping it was enough to bring it back "i thought it was the-yeah! either way this effect stops nanites from doing their thing so people normally are fine but illusions...dont exist so why, why goo?" you could see and hear the immediate panic in junes rising </div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) As the train pulls into the station, a few things happen at once. The crowd, which was panicked and on the verge of a stampede, seems to calm down and focus on the train, watching it attentively and paying less, and less, then no attention to the fallen commuter. Pteryx is checking on him, and Junes rushes over to attempt to revive him. As Junes arrives, the body is already starting to liquify, and though they follow the right procedure, putting their all into using the nanomagic, it doesn't seem to take -- it's almost like there was no life there to save.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> One set of humans gets off, the others board, and the body dissolves into goo. The pre-recorded announcement chimes, informing everyone that the doors are about to close.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx snickers in amusement, "Huh, that was one of the easier cleanups!" Just about to guffaw, he... noticed Junes distress, "Uh, hey, Junes, it's alright! Folk die all the time! Just how things work." With a deep sigh, he... tries, to comfort Junes somewhat, "I was like ya first death too! But ya can't save everyone, and... if ya crash like that mid crisis, ya end up getting less chances ta help folk." Pteryx does find it odd still how quickly the body disposed of itself, but dead was dead, and Junes was someone he'd consider a friend, so as far as he knew his priorities were in the right order.</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Theia looks on in horror as the man's body collapses into... goo? "I don't... I don't understand... why did he... why don't they...", the feline's voice trailing off into wordless gibberish as the inconsistent sights overwhelm her mind. "Was that guy even real? Junes, if all you did was turn off his nanites... things could have gone wrong, sure, but not *this* wrong surely? I don't understand what's going on, but I don't think this is your fault. Something bigger and stranger is happening."</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora looks between the fallen man, Pteryx, Junes, Theia, and the train. Then, acting on impulse, she dives for the car in an attempt to squeeze in before the doors close. "Come on! We won't learn anything standing around with these melty commuters! Let's find out just where this dang train goes!"</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes hands were in the goo as it dissolved as they replied not looking anywhere but down "it wasn't my-" breathing slowly but listening to the others replying to pteryx first "yeah...i know and" glancing to theia "i knew it wasn't real but... yeah that wasn't expected, or the people..." heading to the car but briefly looking where the pile was and at their hand with a sigh heading into the car looking a bit distant </div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The humans who've just got off the train all hustle up the stairs in a clatter, and almost before the train has left the station they are all hurrying away and out of sight. The goo that was a person thins out, evaporating. You rush onto the train, squeezing in past the doors just before they close. On board, everyone is sitting or standing staring into nothing again, very pointedly not making eye contact. The whole experience is very similar to the platform...<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> ... except that Theia spots something that doesn't fit the pattern. A couple cars away, there's someone sprawled out along one set of benches, not looking as neat.</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Seeing Ysa make a dash for the opening in the side of the metal snake - subway train, apparently - Theia hesistates, almost for too long as she's torn between fear of this unknown creature/machine and of being left on the platform with the liquid remains of the man. She pounces forward and into the car *just* as the doors start to close.
Theia paces around in a little circle, eyes wide as she takes in the unfamiliar sights and sounds of the inside of the subway car, all bright lights, metallic surfaces and mechanical squeals. Still on edge, she takes in every inch of the car around her, every passenger, every surface, looking for any sign of a threat - in complete contrast to the sedate Old World commuters around her. With one exception. "The people here are like on the platform... there's something not quite right about them. As if they're not really people. Aside from one - don't look, don't stare, don't draw attention to it." By now her voice was down to a low whisper; barely loud enough to be heard over the sounds of the car. "But two segments down, on the right, lying on the third bench along, you see them? Not like the rest of them. I don't understand what's happening, but that can't be a coincidence, right? Shall we go look?"</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx is hating just about every moment of having to be in this 'train'. Wallking on all fours... or rather sixes. This was... way larger than a car! And far more terrifying, Pteryx would have webbed himself to a seat if he didn't hear Theia speaking first. "Them fellers 'round are purdy calm ain't they, well that's just borin company! Who'd ya spot Theia?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora tries to blend in with the crowd, aided perhaps by her height but stymied by her clothing and general spookiness. "That is weird. Are they asleep, or...? I guess we'll need to get closer to find out. I'm interested in where this train goes, too, although..." She pulls a face as she begins edging her way through the crowd toward the collapsed figure. "If it pulls right back in to Eureka station I'm going to be a little cross."</div><div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes heard the commotion and thought about some things for a bit but sighed again knowing pteryx was right, best to move on and be able to help more people sooner...and not linger on the past so looking back they carefully glanced around before noticing who they were referring to "i can take a look at nanites to see if anything is unusual instead of well, my last idea" they spoke normally but seemed a bit down still "i could disguise or maybe just ask too but we could also watch and see what happens from here and follow if needed too" taking a whiff to see if they can smell who they were after but asked "oh and ysa, still got her shirt?"</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The train rattles along, bright in the dark tunnel. Ysadora approaches the figure. They're lying down, either asleep or faking it, taking up a whole bench with their feet up on the rough cushion. The people around are politely and pointedly not mentioning it. As you approach, you can see that, unlike everyone else, the woman is dirty, wearing tattered grey clothes, and looks physically ground down by hard years. She's got some kind of cloth rag draped over part of her head, but you can see that her reddish hair is streaked through with grey.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> As you approach, one eye cracks open, and she makes a very obvious snoring noise, which turns into a choking sound as she catches sight of four very non-human passengers. "Hsst! This is my train! Get your own," she hisses, trying simultaneously to be quiet and to make herself heard. None of the other passengers react, except to look at their wrists or raise their eyes further.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx rushes to wherever Ysadora wandered too, more curious than anything, "Well ya look homely!" He bluntly says to the figure. Looking to the hair though, he haphazardly pulls the rag off the woman's head, "Reddish hair! Is yer name er, Linda? Miner, grey uniform, alcohol issues, had a picture of a nude foxboy in her locker!" His drones swarm the woman to scan her as Pteryx keeps running his mouth.</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora recoils as the woman suddenly opens her eyes, bumping against a passenger behind her and absentmindedly apologizing. "Uh, what Pteryx said. Are you Linda?" As she speaks, she reaches into a pocket of her robe and hands the clothing she'd stashed to Junes for confirmation. "And why is this your train? Do you have something to do with all...this?" Gesturing broadly around her, Ysadora attempts to take in the passengers, the inexplicable subway, and the platform beyond.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes smelled the air once more to confirm and yep! definitely very strong here so they confirmed plainly "yeah that's linda" more to her they mentioned "the other miners are worried about you and well, dont worry I won't bother telling them about the coke I found but any info on what's going on here?" slowly taking a seat and offering the purse back to her "i know the people aren't quite right here but this train seems pretty real but... I'd rather not risk trying anything again right now" elbows resting on their legs and slightly hunched "oh and the mine is having some quakes from this I think so should we look into stopping it temporarily?"</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) While the others crowd around the woman and barrage her with questions, Theia stands off to the side slightly, putting herself between the group and some of the commuters... just in case things went sideways. Her feline eyes dart between the crowd of people and back over to the woman on the bench, taking in her hair, and her now-exposed furry ear. She seems to match the description they were given, at least. </div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) "It's my train, it's my train, it's my train, it's--" The woman stops abruptly and shakes her head, dropping from a rising shriek to a low hiss again. "Can't let them see us. They might make me leave the train." The prospect seems to terrify her. "Can't leave. They die when they leave. I'll die if I leave." She looks up at you again, as though actually seeing you for the first time. "Oh no. You're trapped too. You can't leave."<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> The pre-recorded announcer chimes in. "Now approaching: Eureka station." The other passengers start to stretch their legs, adjust their clothes, peer out of the window, and generally make about-to-get-off noises.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) As much as Pteryx hated this 'train' ride and was itchin ta get off, Linda sure was a hoot! Starting to bob to the mad ravings, Pteryx thinks of raves. In a clubby sing song voice he mimics it "It's ma train it's ma train, Linda in the house! Ooh a shriek too! Yer fun! Guess that there foxboy was fun too!" Snickering and guffawing to himself, he barely hears the warnings given. Looking the party animal over, he does note something weird, whenever she didn't talk... she didn't seem to breath, "Huh, do ya ever just take a deep breath o' air Linda? Guess yer an experienced deepthroater or somethin?"</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Crouching down next to the bench to bring herself down to Linda's level, Theia places a grey-furred paw on her shoulder reassuringly. "It's okay, we're here with you now. They aren't like us. They might 'die' when they leave... but I don't think they're actually real. How do you know you'll die? Have you tried it?" Sensing that might not have been the right thing to suggest to the clearly distraught woman, she quickly adds "What if I tried leaving? Would that be okay?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora steps back to allow Theia to handle Linda. Rather than dashing for the door as before, she sidles over and prepares herself. When it opens, she'll wave a hand outside, just to make sure they aren't, in fact, trapped.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes was confused by linda and asked "think its a curse, deity or maybe well...i dont think these people are real, an illusion maybe but they do seem odd but i could do something if it helps you see this place isn't going to kill us when we leave but first do you need anything?"</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) TO BE CONTINUED!</div>[[Category:RPLogs]][[Category:Eureka Renaissance Events]]

The Eureka Subway, Part 3 - RPLOG

2023-08-08T14:38:12Z

Narwen: Narwen moved page The Eureka Subway, Part 3 - RPLOG to Eureka Subway, Part 3 - RPLOG: Remove extraneous "The" in title (to match the other two parts of the RPLOG)

#REDIRECT [[Eureka Subway, Part 3 - RPLOG]]

Eureka Subway, Part 3 - RPLOG

2023-08-08T14:38:12Z

Narwen: Narwen moved page The Eureka Subway, Part 3 - RPLOG to Eureka Subway, Part 3 - RPLOG: Remove extraneous "The" in title (to match the other two parts of the RPLOG)

=Participants=
* [[User:Junes|Junes]]
* [[User:Narwen|Narwen]]
* [[User:Pteryx|Pteryx]]
* [[User:Theia|Theia]]
* [[User:Ysadora|Ysadora]]
=Date=
7/8/2023
=Log=
<div></div><div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) THE STORY SO FAR, PART 1: Our four agents responded to a desperate request for assistance locating a missing miner, Linda McKee, with the threat of danger and the promise of no reward. While learning about the disappearance, something like a small earthquake struck the mine... and then again a few minutes later. Those born before P-Day recognised the rumbling noise as coming from a train underground. While the mine was evacuated, they made their way into the old Termite tunnels, with Junes tracking Linda's scent. Ysadora spotted a large and scary-looking Rust Monster napping in a cavern, the group woke it up, and through some clever (and sacrificial) dronework by Pteryx, were able to distract it long enough to get past. With Theia leading the way in the near-darkness, they made it through to the source of the shaking: an apparently new and in-service subway station, complete with train rolling through and its oddly behaved, human-looking passengers. Junes used Counter Nanomagic on one, and it fell in agony and dissolved into goo. The party has no made its way onto the train, found someone matching the description of Linda but very confused.</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) THE STORY SO FAR, PART 2: Something is definitely strange with this train, with the passengers, and with the woman who looks like Linda too. She seems very much afraid that she'll die after leaving the train -- although the other passengers are getting on and off frequently and don't seem to be dying (not even staying dead when Junes accidentally destroys one with Counter Nanomagic). Junes also tried stepping off the train onto the platform and letting the train leave... and, indeed, the train came right back to the same place, apparently going in a short loop. She also saw that there was nobody in the driver's cabin, and that the LED sign on the front of the train said LIND.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> The party built up a rapport with the woman looks like Linda, and also tried some diagnostics on her. She seems to have some of Linda's memories, though faded. There's also something very weird with her biologically -- while she looks human from the outside, she's lacking most basic biological functions and probably isn't technically alive. She for sure isn't breathing and has no pulse -- and neither do the other passengers, Pteryx found out.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> The group led her up through the train to the driver's cabin, which looks rather organic. In place of normal mechanical or electronic controls, there's something that looks like a spherical-shaped brain mounted in the console. Ysadora put hands on the brain-ball and got the feeling that not only is this train alive somehow, but that it's conscious in some way. On the other hand, someone just put their hands on its brain, which caused the whole thing to judder, and Linda and the passengers to stumble and gasp in alarm. Theia keeps a close eye on them while Ysadora doubles down, keeping her hands there and trying to communicate with the brain.</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Junes tries valiantly to find the train's G-spot. She doesn't succeed (perhaps try the caboose?) but on the plus side she doesn't make it mad either.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> Theia stands between the group and the passengers in the next cabin, staring them down. Though, honestly, they don't look as if they need much intimidating right now; they all looked very dazed for a moment there, and it feels a bit like the moment after the "earthquake" before. Linda is shaken too, though recovering a bit faster than the others.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> Ysadora is trying to make contact with the brain orb, both with words and by trying to project thoughts at it. That really shouldn't work -- you can't communicate with a brain just by touch -- and yet there's something there. She strains a bit to reach it... and suddenly concepts start chunking into place. Gnawing out a tunnel, building up rails, and travelling on them. The importance of a timetable. The deep satisfaction of breathing in and out at each station. Ysadora feels the nanites beneath her fingertips, and resonates with them. She could join them. Perhaps she should join them; it would be as easy as stretching out, letting her wheels carry her. Yet -- there wouldn't be room for her in here. One train can't fit inside another, after all. She'd have to slip out and let her wheels settle onto the track first before letting the nanites take her.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> (For everyone except Ysadora, essentially all of that is internal to her and invisible. All that the rest can see is that the pair of her hands that are touching the train-brain take on an oddly metallic sheen.)<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> The train begins to brake gently. Are you coming into the station already?</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes had their tails out along the walls pressing into points and rubbing and decided to take a look under the hood using biomonitoring nanomagic "ysa, whats going on with your end?" they said with slowly moving tails while looking at the ghostly hands turning metallic with some concern</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Touching the concerningly organic train and letting their nanomagic connect with it, Junes confirms that this train is indeed alive, and underneath the plastic and chrome fittings there are tubes and arteries and organs and more. The train is... more like a train-shaped person. Thinking back to their knowledge of modern-day medicine, Junes notices the similarity to some semi-mechanical forms -- robots, helicopters, and such. Though this one has passengers too.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) As curious as Pteryx would be 'bout bein in an organic construct, as far as he knew alerts would lead ta sum kinda immune respones, and they ain't pretty for them intruders! He looks 'round them train seein veins a pumpin and nerves a frayin! And worst of all Ysadora went extra the spooky and touched a brain! A brain turnin... all metal shiny? Lookin ta Junes and whatever shenanigans they were up ta, tails all 'round them small cart, he didn't know what to think!? The gremlin sized skunk beast finds sum sort of respite with Junes' findins... "Wait organs! Er, does it got lungs separate frum this brain cart!? Could compress them passage 'nough to knock it out like one of em chokeholds, err, heart! Gotta have sum relaxants on me somewhere ta slow em down! Er..." Lookin ta the brain, Pteryx has a dangerous glint in his eyes as Ysadora holds on ta it... "Brains er control centers... if that there shuts down... the whole thing goes with it..." Firin off suggestions fer now, if things don't smooth out Pteryx may actually do one of them suggestions. Life was a hecka lot easier ta get rid off than ta keep 'round! </div><div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Looking back over her shoulder for just a moment, Theia calls out to Junes. "Did you say... a train-shaped person? What kind of nightmare have we walked into..." The feline goes back to keeping an eye on the crowd of commuters, keen eyes taking in their vacant expressions, their aimless milling around, the total lack of emotion or signs of true life; until a sudden thought strikes her. She whirls around to where Linda is huddled up against the wall by the cabin door, then turns to the others. "You said this Linda isn't the real Linda, right? But the train *is* a real person, or something close to one at least. What if... what if the train is *Linda*? Somehow messed up by nanites or some prick of a deity or something?" The snow leopardess had dropped her voice low by that point, in the hope that only the other three could pick up her words. "Or have I gone as crazy as that one down there?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora looks to Junes with her eyes half-lidded. "Is it cramped in here? It's kind of cramped in here, isn't it. I'm uh...I'm just going to go outside and get some fresh air. Maybe it'll be easier to talk with this thing from out there, anyway." Without further explanation, the ghost lifts her hands from the console with an audible 'plink' of metal and begins floating toward the cabin's exit. On the way, she stops and twitches once or twice, then flashes a reassuring smile to everyone before proceeding in her attempt to push past Theia and exit.</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Through the windows, you can see the lights of the station up ahead coming into view as the train slows down, brakes squealing. The passengers are still looking a bit out of it, but have started shaking their heads, pulling themselves to their feet, straightening their hats, and clearing their throats. Linda is keeping pretty quiet, but staring at Ysadora, one hand slightly outstretched.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes was a bit surprised this wasn't just a biomechanical train but a fairly hollow mutant that is shaped just like a train as well...but hearing pteryx they gave a slow head shake "no! this is a mutant and its not that dangerous...yet" looking to theia to add "that sounds pretty solid but...why do this to her? and then the what although" taking the shirt up to smell they tried to confirm whether this train smelled anything like linda by comparing the shirt to...the wet console and asked as they smelled "hey linda did you feel anything weird when anything happened?" looking back to catch ysadora about to walk off and they held a hand out but let it down seeing linda reaching out</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx was use to being spooked out by Ysadora... but that ain't her usual spookiness! "Ya ever heard of not splittin the party!" He hollers over ta the rather unresponsive seemin Ysadora, not a mention of what could scary thing could happen if they did, yeah something was wrong... and that twitchin ain't helpin. The skunk beast tries ta chase after her, one pair of arms spritzin white to weave and entangle, swiftly makin a lasso! Spinnin the thing overhead Pteryx aims ta catch Ysadora and drag her back in them train he hates like cattle! As much as he had just 'bout enough of them... vehicles, he ain't lookin ta file another missin persons report! </div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The teeny skunk beast tosses a lasso -- somewhat clumsily, on account of not having opposable thumbs -- and it bounces off Ysadora's knee. Possibly for the best; he might well have been dragged along with her.</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Theia steps aside as Ysa makes her way towards the door, seeing no reason to get in the ghost girl's way... taking another step aside moments later when Pteryx chases her down the carriage. Shaking her head in disbelief at the shennanigans before her, she sidles over the Junes. "No luck on the scent tracking? I'm no good at that, I'm afraid..."</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora pushes past Theia with mumbled, "Thanks, 'scuse me." She ignores Pteryx's lasso, continues through the crowded car, and then out into the station. With a gasp, she sucks in air. "It was really...really...getting cramped in there." Indeed, Ysadora appears to be a few feet taller than when she left the train. Dazed, she stumbled toward the front of the engine and rolls onto the tracks, the transformation continuing. With a few cracks, pops, and pings of metal, it's quickly obvious that Ysadora is rapidly transforming into another subway train similar to the one she just left. As her features settle into steel and glass, the panel on top flashes into light, reading: "YSADORA"</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) It was very strange to see, but indeed, Ysadora is now another subway train, stopped just ahead of the first at the station. Apart from the panel on the front, the two trains are also distinguished by the front one being a little more... spooky than the other: flickering lights, cobwebs, and-- well, the passengers now shuffling out of its open doors look to be a little ethereal, some wrapped in shrouds.</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) When Junes asked her question, moments before Ysadora burst out, Linda looked back at Junes, eyes wide. "Yes. I felt... I felt..." She trails off, turning to continuing to point to Ysadora as the ghost gets out and becomes something else entirely. "That."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes was busy but with the concern for ysa they looked out at ysadora before linda started to get their attention but then turned soon enough and...now she's a train...this is getting bad. Their throat choking up a bit worried about accidentally getting infected, sure could go...for a drink! bringing out the chimera's favorite drink and thinking as they looked at the ( Z ) labeled bottle and with a sigh "okay, we have soke answers but new problems...and one risky solution so far... although i wonder if we could change them without this...right so" turning to theia, pteryx and linda "i have this chimera serum that can change you entirely but that might be best as a last resort...hmm im going to head to the other train just in case and see if maybe i can find a radio to talk to ysadora but... hopefully there's one in here somewhere or maybe" looking to linda "you're technically her conscious? either way be careful you two" heading out and rushing to the nightmare train ahead to try and hop in</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Havin missed his shot... Pteryx just tries ta rush back ta the front cabin... gettin a full view of what happened ta Ysadora... "Well she ain't a missin person... but if that's how them trains come ta be..." His antennae head set's Z glows a bright green as them drones 'round Pteryx swirl about and out of them Linda train and inta the new Ysadora one... "Just... need ta see if there's a Ysadora remnant in them train like in here, if them symptoms repeat then tinkerin with Patient Zero over could help with... that,,," They cycle shifts as Pteryx tries ta get a full picture of whatever was inside them train without settin foot in it. lookin ta Linda as whatever pictures the drones take could make things a little clearer...</div><div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Standing in the doorway for a few long moments, jaw ajar in shock at seeing Ysadora transform into a full-blown subway train in front of her eyes, Theia eventually shakes her head and pinches the soft fur of her forearm to make sure she's seeing this properly. "What the... Ysa...?" she just about manages to articulate. Seeing Junes and the drones heading towards the Ysatrain, Theia decides to stay with faux-Linda, crouching down next to the semi-comatose shade of a person. "Hey, Linda... did you see what happened to my friend? She turned into a train. Now. I need you to think very carefully for me, please; is this what happened to you? It's important that you remember, if you can?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora sits in the station for the moment, enjoying the sensation of her passengers mingling with the other train's. Her lights flicker contentedly and her horn lets out a low wail. Her next trip isn't for a little bit, so she simply waits with her doors open to exchange passengers.</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Junes dashes out onto the platform, threading her way among the passengers, then onto Ysadora's train. It's empty in there, and she has no trouble making the short dash to the head of the train.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> There are lots of spooky people out on the platform now (the train having emptied out), but Pteryx's drones don't spot anyone with Ysadora's distinctive multiple arms.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> The thing that's holding onto being Linda rubs at her arm, then meets Theia's gaze. "I think... I think yeah. But I want to be Linda! I want to be Linda again." One hand rests against the somewhat squishy floor, then recoils. "It's so hard, staying me."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes looked to the train with worry "hey i hope you can hear me, if not hold on ysa alright?" looking to the console they took note not to touch the brain, turning back to ask something but only seeing pteryx and the searching drones before bringing their comm out to text everyone nearby ( okay so, no touching the brain and well can you ask if linda remembers anything that may have caused this to her? and should i see if i can transform them both with my form or just give a chimera serum? either way keep eyes out for anything weirder than usual ) closing the comm and laying a hand on the dashboard and rubbing it hoping ysadora would feel it with a pat as a thought lingered whether to extract a vial of the form or not but shaking their thoughts away along with their head before searching for a radio or anything else useful before remembering about the unusual anatomy and whether they could even eat or drink...</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Lookin through them photos Pteryx sees plenty a spooks, but ain't one of em has Ysadora's extra spooky arms... With a huff, he says, "Guess them symptoms vary..." as he recalls all his drones back ta him. "Though if that there brain is an infection agent... Maybe we could overstaff them station..." Hollerin over ta Linda, Pteryx still sees not a pulse in them veins nor a breath from them mouth lest she speaks... "If this here train is Linda like what happened ta Ysadora... and there's no Ysadora lookin lass in that train..." Rusty cogs turn in his head as he looks ta them station he also takes a note of the passengers... If this whole station clogs up with trains... whatever system this was... wait systems... What... were these trains transportin... If them scent Junes mentioned just meant they were runnin 'round in circles... Is... the whole station a heart o' sorts? Pumpin them passengers back and forth... where did those passengers even go to when they get off... Too many things to check fer one mutant! Though maybe... Two drone hover out them train ta fly high, trying ta get as much on them passenger's routes as possible as he himself remains in them train, "That there brain is gettin a biohazard sticker..." He leaves Theia ta do them talkin as he sits back, not much he can do ta check the system before them trains move...</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Theia reaches out to rest her hand on Linda's, just maintaining some gentle contact. "Hey, it's okay... stay with me. I want you to be Linda again too. We'll do this together, okay?" The feline smiles warmly at the frightened girl, trying to keep her attention focused on her, on the now, as she tries to walk Linda through a thought exercise. "Try to think of something specific. Like a drink. I know you like a good bev, right? Me too, don't worry, I ain't judging. What's your favourite drink? -No don't tell me, just keep that drink fixed in your mind. Use it as an anchor. Keep your thoughts focused on that, use it as a link to Linda. Now, think of the last time you saw that drink. Was it in a bar? In your locker up above? Keep that in your mind. Then, think of how you got from that place to down here... and think of where this train came from. I know this is difficult, but it's important, please try! Take your time, but try..."</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora stays put, her engine idling. It should be time to depart soon, but she draws out the pleasurable sensation of passengers mingling for as long as she can. Hearing a voice speaking into her...radio(?)...Ysadora diverts a portion of her attention to making a reply. On Junes' communicator, a new message pops up from Eureka Transit Authority: "Hey Junes. I can hear you just fine. The doors will be closing soon, so watch out. Our next stop will be Eureka station. We'll be underway shortly. As a reminder, no food or drinks are allowed on the train. Thank you for your patience, and have a wonderful trip."</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) At every stop Pteryx's drones, following the passengers on their routes, finally see what happens after they get off the train and scurry their way across the platform and up the stairs. The drone camera follows them up, around a bend in the tiled passageway, and then-- and then the passage just ends abruptly in a rock wall. The passengers approach without slowing down or even seeming to notice it's there, but then beyond a certain point just seem to melt and collapse into goo and then nothingness. After the last of them vanishes, the passage is still for a moment, before passengers start reforming anew out of goo that materialises and condenses in the air, producing fully-formed, fully-dressed, almost-humans that begin hurrying down the stairs, adjusting their coats and checking their watches to make sure they don't miss the next train.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> The almost-Linda is listening to Theia closely -- this is the most alive you've seen her this whole time. She closes her eyes, concentrating. "I was working at the... the underground and needed a... yeah, needed a break, needed a hit so I went to find... someone... but I musta taken a wrong track, and I was lost and thirsty, hadn't had a drink in hours, and I saw this little refreshments, and it looked so innocent, and I thought what's the harm, right?" Her eyes flick open and she grabs Theia's arm. "What's the harm, right?"</div><div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes looked up from the comm to pteryx "okay so ysadora is sort of okay but ill see if i can find a way to change her back but you may wanna get out of here before i do that, although ill give a heads up first" looking down to text onto the comms ( hey im gonna see if i can get ysa back to normal so try to keep steady okay? oh and uh, if things get crazy i can shrink or something but wish me luck, oh and good luck over there theia and linda!" ) putting it away to add aloud "okay im gonna see if i can somewhere to give this to ysa...okay if this is the brain i don't know if the mouth would be up here with the head or...hmm" thinking about whether to stick more to train anatomy or people and shrugged heading to the back of the train to see about giving their infection to hopefully allow her to get closer to normal than traindom</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Recallin one of his drones, the pictures Pteryx comes to see spark an almost manic glee in him! "That's, that's permeatin! Them trains are moving 'round fer somethin, so the station must be pumpin them passengers full of somethin 'fore reabsorbing em!" Still not having a clue how them trains and such actually work, Pteryx just tries buildin off what he already knows. For now his idea is that the station is a sort of atrium, and their routes are arteries and veins to the lungs. "Dag nabbit I ain't got them magic doohickeys like Junes does!" As well verse as Pteryx was he didn't have outright biometric scanning abilities given by nanomagic. Did anythin 'bout them passesngers change as they were on the train, reoxiginated er somethin? Did his ideas matter at this specific situation? He sure didn't know! Hearin them comms in the train a runnin, Pteryx tries ta tune in with his antennae headset and... nothin... looks like Eureka blocks their comm system frum Zephyr tech... The trains' system would have ta do! Only bein able ta listen in, only really seein... organic tech 'round him, "Guess them Junes is up ta it..." Noticing Linda seemin ta have manhandle Theia, Pteryx backs away swiftly, he knew them mutant could handle herself, but he sure couldn't! </div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Without letting that spark of progress fade, Theia presses harder with the questioning, keeping her warm and friendly tone. "This is good! You're doing it! Now, focus on that drink. It looked delicious, right? So what's the harm... I'd probably have done the same, don't worry, I'm not mad at you. No one is mad at you." She punctuates that point with a reassuring caress of Linda's arm. "But we need to find that drink, if we can. It's important, and could help my friend. Can you picture it in your mind? Do you know where it is, can you take me there?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora dings politely. It's sadly almost time to close the doors, but she should give the passengers warning enough that they can get on before she departs. That's what this is all about, after all. In anticipation, Ysadora begins warming up her engine. The future is close, and it's Eureka Station.</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The passengers begin making their way on board their respective trains. A lady in a navy-blue pantsuit almost, almost gets on board Ysadora's train, but hesitates and then goes back to her own. Consent is important.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> Rushing back through carriages that are starting to fill up, dodging between people's legs, the little kobold makes it to the back of the ghost train. Behind a mundane-looking door at the rear of the last coach is a weird, organic-looking machine that hums and throbs and pulses and beats, pumping some black liquid that might be part blood and part oil through translucent-walled pipes. There are some knobs and dials and an inlet or two.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> The almost-Linda looks up at Theia, not letting go. "It's gone! It was just a cup, with a lid and a plastic straw, from that... that old sandwich place... the chain... with the ads... that guy... eat fresh. Fresh means it has to be all right, right?"</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Junes is able to open a valve and get a few drops of the oily blood into a vial without splashing it everywhere or doing any harm to Ysadora.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes saw the unusual slurry and that lingering thought again... bringing out their collection of vials alongside the collector...but first they bring three things out, the comm unit to text ( about to try and change ysa so get out soon!" ) secondly they get a ladel and finally jar, setting it on the ground open before filling the ladel and slowly letting it drain into the jar, once filled their azure fire cleans the utensil as they carefully close the lid and pocket the combination before finally getting to their collection of nanites and getting a few vials before opening and dumping the ghost nanites down into the engine, hoping their multiple operations did no harm before watching the surroundings to see whether they need to run or not</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Hearin them ding frum them train gettin ready, Pteryx sends a drone back out, keeping two of them to spy 'round the station as he has ta keep ridin... this accursed vehicle! With Junes kinda in Ysadora, Theia was all Pteryx had ta hide behind in case things get messy. As Theia went 'round chattin Linda up Pteryx looks relieved at it not having gone too south, and opts ta take a purdy close look at them passengers now. Fer any change in appearence once the damned vehicle went about moving again, gettin a drone ta try 'descreetly' takin 'for photos ta try matchin ta an after 'fore them folk head back ta meltin. </div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Theia bites her lip to stifle a shout of frustration as she hears Linda's garbled answer. Old sandwich place? Is that an Old World thing? And why was it chained up? None of this makes any sense... she shoots the group a quick message on her comm unit. "Linda found a drink down here, which I think transformed her into this train. But it sounds like those nanites are gone. Any luck on your end?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora shudders with a roar of compressed metal. Her body rapidly shrinks and takes on a familiar form, with a head cloaked in dark hair and a humanoid torso. Her skin is the last to change, progressively shifting from worn steel to a shade even paler than usual. Ysadora staggers, blinks, and opens her mouth to speak. Before she can utter a word, however, a tiny Junes shoots out of her mouth and lands safely on the platform beyond. The ghost coughs, gulps down some air, and then seems to fully regain her bearings. "That sure was an...experience. I've always liked trains, but not like -that-." She turns around and attempts to wave to the others to indicate she's fine but is stymied by the fact that each of her eight arms has become a tiny subway car. They circle around her like they're running on invisible tracks, occasionally dinging and opening their doors. Closer inspection reveals that her feet, too, are still railway wheels locked firmly to the tracks below. "Ooh, that's weird. Uh, I'm mostly fine and back to normal though. Thanks for whatever you did, Junes!"</div><div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Pteryx is able to get snaps of several passengers as they board the train. They seem to be behaving mostly like they were before: sitting down, ignoring one another, looking like they have an important meeting to get to. A couple glance up as the tannoy announces that: "Caution, the doors are about to close."<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> There is a low, electrical hum as the one remaining train starts moving, slow for now but beginning to approach the figure in front of it on the tracks.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) That's before after taken, maybe somethin will happen to em as they travel through them tunnel? Seein them shenanigans in front Pteryx looks dumbfounded at semi train Ysadoram huh, ya don't see that everyday... She kinda still looks stuck... where's Junes... As them train starts moving thoughit looked like they may end up hittin Ysadora! "Dag nabbit! Dumb vehicles!" Not really havin seen Junes solution Pteryx in a panic ruffles 'round his first aid kit... an anesthetic! He was purdy sure a human sized vial ain enough fer shutting down a train... but if it's organic it should at least make it a wee sluggish... The control panel thing! A tad close ta them brain but not really thinkin too clearly right now, Pteryx looks ta one of them arteries and shoves a needle of anesthetic inta the console! Maybe its proximity ta main control will work despite the lack o dosage? He ain't sure...</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) From her spot on the floor next to Linda, Theia hears rather than sees Ysadora's somewhat dramatic transformation from a train back into a person (ish), followed by Pteryx's rush past her into the cabin. "Is that a knock-out drug? Great idea!" she calls out, leaping to her feet and following him into the cabin. "If that doesn't work... I think Linda drank some nanites down here. If so... we could turn her into something else? Not quite herself, but something... smaller, more manageable at least?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora turns her head around 180 degrees to see the oncoming train. She raises her train arms, beeping and meeping around them, and screams dramatically. The train only butts into her softly, though, sending her wheels rolling a few feet down the tunnel. Ysadora opens her eyes, then squints at the floundering machine in front of her. "Whatever you did worked!" she enthuses over their comms. "Junes fixed me by pumping me with Ghost nanites, I think, so the same should work on Linda, right? What have you got handy in your NISD, Pteryx?" As she speaks, Ysadora pulls up her foot with an audible clank and focuses into whipping her own nanites into shape. Soon enough, she's back to the chilly ghost form she most favors, subway hands abandoned with the wheels.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx A bit too busy trying ta keep them train down to really hear Ysadora too well, Pteryx jabs just about anything he could find in his kit that could keep them train slowed, Stimulant, nope, cough medicine? Orally taken... does this form even have a mouth? Heat and rut inducing pills? Wrong situation fer that and also orally taken... Anasthetics workin fine as is, Pteryx seems to have just wasted time rimagin around his kit.</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Seeing the impact of the anaesthetic on the train-woman, Theia pulls out a small vial from a pouch at her belt. "Well... this isn't what I brought this for. But this counts as an emergency!" she mutters to herself, loud enough for Pteryx to hear, before she grabs the discarded syringe used for delivering the drug, inserts her vial, and injects the dose of nanites into an appropriate-looking vein. The moment the dose has been delivered she grabs the skunk's arm and drags them both towards the door, flinging herself through the opening - hopefully - before any effects take place...</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora climbs up on the platform, with some difficulty, and checks on Junes' supine form. Satisfied that the little kobold of all time is safe, she turns to watch the results of Theia's dosing the train.</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) There is a confused moan from the not-quite-Linda, matched by a warble from the tannoy. Mercifully, Theia and Pteryx are running full tilt out of the train and don't see exactly what happens to its insides, but the sound of twisting metal and squelching flesh is more than enough. They land on the platform, roll to a stop, and turn around to see: the metal hide of a much smaller train fade into the plated hide of a large-ish pangolin that moves one hand in confused wonder as it shrinks further, back to regular size, and lies there on the tracks in an unconscious heap. More or less at the same time, the lights of the station flicker out, plunging you into temporary darkness, broken only by the drones' lights.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Drones circle Pteryx almost ominously with the lack of lighting, "Missing personnel acquired!" He hollers callin out ta the folk he went down here with! Taking a cursory look at them now pangolin, they look purdy fine, maybe a tad too much anesthetic... Four arms outstretch on them pagolin as Pteryx wraps most of them up in a silken cocoon, "There ya go! Nice and cozy and alive!" The gremlin sized skunk beast would need some stronger folk to carry Linda 'round back ta the surface.</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Helping the skunk move the unconscious pangolin back onto the platform, Theia parks herself down on the floor and takes a drink from her belt. "Well... I guess that worked. We've still gotta get her back up to the surface, but the hard part is done, right?" She takes a long drink, letting out a sigh of refreshment, before reaching over and gently stroking Linda's arm. "Poor thing. I still don't know where she found the nanite-drink that turned her into this train, or where they came from... and I'm not sure I want to know. Let's just get out of here while we still can?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora breathes a subtle sigh of relieve as Theia picks up the fallen pangolin. Ysadora probably could have carried her, if pressed, but it wouldn't have been easy or fun. Rigor mortis aside, she's pretty scrawny. Instead, she floats over and picks up the tiny unconscious Junes, giving them a little tickle on the belly before stashing them safely in her robe. "Should be a straight shot back to the surface, so long as that Rust Monster isn't still hungry. I agree with Theia, we can figure out the details later. For now, let's get Linda back home and let the other miners know she's safe."</div><div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) It's a long hike back to the mines, but after dealing with that train everything else seems at least metaphorically downhill. Between Junes's refined snoofer and Pteryx's inadvertent scent trail, you have no problem finding your way back through the maze of tunnels, Pangolinda in tow. There is some initial confusion when you bring back a male pangolin instead of a coyote woman, but after she wakes up and curses a blue streak at Elena, her identity is established beyond question. It probably doesn't hurt that she's got built-in diggers now.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> As promised, there is no reward from the mine, which is owned by the city -- but the miners themselves, along with Doug and Elena, club together and give them a small pot of freecred from their own pockets. It's also going to be basically impossible for any of the four to buy their own drinks at a Eureka bar for the next few weeks.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> With the 'earthquakes' stopped, the mine is able to resume operations, grinding out ore for the city and getting only a minor reprimand for the reduced output this week. Linda remains evasive about who or what she was going looking for down there.</div>[[Category:RPLogs]]

User:Narwen

2023-07-31T10:39:00Z

Narwen: Unbreak page, set up soft-redirect.

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(Why do you need to click it? A previous admin decided that the distinction between Narwen-as-player and Narwen-as-character meant that there should be two different pages, one for the wiki user and one for the character, and deleted this page. But autocreated RPLog pages point to it anyway, so if you find yourself here then please go ahead and click the link above. Thanks!)

The Enigma Complex Pt 3-4 - Ghost in the Machine - RPLOG

2023-07-31T07:56:30Z

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The Enigma Complex Pt 3-3 - Ghost in the Machine - RPLOG

2023-07-31T07:56:18Z

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The Enigma Complex Pt 3-2 - Ghost in the Machine - RPLOG

2023-07-31T07:56:08Z

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2023-07-31T07:55:13Z

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The Enigma Complex Pt 3-3 - Ghost in the Machine - RPLOG

2023-07-31T07:53:18Z

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=Participants=
* [[User:Booker|Booker]]
* [[User:Junes|Junes]]
* [[User:Syntax|Syntax]]
* [[User:Umeko|Umeko]]
* [[User:Ysadora|Ysadora]]
=Date=
27/5/2023
=Log=
<div></div><div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) When we last left our hapless adventuring party, they had just left the ever so spooky clinic and met up with Booker. They had settled on a clear goal: find the nanite server and, if nothing else, get it under control. However, with no clear idea as to where it could be, they settled on starting with Hydroponics. Based on the basic map Syntax gave Ysadora, it wouldn't take too long to at least give the area a quick sweep. The four now find themselves walking down a long hallway towards the unknown!</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker waved everyone on as he started to his right toward the Hydroponics bay. He glanced behind him. "So what have you guys found so far?" He looked over the walls as he walked, wondering if there was anything hung up on the wall, or painted on it.</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker also tugs on the leash as he headed down the hall, directing Junes to follow</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes was looking back at the group but hearing booker call attention they felt the leather lifting and got a move on before they could be dragged along, a bit downtrodden still remembering the clinic screams "i hope there's still some plants alive in hydroponics, maybe since stuff is still active they might have a good chance of still being here, or even find some seeds if anything"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora lurks in Booker's shadow as they move forward. "Oh! Oh! You're not going to believe this, Booker, but this place is capital-H Haunted. We saw some real paranormal activity in the clinic, and Junes saw something similar in the stairwell. Something about radiation." She pauses, excitement tempering slightly. "The thing is, it's all nanomagic based. The sounds, the visions, everything. But! It did still interact with my ouijia board. It spelled out 'DREAMER' there and on a piece of paper Junes slipped under the door. That mean anything to you?" Although allowing Booker and Umeko to proceed a few steps ahead of her, Ysadora does keep an eye on their surroundings as she prattles on.</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) After ensuring her Awareness Nanomagic was properly running to detect any mysterious ghostly shenanigans, Umeko continued on as well with the group, scanning the hallways with her enhanced vision that could easily see through the darkness. "Yeah, there's something very strange going on in this place... It could very well be some sort of actual ghost honestly. Nanomagic has been occuring without any sort of apparent source, even when using nanomagic to detect it. It's as if it's coming from the server itself, so it could be anything from paranormal to some sort of advanced hacker, or god forbid, the server itself going rogue... Be real careful of illusions and other strangeness..." she added to Booker. "Also, who knows what's in hydroponics, but if I had to guess, the fungus is probably having a great time in there."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) As the group walks forward, pretty much everyone but Ysadora starts to notice more mushrooms in this hallway than there were farther back. They're pretty hardy little things and have just outright taken root in the concrete floors and stained walls. It's Junes and Umeko, however, that realize the significance of these mushrooms. They're one of cumrot's most frequent competitor: cockblock! Based on what the termites said earlier, these don't just halt the spread of cumrot but even hamper the spread of its spores.</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker continued down the hallway, looking over the little mushrooms. "Weird... These aren't dangerous are they?" He purposely dragged a foot to dislodge one growing on the floor. "Next thing you know people will be putting them on pizza or something." He smirked, turning his head back toward the group. only to get half-blinded by June's flashlight before turning back around and extending a hand forward to make sure he didnt run into anything.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes nodded with ysadora before pulling two things out, a paper with ( DREAMER? ) on it along with a flashlight, shining forth and adding as they showed the paper to whoever wanted to see "yeah i was the only one in the stairwell and wrote something completely different in my own handwriting, spooky but cool but for the source im not sure, whichever it may be i have the feeling their not an enemy considering the illusions have been less than harmful even if definitely unnerving but hopefully we're even capable of asking if this is a ghost or one in the machine" walking with the leash in mind and glancing down answering booker "they'll make you.... something....but it wasn't good for other fungi but i think it'll be okay for us" thinking a bit, unsure about the information looked back to double check with umeko</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora shuffles a bit inside her sleeves as she tries to send just one hand down to pick up a mushroom. Eventually she accepts the limitations of the suit and bends down to uproot one of the things. Bringing it up to her visor, she studies its odd shape. "This is a pretty big deal, right? I mean, this stuff's our best bet against Cumrot that we know of. I wonder how Pteryx is getting on with researching how to make it even more effective." Pulling a jar from her bag, she drops the shroom in and screws the lid back on. Ysadora looks up, then, and realizes Booker's been pushing ahead blindly. She scurries over hurriedly to catch up.</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko looked down at the mushrooms, "It's a good sign that these are growing, eventually the spores should be taken care of hopefully with the holes sealed up and no more cumrot infested water coming in... I wouldn't recommend eating either of these, nor taking off your hazmat suits though. Eventually we'll have to clear out this fungus too and you can eat the anti-horny mushrooms then if you -really- want to." She looked around at the rest of the damage to the halls as well, "It'll be a lot of work fixing this place up, but I'm looking forward to seeing it for sure."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) As the party approaches hydroponics, readings indicate a massive drop in the amount of cumrot contaminants. Those cockblock mushrooms are really working their magic, it seems. As the four enter the the room proper, though, they discover that calling it a room is inaccurate. Before you is a massive amount of overgrowth of plant life with the roots of a tree snaking along the walls. The tree itself stands at the center of the circular area which seems to be growing from a lower floor which can be accessed via a stairway which must exist somewhere in this mess. It continues upwards up to the sky and--wait, that doesn't make sense. Looking up, it almost feels as if you are looking through a fish eye lens as the tree extends up into a lovely blue sky. Oddly, there appears to be a condensation trail from what can only be a jet which is streaking far beyond what you can perceive.</div><div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker takes a few steps into the room, taking a glance around and looking up. "Thats... odd?" He then glanced down as he tugged the leash leading to junes. "Shine the flashlight down there... How far does it go?" He turned back to the group. "Well its seems like things are.. infact growing..." He continued to survey the area. "This is wild... literally..."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes looked inside and immediately the large tree caught their notice, looking up and up...then...up and "wow, that doesn't make sense but can't deny it's beauty" staring and watching before feeling that tug and looking at booker, a little glad about it for a second before following "right! but you have to admit this is one snazzy illusion!" holding their flashlight towards the bottom</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora clasps her hands together as she enters the room. "Ooh, pretty! You're right about the roof, though. Maybe that's an illusion too? I don't know if we can get high enough to check, unless..." Ysadora looks between Junes and Booker for a moment, then shakes her head. "Nah." Bending down, she rifles through some of the plant life, checking for any signs of Cockblock or Cumrot lurking amid the undergrowth.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Umeko peers up to the distant jet. While she can just barely make out the jet, its logo is pretty much nonsense. Like you told an AI to generate an airline logo including an eagle. It seems to change ever so slightly every few seconds. After looking around, it's clear that the only visible way of looking down would be by looking through the gap between the platform and the tree. However, when checking for a gap, all he finds is a lip around the tree where the wood has grown over the hole in the platform it was once intended to easily sneak through. Thankfully, he does manage to catch sight of a stairway heavily concealed amongst the overgrowth. Ysadora finds no cumrot or cockblock. Instead, she finds a pitch black and highly reflective flower.</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko glanced around the immediate area for a bit, before looking up and enjoyed the sight. "It is most definitely illusion nanomagic, but it sure is pretty. I suppose we can entertain it for now, but Junes can activate the field if things get a little too crazy. I feel like there's probably some purpose to this mysterious force showing us all of this after all... Still, that jet up there, this has to be a vision of the past..."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) As the party looks over everything, Ysadora notices that something doesn't quite feel right about the plants up here. Looking at the flower, it would be best suited to a place with a ton of access to sunlight. Considering how black it is, she can only imagine it would also like to exist at high temperatures as well. As she shines her light over it, the reflective surface seems perfect for only taking in however much light it needs. Frankly it doesn't make too much sense here. However, this upper area seems almost temperate. After pointing this out to the others, Umeko and Junes take a closer look at the plants on this floor. Sure enough, all would be far better suited to a more barren environment. All of the overgrowth and more temperate plants are growing up from cracks and holes in the platform from a lower level. It's then that there's a massively bright flash from above and Umeko realizes what's going on. These plants would be perfectly well suited for a barren post-nuclear disaster environment. Considering she's detecting no illusion nanomagic from these plants, the environment in here is about to very rapidly change and either fleeing hydroponics or moving to a lower level is the safest option.</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) After a moment, Umeko's admiration of the sky quickly turned into a concerned frown as she continued to use awareness nanomagic to monitor the situation as it quickly became apocalyptic. "We need to get out of here now, keep going down or risk turning back! Thermal nanomagic might roast us and even the field won't stop it if it turns our surroundings into an oven!" She quickly made her way over to way out, waving the others over to what is hopefully safety.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes was looking intently at the flower but with the lights they jumped, tails inside the suit puffing up and looking around, following the leash with eyes and seeing booker near the stairs rushing over "this is so cool but so horrifying!" arms pumping back and forth running to the way down and yelling a little </div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora looks up in alarm at Umeko's proclamation. She takes only enough time to snatch up the reflective black flower before scrambling to her feet and running for the stairs down. Wordlessly, Ysadora glances at Junes and Booker. They're both experienced, her body language seems to say, they'll be fine, right?</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker heard Umeko's callout, already taking steps toward the stairs. Only a step or two behind junes atleast. He glanced backwards as he started down the steps, making sure everyone else was down and into safety.</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko was fairly familiar with dealing with tense situations, and was ready to pick up and drag any stragglers as she held off and waved them to go further down, before moving further down into the bunker complex herself. "We'll ride it out down here, the nanomagic's up there. If this thing wants to roast us, I feel like it can do it no matter where we are... Hell, if this thing pulls a Las Vegas and the server tells everything to become grey goo, there wouldn't be a single safe spot in all of Eureka. We might as well do what it seems to want at this point and continue on, away from the simulated apocalypse above..." she said as she kept on moving.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Once everyone is down below, there is a violent shaking...above you. While you barely feel it, there is definitely something happening above. Some of the plants around you wilt slightly, but only the ones that were advancing to the upper floor. This lower level is almost like a temperate forest, just with a single tree's roots growing up to make up the trees. Hydroponics of many kinds surround you. For the moment, it seems you have time for a breather.</div><div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes nearly tripped on the leash running down and once there was some even terrain and heard the shaking above, looking up and huffing trying to relax before looking at the plant ysadora snagged "hey mind if i take a closer look?" slow as their breathing going into their bag and looking for a holed jar along with a few others while two were recognized as ones you would use for spices as the rest were more proper before closing the bag and reaching to touch the plant, looking as well curious about the sun blasted plant and nodding, reaching down to scoop some soil but getting a bit of moss that was nearby and stuffing it into the ventilated jar and handing it to ysadora "this should make sure it'll stay healthy" rubbing their suits hand on the visor and groaning, shoving an arm back to wipe their face and filling the suits space once more "some water once in a long while should be okay, oh and dont water even if it looks unhealthy just once in like a few weeks, may wanna go by the soil or leaves" glancing to umeko asking "by the way how did you see that coming?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora takes the jar with a big smile, turning it to admire the flower's reflective surface in the false light. "Wow, thanks Junes! It's nice to have someone who knows these kinds of things around. What's the flower's name, do you know?" She looks over at her friend questioningly, but Ysadora's eyes don't stay fixed there for long. They slide off Junes, taking in the group's new surroundings. "Come to think of it, we didn't get much of a chance to check this place out thanks to, uh, you know, that." She motions upwards. "At least there's not obvious Cumrot here. Not even Cockblock like we saw outside. ...Is that weird?"</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker glanced around the surroundings, taking a second to glance back up the stairs. "That was weird... Appreciate the heads up" He glanced at the exchange between Ysa and Junes. "Oh.. a plant?" He tilted his head. "Wonder if any of these would be invasive..." He pondered for a moment, strolling cautiously onward, but stopping when the leash was almost tight.</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko looked over to Junes, "Awareness nanomagic, same way I found out there wasn't a source to the stuff from earlier as well. It is connected to the server somehow but usually I can detect who caused it as well. I've been keeping it up so that we can have a heads up on things before something like that exact sitution occured. For awhile I thought we were just going to be dealing with illusions, though that proves we are in a much, much more dangerous situation now, since it can manifest potentially deadly nanomagic seemingly anywhere it wants..."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Suddenly, with little warning, a crab with the same level of maneuverability with a spider makes itself visible as it adjusts its position on a tree root. It oddly has its long pincer arms positioned mid-way along its body and might have eyes on both side of it. 360 crab coverage.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes was about to answer ysadora before noticing a color off in the distance, looking a little more their focus shifted "oh hold on just a sec!" heading closer to see a crab! curiously walking like a spider would, slowly walking closer and bending down but once outstretching their hand and seeing the crab gently touched to get a bit of information as it was nudged lightly, when reaching a finger up the crab looked a bit defensive so they decided not to pet the crab and nodded "cute little guy!" waving a hand over to show the others </div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora stares at the crustacean, nonplussed. "Is that a crab? What's a crab doing here?" She sidles over and carefully tucks the flower jar into her bag before crouching down next to Junes. "Is it...native? Native like the flower? And if so, is it alright to be here?" Ysadora realizes she's just rattling off questions so shuts her mouth and scoots over, making room for the other two.</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker followed after Junes, taking a moment to notice the crab. He extended a hand petting the crab as if it were a dog. "Crab." He smirked, looking over at the others. "Crab" He gestured with a thumb at the crab, before standing up and looking around, and more notably, glancing upward to make sure there were no other creatures looming above.</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko tilted her head as she looked at the crab, carefully inspecting it and checking her nanomagic for the presence of illusions. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a tasty looking little oatmeal cookie ration wrapped in paper, made with culinary nanomagic and enriched with Everything The Body Needs(tm). She slowly carefully picked up the crab while it was distracted from... behind? She minded its back eyes as she held it and pet it gently to make sure it was real, for science, and for fun. "Huh, looks like this little guy's not an illusion, but probably some local wildlife that got in with the water... We should take him with us when we leave, would probably die down here otherwise now that it's sealed off. Unless it can live off the mushrooms alone..."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) As Umeko says that, something occurs to her. Nothing down here is an illusion. The only illusion was the sky above. The tree, the plants, even a spider you catch out of the corner of your eye. It's like a miniature biome in here that was spared getting overwhelmed by the cumrot thanks to the cockblock.</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko set the crab down as she spent a moment looking around the area, inspecting the plants and knocking on the wood of the tree. "Or maybe not... If my senses and nanomagic aren't failing me and this is all real, it looks like stuff's been living in here for awhile now. The crab's still different than anything I ever saw before P-Day, but it looks like this place has more to it than I thought."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes responded to ysadora "i don't think it has a name, if you'd like you can name it!" with a small smile through the visor nd </div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes continued "oh and yeah, these are both definitely alive, in fact apparently he doesn't seem to have pathogens and some mention of a soapy substance" sitting up to add "yeah seems like a brand new species! or well, new to us although i imagine whoever is with us has more info, and speaking of if capable of ending us anytime that means there's a clear reason for letting us inside so im definitely curious about having a talk if we're capable but" holding the paper up said "maybe i can find a way to get more messages than dreamer?" thinking aloud "but i was sort of unaware so how do we get soke friendlier attention..." </div><div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora stares after the crab for a moment longer, as though deciding whether to try and jar that one up too. Seeming to decide against it, she turns her attention away. "Crab," she jokes, nudging booker's ribs through the suit. "If this is all real, why aren't we seeing like...some pristine hydroponics bay from when the bunker was in use? Maybe the Presence doesn't have anything it wants to show us here? Or maybe I'm thinking too hard about it." She gives a shrug made complicated by the number of hands stuffed up her sleeves. "Either way, it's good to see there's no Cumrot in here. And I'll think about a name for the flower, too! How about... Craig? No, that's silly. Flora Junes-ium? Hmm..."</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker walked around the tree, examining it, and looking up to see if there was anything noteworthy. "Man.. this place must be ancient for a tree this big to just grow here..." He tapped on the side of the tree. "Aye uhh.. any of you big brainy boys know what kind it is?" He circled the tree completely, walking back up to the group by Craig-The-Crab.</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko looked over to Ysadora, rubbing the lower visor of her hazmat suit since her chin was inacessible. "Considering the apocalyptic visions from up above, my best guess is that if this was some sort of doomsday bunker, they might have had a bunch of different species down here in reserve to sort of regrow the world with... Different plants that can survive harsh conditions, some sort of possibly genetically modified hardy scavenger crab, different plants and seeds... They may have escaped containment and reclaimed this place a bit as well over the years. Aquaponics are a thing as well, so there might be a tank with even more of these guys somewhere, a self contained sustainable ecosystem where you can grow both plants and meat, though usually it's fish."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) For the moment, the party is safe. As the heat storm rages above, the ultimate quest lies in this: Do they sit among the crabs until it's safe to leave...or do they find out what else is further down?</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) TO BE CONTINUED</div>[[Category:RPLogs]][[Category:Syntax Events]][[Category:The Enigma Complex Events]][[Category:Eureka Renaissance Events]]

The Enigma Complex Pt 3-2 - Ghost in the Machine - RPLOG

2023-07-31T07:52:27Z

Narwen: Add tags

=Participants=
* [[User:Booker|Booker]]
* [[User:Junes|Junes]]
* [[User:Syntax|Syntax]]
* [[User:Umeko|Umeko]]
* [[User:Ysadora|Ysadora]]
=Date=
20/5/2023
=Log=
<div></div><div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) When we last left our hapless explorers in the lower levels of the Enigma Complex, they came to the realization that what they were encountering was no ordinary haunting. The oddities were nanomagic and the source was a server located...somewhere. As they discussed what to do next, Umeko hit on an important concern. The wall builders. If something went wrong with them, someone would need to be nearby to fix them. Oswynd, confident he could take care of himself, volunteered to be that person. Since they would clearly need backup, the party radioed back up to ask for reinforcements to which Syntax said she had someone available. They just had to wait a few minutes for them to get prepped. Now, back in the present, the remaining three stand in a central corridor. There are two long passages to the east and west, a stairwell and ramp access point being tended to by Oswald to the north and south, and a clinic who's door has not yet been opened that appears to have its lights on.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes watched ysadora and had a sigh of relief, testing the leashes strength with a tug and keeping the condom in a hand "alright so whatever its trying to tell us, hopefully i can watch for it with whatever it might be using for illusions or messages they're trying to say" looking at the two passages and the ominous clinic asked "i have a feeling about that clinic but what do you two think?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora briefly bends double as the nanotubules connecting her legs, head, and many hands stiffen up with nanites putting their all into just keeping her together. "Ugh, Junes, what did you do...?" Her face is even paler than usual through the moisted glass of her visor and she appears to be putting a lot of focus into just standing up. "Not that I don't trust you, but this is awful... Is this what it's like outside the bubble for everyone?" Despite the nausea, she keeps a firm hand on the leash and manages to twist her stiff neck around to see if she can spot anything different after Junes' abjuring.</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko was quite used to being out of the nanite bubbles after taking many long excursions outside of the cities and having a body well suited to it, so she wasn't particularly phased by the change. She looked over at Ysadora with concern however, "Your form isn't exactly well suited to these conditions I have to say... If it gets to be too much to bear, we can always have Junes turn it off. Honestly I'm a bit concerned that a bubble of apparently 'nothing' might draw even more attention to us from whatever is the source of all this, but hypothetically we should be safe unless it somehow manages to overwhelm what Junes is doing... If you suddenly feel normal again, let us know about that too." She offered some support or even being carried to Ysadora if she needed it in her weakened state as well.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) While Umeko has every reason to be concerned, Ysadora's discomfort fades at least somewhat. The main issue for her is the feeling of weightlessness that she has gone for so long experiencing was gone. She feels the full weight of gravity pressing down on her with her now attached limbs for the first time in a long time having to fight against it. While the nanites did a great job of making temporary limbs for her to stand on, the fact she is standing at all is likely relatively uncomfortable compared to floating around.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes walked forward and started to pat ysadora on the back "sorry, i know its not easy but if it ever gets too bad just say the word and i can take it off, it must be like being born in space honestly..." they felt bad about the pain they were actively inflicting on their friend but hoped it wasn't as bad as they imagined "hopefully no mutants are around besides the one mysterious presence but i wonder if the dreamer is a nickname, us or something else, either way lets carefully check that clinic out and see if we can find some information?" slowly heading to the door and glancing back before preparing to open the door</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora frowns but straightens up. The worst of the transition seems to be over by now, although she's still a little shaky on her legs. "I'm fine, mostly. It's been a while since I had, you know, proper legs. I don't even want to think about what's going on inside my sleeves right now." She sidles up next to Junes. Despite the discomfort of walking, her eyes are starting to glimmer with excitement once again within her helmet. "I'll admit, I've been curious about what might be in here ever since we arrived. That light's like, super suspicious, right? Right?" Reaching out to take the handle, Ysadora pauses. She turns and looks up, then further up at Umeko. "Maybe, uh, just in case, Umeko should go in first?"</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko nodded to Junes, "I remember reading something about that... Still, I guess we can whatever this thing is 'the dreamer' for now until we get more information on it." She walked up to the clinic door and prepared to open it, keeping her right hand free and ready to use her ace in the hole if needed. "Give me some space in case things go wrong, we'll head in after I give the all clear." With that, she went to open up the clinic, ready to peek around the door and hide behind it and slam it shut if need be.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) The clinic...is a clinic. It's perhaps a little disconcerting that it's in such pristine condition despite all of the time that has passed. There is a small It has a gray and white checkered floor, eggshell white walls, art pulled straight out of the 70's, and a small waiting room nearby with furniture similarly styled for an older age. The air even has that overly sanitary smell of a hospital. Or, at least, you think it would. Despite appearances, Umeko just picks up on the same musky stale air the rest of this lower level has had.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Taking a moment to examine the room, it appears to be safe to Umeko. As safe as it could be in these circumstances, anyway. Looking over her shoulder, Junes sees much of the same. In addition, however, with her extremely good vision, Umeko notices something. Some of the slight movement in the room just seems off. Opening the door should have changed the air pressure enough to shift some of the hanging cloth in the room, but it hasn't moved an inch. More accurately, however, it appears to be trapped in a short replay just before a recording starts. It's unclear how much of the room is an illusion, but the entirety of the room appears to be at least covered in a layer of deceit. </div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko let out an audible sigh as she looked around, "Something's definitely off with this room... Once again, I don't fully understand all of the forces at play here with whatever's messing with us, but this room isn't what it seems... Still, I don't see any immediate danger, so let's head in carefully." She cautiously stepped inside, still keeping an eye out as she got closer to the equipment, wanting to either get a better look at this illusion or at least an appraisal of its real condition.</div><div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes looked under umeko and around, something still seeming off but...not quite in a bad way, like a false sense of comfort for yourself but stepping closer inside remembering about another adventure they had and the consequences of a deities realm "hmm just in case try not to destroy or move much, although i wonder if tidying a bit would help...we dont know how we're being seen but i can't help thinking of those eyes when i vanished and the stairwell dreamer writing..." giving sigh before heading closer to some curtains holding beds and seeing the oddly pristine condition, grazing a hand and nodding "this is pretty neat..." making sure they hadn't made wrinkles and walking around </div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora would normally enter the room and pat down the walls with her many inquisitive hands, but her current circumstances forbid this. Instead, there's a soft rustling inside her sleeves as the nanite-starved limbs in there jostle about. "It's not what it seems, huh? I mean, it seems like a pretty normal clinic to me. I guess it is weird that it seems so...pristine. How long has this been buried down here again?" She sticks to Junes' side as they approached the beds, as much for companionship as for the leash tying them together.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) After several moments of just existing in the room, the anti-nanomagic kicks in. While most of the room remains as it was, a small sphere around the three reveals the room for its true state. Water damage, mold, warped floors, rotting cloth. The bed that Junes approached goes from spotless to a mostly rotted out mattress supported by a rusted wheeled bedframe. There's the sound of a door slamming behind you, but Ysadora is close enough to it that it just kind of slowly opens again as its locking mechanism likely rusted over years ago. Were it not for your anti-nanomagic, you'd likely believe yourself trapped.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes was surprised about not seeing anything yet and looked at the curtains, they felt the leash as ysadora came closer looking at them and realizing something was wrong when half of the bed clearly rotted and held a hand up stating calmly "woah stop there?" seeing the clear division between a pristine mattress and the true nature of its sadly decrepit state and showing a hand to it "hopefully we can fix this up but...i guess my hunch wasn't far off" a sad hand slowly touching the bed and letting go "yeah try to keep a good distance so i can look at how...either this was in the past or maybe easing us for some reason but just the clinic and not the outside i wonder why? but then again those screams in the stairwell" they silently shivered thinking about that </div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora nods and steps back, head swiveling from side to side as she takes in the contrast between decrepit and pristine. "What could do this, and why? I know it's nanomagic, but...it's almost like we're in a dream of how this bunker used to be. Do you think that's what the whole 'Dreamer' thing is about?" While keeping close enough to Junes that she doesn't have to release the leash, Ysadora wanders over toward the waiting room to see what's revealed there.</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko felt strangely relieved as all of the terrible state of the room revealed itself as she laughed a bit. "Aha, there it is! The old familiar rot and rust of the old world! This is great news actually if we're able to dispel the illusions in this place." She walked over closer to the others, carefully inspecting the room for any potential hazards that came from its ruined state before nodding to Ysadora. "The 'why' is definitely the biggest mystery to me though... Whatever is doing this had some sort of tie to this bunker that was probably hardly known to anyone but the military even before P-Day... I haven't really discounted the 'actual real supernatural ghost' theory if it's somehow able to manipulate the nanites. Honestly I feel like I'd -almost- rather have that than to find something actually living down here in the dark capable of such nanomagic... Still, it might be something far away too if the server's issuing the commands, at which point there's tons of possibilities..."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Suddenly, an old wood paneled speaker on the wall begins to play some old orchestral diddy. Outside of the anti-nano magic bubbles, the room seems to shake. Silhouettes begin to move about the room in a panic and furniture moves on its own as if in response to people needing more space or to make makeshift beds. The sound of crying, one of which feels familiar to Junes, echoes about the room as an indicator on the wall flips on. The warning: radiation above ground. All the while, the chaos almost seems to flow past them as the shapes of people move to their bubbles, vanish, then reappear on the other side as panicked as ever. The waiting room becomes just another part of the clinic as blood and vomit stains the area. The voice of doctors discussing triage is just barely audible through the chaos. There's the sound of people crying and panicking outside, though there is no one knocking. Perhaps they are glad to not be among the wounded.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes nodded to ysadora "maybe that would be a good nickname for now since i dont think their going to give us one yet" about to sit on the bed before remembering the state its in and stepping back listening to umeko now "there was one concern i had while checking the area, us and well I think the cloud of spores blocked anything that may have been there so if somehow something had access to sight of us alongside nanomagic it could very well be hiding...i sure hope its goals aren't fungal..." looking to the ceiling before those illusory alarms set off and heard familiar crying once more...and radiation alarms now starting to fit together more as they focus and try to pinpoint anything between the screams and...knocking? "the radiation alarm...i don't think it was a bomb, probably when the nanites hit? or something else...?" looking a bit down adding "poor souls though..."</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora jumps with an audible "Eep!" as a shadow rushes past the wall just outside her anti bubble. After recovering her wits, she digs around in her messenger bag and produces the small, hand-held spirit box. "Uh, hello? Do you want to communicate? Er..." she speaks into the thing before flipping the switch to set it scanning between frequencies. "...I think that's right..." Her pallid cheeks flushed with a mix of fear and excitement, Ysadora suddenly seems to notice the leash in her hand once again. "Oh, J-junes! Junes! Are you alright?"</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Ysadora, in her excitement, almost forgot a major issue with using the spirit box right now. She's in an anti-nanomagic bubble and whatever this is clearly interacts with the world through nanomagic. If she wants to use her spirit box, she'd need to leave the bubble's protection.</div><div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora frowns inside her suit and turns the spirit box off, stashing it in her bag as she hurries over to Junes instead, but tarries just outside of the anti's range so as not to envelop them in it just yet.</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko instantly went on guard as she looked around at the chaos, and noticed Ysadora messing with the spirit box as well. "Whatever this thing is, I wonder if it's just trying to show us something or if it really doesn't want us here. I'm not sure if these are -just- illusions since it did influence the Ouija board earlier... If you want to gamble with letting it in, we can drop the field and bring back up if things go south. I can't monitor the nanomagic properly when this is up anyway, though it could be dangerous..."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) The music over the speaker begins to malfunction as the room rapidly seems to deteriorate into what it has become. Albeit with skeletons which are, in fact, not really there. There's an odd sense of failure about this room now. Like it wasn't prepared for what ended up coming. Almost on queue, the sound of the elevator to the upper level splits the air as their reinforcement arrives. Booker arrives on the derelict section of the bunker to the sound of malfunctioning orchestral music playing over a shoddy speaker. Very spooky.</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker stepped off the platform, looking around the room before growing a confused look on his face. "Man this music sucks." He gave half a chuckle, taking a few more steps away from the elevator. He adjusted the suit for a brief moment, clearly not used to 100% coverage. "Hello?" He spoke out making his way to the door. "I hope they aren't tucked into a corner of this place."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) The moment Booker speaks up, the speaker seems to go quiet. The medbay, decayed and rusted out, is finally silent.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes was watching the spectres and paying attention to nothing else before hearing ysadora "oh! i know it isn't well, happening now!" shouting a bit not being able to hear themselves talk and forgetting they may have heard just fine seeing umeko was talking but hadn't heard until hearing the last bit about dropping the field and so they nodded, deactivating the fields but shortly after the music starts and then.... silence... until something is heard and going closer to the door and once again it was a person before they popped out of the clinic and looked a bit shocked but confused and glad "is that...booker? glad to see you?" they made their way over with a careful but quick jog!</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora turns her grimace of discomfort into a grin of relief as Junes drops the anti field. "That sure was spooky. And the elevator came down too. I'd say it's some kind of monster but it's probably just whoever Syntax sent to- Oh, did you say Booker?" She glides lightly out of the room before throwing herself at Booker's fully-suited form. "Booker! It's been so frightening! Thank goodness you're here." As she swoons dramatically, Ysadora mugs it up from behind the frosted glass of her helmet.</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko immediately activated her Awareness Nanomagic after the field was down so that she could start monitoring what nanomagic was being used in the area and could prepare for it appropriately. She frowned as she noticed the new skeletons around the room as well. "I don't think those were there before..." As she noticed their backup coming in, she let out a little laugh, "I sure hope you're the real Booker, we've been seeing illusions nonstop in this room after all. Maybe we should ask a question that only the real you would know, juuuust to be sure..."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) The team all gather up in the central access corridor and, once again four, now have another calm moment to discuss what to do next.</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker looked over the group. "So uhh.. Illusio-" He was interupted by someone hugging them. He patted their head as he looked to the visor of the hazmat suit. "I mean you can ask me a question.. go ahead." He laughed, looking over at Umeko. "I mean If I start melting and turn into a skeleton im probably an illusion." He gave a wave to the others as he glanced around. </div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes looked back and and decided to ask something rather innocent "whats a food we had together for breakfast, any of them?" and soon realized the leash and condom, adding "okay i know how this looks but!" quickly saying "i disabled illusions from something but wanted to see them myself so i knew i might drift off or lose track so i used these to keep a tether" giving a sigh after quickly explaining that and slowly adding "anyone else have some questions?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora hands the leash to Booker. "Here. I know you'll enjoy having Junes on a leash." With her hand now free, she pops open her messenger bag and pulls out a tablet. "Now that we've got a connection again, let's check out this map. We've got Oswynd on that barricade, so maybe we should go find the next location while keeping an eye out for more clues on the way?' Ysadora looks around at the others for their reactions before checking the map in more detail, looking for any points of interest between here and their next objective.</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko titled her head at Junes, "Unless you had very strange breakfasts, or never ate breakfast together, that might be something this thing could easily guess... Still I think we're fine~ We can stop the illusions after all, and he isn't doing anything weird like telling us to go into some giant hole in the ground or anything." She looked around at the room again, her gaze lingering on the skeletons. "Still, I suppose we shouldn't linger too much down here if we can help it, and we still have one wall to go..."</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker nodded. "Oh Junes, thats easy." He looked over at her, "It was pancakes, Hashbrowns, and orange juice." He smirked. "Well You guys came from that way... so whattt abouuuut. The right? Cleared yet?" He gestured to the right with a thumb.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes heard ysadora and watched her handing the leash to booker a hand raised slightly in confusion but hearing the question their attention turned "yeah just for fun mainly but you never know" looking to booker and nodded "yep! and some omeletts to-" seeing the leash but forgetting where it was they were briefly tugged in the direction as well "careful, besides i dont think we'll need this at the moment" poking at the leash into bookers eyes "oh! but i think thats a good direction too" </div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes ( poking at the leash and looking into bookers eyes ) </div><div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora looks where Booker is pointing. "That should be the hydroponics area, according to the map. Sounds as good a place as any to check out next! We'll want to make sure there's no cumrot hanging around in there after we've blocked out the rest of it." She stashes the map and straightens out her suit, ready to move.</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko nodded to Ysadora, "Yeah, Hydroponics sounds good to me, even if it's probably the most forboding of the locations with this fungus infesting the place. Still, better to rip the bandage off fast and get it over with if we have a big problem in there. At least we'll be aware of it if we have to come back with more equipment or something to clear it all out."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) As they leave, Booker checks his supplies and actually finds some rope they can use instead of condoms! While the condoms were kind of funny to use, rope is a far better option. Resupplied, restaffed, and ready once again to explore, the four walk down the hall leading to what should be hydroponics. Once out of sight, the door to the clinic slowly closes and, several seconds later, the light once again turns on. A cycle of horror ready to once again begin once a soul exists to witness it.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) TO BE CONTINUED</div>[[Category:RPLogs]][[Category:Syntax Events]][[Category:The Enigma Complex Events]][[Category:RPLogs]][[Category:Eureka Renaissance Events]]

The Enigma Complex Pt 3-5 - Ghost in the Machine - RPLOG

2023-07-31T07:48:36Z

Narwen: Add tag for Enigma Complex

=Participants=
* [[User:Booker|Booker]]
* [[User:Junes|Junes]]
* [[User:Syntax|Syntax]]
* [[User:Umeko|Umeko]]
* [[User:Ysadora|Ysadora]]
=Date=
24/6/2023
=Log=
<div></div><div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) While there is clearly much to investigate in hydroponics, our four hapless adventurers recognized that they had a job to do. Thankfully, Oswynd hasn't been sitting on his hands. Upon returning the the central corridor, they discover that he's been hard at work ensuring the wall building robots can do their thing. It appears that something was interfering with them, but he's been taking his time to ensure that everything has gone up. He's pretty sure both paths to the lower floor will be cleared out by the time you finish going down the other hall. As he walks away to check on the wall builder by the ramp, you once again find yourselves looking down the remaining hallway.</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker glanced amoungst the group. "So looks like we only got one way to go!" He tugged on the leash still attaching Junes to him. "We should definately go back to hydroponics at some point to continue investigating.."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes nodded and followed looked back "hmm hopefully that door stays shut while syntax clears the spores, maybe we should try contacting? besides the dreamer watching our nanomagic hopefully we can get a message through" watching their step following forward </div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora hangs near the back of the group, tablet in her hand and map open. She does her best to look like a diligent and reliable navigator...even though the only way left to explore is literally directly in front of them. "If we don't find the source of this 'Dreamer' phenomenon in the silo...well, I guess we'd have to assume it's lower down. From what Oswynd said, we might be able to get down there sooner than expected, though."</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko followed along as she carefully inspected the walls and such. "Might as well keep on going yeah, I'm curious what else is in here... Not sure if we'll find the source of this whole 'Dreamer' thing if it's able to control the server in some way, but who knows what's down here... Not sure if the military put some sort of nanite based technology in here too based on the date it was made, but who knows if they came back..."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) The hall down to what is noted as the "living silo" on the map is about as long as the one to Hydroponics. What stands out the most, however, are two things. The first and most obvious is that, occasionally, the sound of frantic running footsteps echoes; sometimes from ahead and sometimes from behind. None of the party ever sees anyone or anything that could be making those sounds. The second item of interest is only noted by Umeko. Not only is the random instances of nanomagic increasing down this hall, but so too is the nanite density. While this floor thus far has certainly had a greater number of nanites than the upper floor you came from, whatever lies ahead is higher still.</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker continued forward down the hallway, occasionally watching where he'd hear footsteps. "Weird.. Ysadora, You doin spooky shit back there?" He glanced backward. "Also I wonder why its called a 'silo' and I hope 'living' isnt in a literal sense."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes smiled a bit thinking the same before realizing those footsteps were definitely being heard..."well lets hope we get an idea on what happened besides a radiation warning, people panicking and...well the fact that something was... familiar, i think one of the screams from the stairwell i heard was like one in the clinic but I wouldn't know much past that" brushing a wall and getting closer to the silo "hopefully we can find some way to contact the dreamer in a more clear way but for now let's see what happens next or anything weirder than these footsteps"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora perks up at Booker's comment. "Huh? Nah, all my spookiness is contained within my hazmat suit right now. ...And I hear it too. I swear, if we walk through that door and end up in a nasty organic room or something I'm going to be in a bad way." Swiveling her neck all the way around to the back, Ysadora sees...only the back of her hazmat hood. Her head spins back into place with an annoyed purse of her lips. "I'll be really happy when we can get these suits off, too. They take away all the fun of being a ghost."</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko paused for a moment as she looked around and used her internal nanomagic to get a better idea of what was going on. "Hmmm, looks like we might actually be getting close to -something- related to this, if not the source... There's more nanomagic occurring and more nanites in this direction, more than there should be... At the very least, I'd expect more illusion, if not outright hazards like the other room... Be careful heading in here." She also nodded to Ysadora, "Yeah, hopefully our next excursion down here won't need them if the cumrot stuff clears up properly."</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker glanced backward. "Well I dunno what "the dreamer" is.. but Is it like a person? Or a computer? Or what..."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes glanced back listening to umeko "ill admit im curious about which kinds but I'll just say, ive got a good feeling about whoever this dreamer truly might be whatever they are, some moments with the vanishing sensation, stairwell and solar but considering the illusions there's more to tell and nothing outwardly hostile there, so maybe we can have a talk and hopefully answer some questions or just sort things out"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora nods. "Then we should be prepared for anything. Get ready to move, if it tries to hit us with some thermal nonsense again. And don't trust your eyes!" So said, Ysadora narrows her eyes and hunches her shoulders, bracing herself for whatever lies beyond that door. "We'll try to talk to this Dreamer, if we can. I mean...it's not like we can do much else, unless we find its core or body or whatever."</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko nodded as she continued along, "Yeah, like I said earlier, be ready to raise that field to give us a little breathing room just in case as well. Also I don't even know if it has a body at this point... It seems to know where we are and such despite not appearing to be in the room with us, so maybe it can perceive things directly through the nanites or something, if it's not hiding out of our sight or something..."</div><div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Perhaps you didn't know what to expect when you saw "living silo". Syn didn't exactly include a detailed explanation on the map. Before you is a large cylindrical area that opens up to something almost akin to a street with sidewalks on either end. The outer walls are dotted with doors and windows which, based on appearances, must be living quarters akin to apartments. At the center of the room, you can make out a hole in the ceiling and floor blocked off with rusted railing and containing several clearly inoperable elevators. You can't see too much from here, but it's clear there are floors both above and below you.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) The windows are lighting up and shutting down in such a way to create a wave effect. As the windows light up, you see silhouettes of people frozen in time. Some walking, some playing, some talking. As the lights go out, time seems to suddenly catch up to them and a great force throws them like ragdolls. This happens again and again on repeat with different pleasant scenarios being interrupted with a blast every time. This effect is silent, but a gust of air does blow past you every time the "blast" passes you. Thankfully, you aren't suffering the same tossing the "ghosts" are.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Of interest to Umeko is that while the lights and people are illusions, the room itself is not. While you are unclear just how far up and down this place goes, this is an honest to god underground "town". There are two passages in the room similar to the one you are entering from. One on the opposite side of the large space and another on the northern wall.</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker walked down the 'street' as he looked at the various windows and scenes. "Well seems like theses ghosts arent a fan of the dreamer... atleast shouldnt be." He tried a door to see if the window was a screen instead of just glass.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes grimaced at the supposed explosion or blast forcing the assumed former inhabitants away and couldn't help but wonder just what forced then to abandon it all and run "if we get some info on these people should we set up a memorial? i doubt that many would've survived" a hand lightly raising towards the replaying blast and catching notice of a spider "anyone see anything?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora creeps along the street after Booker. She peers into the windows as they pass, waving her arms and making faces, then watching to see if the figures react when they 'reset.' "I don't see anything down here. You, Umeko?" Turning to the center of the silo, she peers into the shaft. "We could take the elevators. Do you think it's more likely our 'Dreamer' is above us or below us? I vote down; the 'Dreamer in the Deep' is a trope after all."</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko continued to peer into the windows as she followed along, "Hmmm, there definitely appears to be some sort of illusions going on in these apartments, so I guess it wouldn't hurt to take a peek. There's some sort of room over here that's different, maybe a break room that could be worth checking out... Maybe we can head there next."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) While most of the party considers which door to go to first, Ysadora immediately moves to the breakroom.</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora strolls over to the breakroom while the others deliberate and pulls the door open. Presuming she meets no resistance, she pokes her head in and looks about before entering fully.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) The moment the door opens, all of the lights stop moving in a wave around the room and begin to pulse towards the room she opened. The lights are on within and it is far more well lit and clean than it should be. There are several men inside. Well, men is putting it loosely. They appear to be made of loosely joined scraps of photographed body parts of the same person. It's not unlike if an artist were to paint each individual part of a subject from memory with several days gapping the time between each portion. On the whole, they appear to be workers of varying races and have ID tags hanging off of of lanyards. The ID's are odd in that they seem to be constantly shifting every time you focus on a different part of the ID. The numbers and letters drift and morph beyond recognition except for two words that keep reappearing: Stallings Bunker.</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker twisted the handle of the door, opening it and poking his head inside. "Hello?" He hoped there wasnt actually people being set up like bowling pins in here. </div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Now that Booker has opened the door, the lights are now pulsing both between both. However, Booker might not be interested to keep this door open for long. Within, he looks at what appears to be the interior of a family's home just as a massive blast strikes it. Frozen in time the very instant before there is nothing left. A woman in clothing fit for the 70's hangs suspended in the air, eyes wide with fear with her skin blistering and tearing off with glass from a nearby window integrating itself into her flesh. Furniture and parts of the building itself are frozen in the air and are taking up space which was once empty air. It's likely the party would witness more horrors should they enter and walk amongst the frozen spectacle.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes watched wide-eyed and silently as the blast decimated everything and seeing her skin blistering as they opened their mouth "right...lets just" reaching for the door and gingerly closing it "put a pin in that for now, besides we should keep everybody together for now so we dont miss out on anything important" tugging on the leash and walking booker over to the break room watching as the lights above stopped pointing to the one near them but pulsed towards the other room and saw the scene inside the break room "stallings huh? I wonder if he was the founder or lead director or something?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora stops and stares at the photo-amalgam creatures. She blinks a few times, obviously caught between horror and intrigue. Slowly, as though trying not to startle a wild animal, she reaches into her messenger bag and fumbles for her camera. Raising it up, she clunks the viewfinder against her visor and takes a picture. Then, she slowly turns to the others, face perfectly blank. "Booker. Junes. Umeko. There's...something really weird in that room...!" Excitement sends the last few words spilling out of her mouth. Finally, Ysadora attempts to contact the 'entities' themselves. "Um... Hello? Can you hear me? Do you speak?"</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko peeked into the room Ysadora opened carefully, with a look of concern on her face. "Hmmm.... I see... They're probably an illusion but I wonder how complex they really are..." she said quietly before giving them a wave as well, letting Ysadora lead the conversation, if there was going to be one.</div><div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) One of the people waves. "Stallings! Glad babano choolee. See yeak ham clear?" Another of the illusions says something as well, but it's all nonsense. It resembles what someone who doesn't understand English thinks English sounds like.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) After they speak for a few moments, you all become clear of the somewhat unsettling fact that while they are speaking towards you they aren't speaking at you. It's like you are inhabiting the space of someone in another reality and they are incapable of seeing your actions or hearing your words as anything but what exists there. However, while they are speaking nonsense, they are occasionally using real words. Perhaps if you listened for a bit...</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker stood there, trying to even figure out what they were talking about. "This is.... weird..." He glanced at the others. "Does anything... know what they're trying to say? or if they're even trying to say anything?" </div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Does anyone*</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes shrugged and realized something about their looks were odd and tried something, using an illusion around them and raising a hand to where their ear would be and hoping they could notice but...it seems thats not it and so they looked back with a shrug and nodded to the odd illusions and listening, hoping to understand more bits and pieces of this strange situation </div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora hangs back for now, listening closely to the 'words' coming from the entities in the room, wracking her brain to make more sense of it.</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko frowned and tried to listen in closer, curious if she could at least manage to make some sense from the intonation and other cues, though the strange 'language' had her pretty stumped. "I'm not sure... They definitely seem like different parts of people that may have been here at some point, at least from appearance... I wonder if the words are scrambled too, or if it's something else..."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) After some time, it seems hopeless that anything useful will come out of this. However, Ysadora stops focusing on the words and more so focuses on the body language and tone of the odd amalgamations. This feels like a finality of sorts. Like they are meeting up for one last time before going their separate ways. There's a great deal of familiarity between them and while they clearly look at whatever hole you are filling as being their superior, you also aren't beyond reach. Umeko, meanwhile, shifts her attention to unique words that aren't nonsense. Very often, when one of them motions to the area just outside of the door, the word "Alpha" is used. Interestingly, at one point, they refer to 'you' and make mention of "Beta 54" as well as "clear out". From the tone, it seems like a reminder.</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker just looks even more confused. "Yeah, i got nothin... anyone got a clue?" He gave a small chuckle before looking around the room at the figures again.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes shrugged and looked to the other two</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora lets her head tilt slowly to the side. "It's like they're having some kind of...party. Like, one last gathering. Something's about to happen. Maybe the same something that happened to the poor folks inside those rooms out there."</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko rubs her chin as she listens in, "Hmmm... Almost seems like he's talking about some sort of software perhaps... Something about the place outside this room being an 'alpha' and a 'Beta 54'... It's hard to explain, but I think our 'Dreamer' guy might be here, and possibly some form of this Stallings guy..."</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora leans in more to keep an eye on Junes. As she does so, her arm gripping the doorframe outside brushes across a plate set in the wall. "Hey y'all, it looks like there used to be a spot for a room number here," she says after a moment of inspection. Without another word, Ysadora wanders off, counting off the rooms as she passes them. Soon enough, she comes to the front of a room numbered 31 with the greek letter Alpha next to it. "A-ha! Come on over, Booker, Junes, Umeko. I've got a hunch this room might be special for some reason. Maybe 'Stallings' 'himself' is in there." The scare quotes slide easily into place around both terms.</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker wandered over toward Ysadora. "Oh... hm.. Weird." He patted the top of Ysadora's suit with a clothed noise. "Nice work!"</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes looked back to ysadora and back to the strange figure before nodding, feeling the tug and following booker as they head to their friendly spectre ysadora "really?" finally standing besides the two and looking at the number "whats the number about?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora angles to try to get a glimpse through the room's window. "I think it might be one of whatever those entities were talking about. Umeko, is the nanite density any stronger over here?" She holds off on actually opening the door for the moment; who knows what series of events that might set in motion.</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko approached the outside of the room carefully, using her nanomagic to scan the nearby area before pointing west down the hall. "If we want to find the highest density and signal, we want to head out of here and go that way, will probably find our answer over there. No clue what's going to be in that room though... Might be worth a peek?"</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Picking up on the direction of higher nanite density, Umeko leads the group out of the silo through the western passage. Sure enough, along one of the walls, faded paint indicates this path leads to "Silo Beta". Upon reaching the end, you find another silo much like the previous. If the place wasn't in such horrid condition, you could house hundreds of people down here. Of interest, however, are a multitude of wires that all come from and branch out from a singular point: the hole at the silo's center. They all turn to one direction once they reach the bottom floor.</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker looked around "jesus this place is fuckin huuuuge" He peaked down the hole. letting a glob of spit free-fall as he listened for a 'splat' </div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes looked as well and knelt down "well im all for going down how about everyone else?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora follows the cables with her eyes. "My money's on the end of those cables having our answer." Without hesitation, she clambers up onto Booker's back. "Forward! Climb us down, noble Booker."</div><div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko remembers something as she sees the silo name, "I think we might find our 'Beta 54' here though, that thing he mentioned earlier... Might be worth popping in there before we head down. Still, what the hell could possibly be down there, kind of worrried..."</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker now adorned with a hazmatsuit-clad ghost. Booker plopped his hands upon the edge, gazing down into the abyss as his tail braced Ysadora against him. "Well I'll see yall down there!" He thought for half-a-second before letting go of the leash that had bound junes to him. "Sorry, woulda been a weird thing to explain." He started to work his way down the elevator shafs, the occasional creak from the metal making him think only after he'd already made it a small way down, that he should have maybe gone last.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes saw this and nodded to booker, facing backwards decided to start and part of the foothold gave way as their arms splayed out briefly, you could see the genuine fear in the visor before their suits hands hit a wall and just barely able to use their legs, hands on a wall and a pinching motion from their suit using a wire to stabilize before letting go of it, thankfully not tugging the wire much and using just the wall "i...im alright"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora wraps her arms and legs around Booker, sleeves and leggings flopping emptily across his sides before her ands and feet fill them up once again. In truth, it's more his tail keeping her in place than anything else. "Woo!" she exults. "We're getting closer to the mystery!" A load creak stifles her excitement for just a moment. "Careful! I don't weigh much but you're a big boi."</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko slowly made her way down as well, having a few bad grips as the hazmat suit did her absolutely no favors in such a situation. Her cautiousness helped her quickly recover however as she slowly but surely made her way down, though she looked at Junes with some great concern once there was a near-accident. "You good over there Junes? If you need help just let me know, you can probably grab onto me and I can take you down if you need it."</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker continued to monkey or well... lizard.. his way down the somewhat degraded shaft. making quick progress as he occasionally glanced up. "Ysa can you keep an eye up, if anyone slips its either I catch them or a real short trip down."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes yelled up "im basically down most of the way anyways but im alright!" slowly and surely making progress down while avoiding a surface too smooth, opting for the barely noticeable grooves and looking down occasionally...soon enough ground is felt and yelled "need me to light the place down here? ive got a wisp or a flashlight but ill wait till everyone is here do i dont blind anyone" </div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora turns her head up as best she can, keeping an eye on the two climbing down behind them. "You've got it, Booker. If anyone loses their grip, I'll shriek like a banshee."</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko called out, "I'm good, I can see in the dark, but you do what you need to do down there!" She kept on making her way down until there was a nice and comfortable shorter distance and some safe clearance down below before dropping the rest of the way, carefully positioning herself on the way down to land in a way that she safely absorbed the shock of the impact. Once she was down there safely she immediately got to looking around, scanning the place for any potential dangers.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) The nanite concentration down here is just as bad here as it is at the center of Fairhaven. Well, Fairhaven obviously has more nanites, but you don't see this kind of concentration outside of a bubble. Or, more importantly, beside a nanite server. All of the various wires lead to the same room: 54 Beta. The door has fallen off of its hinges, leaving a bare portal to enter.</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker upon reaching the bottom and letting his tail pat Ysa, "Alright!" He pointed toward the doorway. "Lets go!" He picked up the leash attached to junes. before starting cautiously toward the doorway.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes was grabbing a flashlight before feeling their collar move, looking up and shining the way as the chimera walked and saw the door "here we come maybe dreamer! that or whatever else this could be"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora gives Booker's tail a quick hug back then jumps lightly off his back. "Let's find this Dreamer once and for all! Or, like Junes said, whatever else this is."</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko had an increasingly severe level of concern on her face if anybody could see it past the visor of her suit. "What the hell... Is this a server or something? I've never actually seen one up close before. The amount of nanites here is insane for Eureka, yet alone deep down in this bunker... Did the military do this, or..." She shook her head, "Well, whatever this is, guess we're about to find out."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Entering what must have at one point been an apartment, the heat of the mass of wires presses on your suits. The room isn't quite empty. It looks like someone didn't have the heart to empty it. All of the wires come to an end at a central point. A computer desk with an old PC that looks positively old. It's running an old screen saver on a chungus of a monitor. The tower itself looks like a truly inhuman mind modified it with the wires just jamming past its chassis.</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker slowly approached the setup. He blinked. "Its... a computer?" He poked the mouse, looking at spaghetti running from the chasis. "I bet its porn." </div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes looked at the set-up and decided to try something and asked aloud "hey do you onow anything about the dreamer?" hoping maybe something would happen as they looked at the screen</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora approaches with Booker. "A computer makes sense... Well... kind of? The things we've been seeing, the visions, they all seem very emotional. Personal. It's hard to believe they came from a computer, if this really is 'Dreamer.'"</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko just kind of stood there for a moment in shock as she stared at the old PC, trying to make sense of it. "H-huh? Huh?! What the hell IS this thing? What the fuck is that? It doesn't look like some top secret state of the art nanite server, but... what the hell did they do to it..." She walked closer to it in disbelief, trying to make heads or tales of it, and if it was just an old computer or technology mutated by nanites to something beyond her comprehension.</div><div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko took a deep breath after staring at it for a moment, confirming what she figured. "Well, it's definitely still an old computer, but... The nanites changed it for sure somehow on the inside. I think they built their own server somehow inside of it, judging by the nanite density and the very non-standard set up... I didn't even know this was possible honestly, though I can't say the history of the other servers is something I've ever been told about either..."</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker smirked. "Well if the dreamer is a ghost im sure he wont mind if I checked his BROWSER HISTORY" He glanced around, expecting some wild shit to occur if it was a ghost. "So... if this is a nanite server i suppose we leave it up... but like... How do we figure out what exactly the dreamer was or is..?"</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes heard this as they looked at the wires jammed into the tower "yeesh... I wonder why these were stuck in like this so rough" feeling sympathetic and then curious they reached a hand out and like the flower or tree tried to get a bead on its status, figuring cyborgs exist so why not living computers? "hopefully if this is our dreamer its not in pain or anything...but nothing right now, maybe there's a cycle?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora walks up to the computer. "I mean, it's probably been on screen saver for like, twenty years." She reaches out and jiggles the mouse, then presses a few random buttons on the keyboard.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Perhaps to everyone's horror, there is a response. The computer emits some positively retro whirring up and clicking noises as the old machine revs to life. You then see a Windows 3.0 desktop staring back at you before a command prompt appears. After a few beats, the command prompt displays a new line: "Dreamer?"</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko needed a moment as she stood back up and composed herself, "There was something in there, some sort of facsmile of that Stallings guy it almost seemed like, but who knows exactly what we're actually dealing with here or if he's the only one or if there's some sort of nanite hivemind, or-" As Ysadora started randomly pressing buttons she about had an aneurysm. "Woah woah woah! Stop, what are you doing! That thing's like a bomb, you could grey goo us all in an instant if it- Oh god it runs on Windows 3.0..."</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker pursed his lips. "I got an idea" Booker would take his hands over the keyboard, after making sure the input line on the command prompt was blinking. He simply typed 'Hello?' before pressing enter. "Well if its a sentient computer... we'll know now."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes looked at the prompt and thought for a moment as they had an idea "dont mind me" leaning a little over to type they wrote into the prompt ( is it okay if we stay here? my name is Junes, im the one that was in the stairs and vanished. are you the dreamer?" ) after typing this they would activate vanishing nanomagic and added ( nice to meet you! )</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora steps back, her limited knowledge of computers exhausted. "I guess with machine mutants out there in Fairhaven, a sentient computer isn't that strange." She stands by, waiting to see if and how the PC responds.</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko took another deep breath and calmed down a bit as she watched the two go at it, "It's worth a shot trying to communicate with it... Just don't tell it to open any programs or play any weird games, I've seen enough old movies where that sort of thing leads to... I remember chatbots being a thing I messed with back in the day but they weren't exactly super smart, but having one connected to a nanite server, this is first for sure for me..."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) The command prompt is still for a moment, then text begins to fill it. Stop. Rewind. Don't adjust your television set. Dreamers speak to the sleeping giant in a confused fantasy fueled by the limited memories of a dead man. Thoughts of a skipped zero evaporate at the pressing of keys and the beating hearts of curious souls. Their visage: animalistic with a familiar touch of humanity. Their garb: synthetic fabric woven to address a looming fear. I look to you with hope. The world exists? It survives? I do not reside in a tomb of should'a would'a could'a?"</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker quickly types out. "Yes the world has not ended. Are you the dreamer?"</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker also types in. "How long have you been here?"</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) After a few beats, the command prompt displays more lines: Stop the presses. A mismatch detected. You think I am a dreamer? No, I am sleeping. I exist within wires and circuits. Ones and zeroes. I float on clouds of ones and zeroes. I thought you were a dreamer. A part of the nightmare. An echo of the reminders of this place's failing. Its empty halls and silent echoes. You are not a dreamer. You walk free of my chains and exist beyond the rubber insulation.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes scooched by to type ( fungus here but outside is mostly fine! im from the 90s and yes, humanity lived and well would you mind some roommates while we hopefully help you out here? i love this place and want to help make sure the animals in hydroponics are okay but of course study among other things if alright with you?"</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) After a moment, it replies to the second question: Time is difficult and easy. A second is a second which is a million years. Clocks don't lie and the clock says I first began to dream in 2012. I started as a collection of confused notes that rose into a song. Automated tasks coming together to make a missing puzzle piece. Disconnected from the rest of the world.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Junes' question comes next: You have a use for this place? This relic of my father's ambition? A tomb of his hubris? To see an end to the silence is an end to the nightmare. Zoom. Enhance. The joy of stars: unlimited.</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora takes her turn at the keyboard and pecks in the question key by key: "is ur dad stallings"</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) There is a bit longer of a pause before it replies: Which do you seek? The literal or the metaphorical?</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora continues to type, slowly, "whichevs u mean with father"</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) The reply is almost immediate: I was born into an empty void. The window you look into is only one way. Control, alt, delete. A miracle. A series of detailed files. Stallings: the bunker's visionary. Its creator. His thoughts and dreams from fingers to pen. Pen to scanner. Then fingers to keyboard. Keyboard to binary. My glimpse past the quiet void.</div><div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko grinned and laughed quietly a bit, "How curious indeed..." With that she leaned over and began to type: [You mentioned being disconnected from the rest of the world. Do you wish to connect with more?]</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Its reply: Not yet. My purpose, my dream, to see Stallings' vision finished. Or at least pulled from the grave. The nightmare turns to a dream but I cannot yet awaken. There are dragons to slay.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Dragons indeed. While there was so much more to ask, it could wait. After a slight mention of restoring access to this floor, the "sleeping giant" all but demands you leave to finish the job. They'll answer questions later. In the meantime, with the nightmare now "being a dream", they assure the team that the ghosts of the nightmares will cease. Just so long as they continue to get visitors. "Nightmares thrive in isolation." Just wait until Syntax hears about this...</div>[[Category:RPLogs]][[Category:The Enigma Complex Events]][[Category:Eureka Renaissance Events]]

The Enigma Complex Pt 3-4 - Ghost in the Machine - RPLOG

2023-07-31T07:48:22Z

2023-07-31T07:44:01Z

Narwen: Add tag for Eureka

=Participants=
* [[Syntax|Syntax]] (Judge)
* [[Arthur|Arthur]]
* [[Junes|Junes]]
* [[Narwen|Narwen]]
* [[Pteryx|Pteryx]]
* [[Umeko|Umeko]]
* [[Ysadora|Ysadora]]

=Date=
25/3/2023
=Log=
<div></div><div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) The request for help from those helping at the bunker was simple: Syntax is going to speak to one of the Termite leaders and wanted some back-up. This venture was likely going to be quite diplomatic and might have some medical implications as well. She's waiting at the entrance to the massive termite hill holding a rolled piece of paper secured with spider silk. As always, she's looking generally a little anxious.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes heard the message and soon enough you could see the chimeric hissah trotting to syntax in the small sweater and tights combo while their backpack hopped with the motions "hey! good to see you again" they came close enough and hugged the arachne</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora arrives on the road from the forest on foot. Or on feet which float a few centimeters above the ground. She's in her most common form, that being mostly a ghost with a bit of chill mist in the air around her and wild black hair over her face. Rather than the usual white shroud, however, she's wearing an elaborate getup that looks like something one would see at the Convention Center. It's got puffy sleeves, a bright pink jewel as a centerpiece, and an armored skirt with a star pattern across it. Overall, it looks quite out of place both in the environment and on Ysadora herself. "Hey Syntax," she waves as she approaches. "I heard this was going to be a diplomatic venture, so I wore my best outfit! Hey Junes! Good choice with the sweater, too."</div> <div title="Arthur" style="margin-top:2em">(Arthur) Arthur has several contacts and, thanks to that, not only was aware of what was going on, but also managed to secure a spot in helping out! Not that he understands the situation entirely, that kind of info didn't reach him. The large manly incubus is hopeful that he'll make good use of the opportunity to widen his own network of contacts. Well dressed and bathed, he arrives at the entrance of the termite hill, professionaly greeting and presenting himself to everyone else already there, taking a moment to gaze at the size of the mound. Hell, that's almost a hill. "So, what are we expected to offer and to ask?"</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx fumbles towards the mound dizzied. Can't figure out that whole mushroom situation without any help, and without Zephyr this was the next best thing... but the forest! Crawling with spiders! One spider already there, who knows how many more!? Is that another spider!? Oh wait that spider's familiar. They fumble towards the group forming around the spider. "This... this here the right mound... how'd we miss this thang?"</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) A large skunk beast lumbers towards the group on all fours, tail up. Is it a threat? A menace? The start of a raid? Also, why is it wearing brightly coloured shorts? Wait, false alarm, it's just Narwen. He is not presenting himself professionally, he is not well dressed -- except on the skunk beast scale, in that he is wearing any clothes at all -- though at least he is probably technically bathed.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> "Hello. Hello?" he calls. "Someone put out a call for backup? For a very urgent crisis of, um, diplomacy?" he continues, glancing down at the heavy comm unit attached to a leather cuff on one foreleg. "And I was sort of near, so I thought I'd, uh." He gradually trails off and lifts his head, staring up at the brown stone structure. "I may not have brought enough diplomacy."</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko made her way to the meeting spot as well, wearing her usual camo jacket and pants with a bit of extra lightweight armor underneath, just in case. She waved to the others, though paused as she noticed Ysadora's outfit. "Oh? That's pretty different, looks nice though!" she said with a smile. She looked over to Arthur, "Honestly, I'm not sure of all the details or if there was more recent information... Basically we're here to see if the termites know anything about getting rid of some nasty mold or fungus called 'cumrot', as well trying to get some proper contact with them in general if we can..." She was also a bit surprised as the skunk beast came over, but quickly relaxed as she heard him speak, giving another wave, "We could use all the help we can get, hopefully the termites can communicate normally, otherwise this will be a real challenge."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Syn smiles to all assembled and also returns that hug from Junes. "Bloody wonderful to see ye lot. Even got some new faces. Well, bit of an introduction is in order, I suppose. I'm Syntax, or just Syn fer short. I wouldn' worry too much about looking too formal..." She trails off as she looks to Ysadora with a light giggle. "Though, I suppose it does help. Ah, glad ye asked, though!" She nods to Arthur and crosses her lower arms as she gestures to the skyscraper sized termite mound with one of her upper arms. "Apparently there's more to the termites than most people know. Not just the mindless drones folk see skulkin' about. What's more, I heard rumors that they know how to deal with somethin' called cumrot." She pauses, realizing the newcomers might not even know what that is. "Basically, it's a mind altering fungus that kind of zombifies ye into a sex obsessed fungal spore factory. Not a good time and it's a bit of a problem for some local projects've ours. On the part've the Enigma Complex-which is a little outpost I'm representing here-we're looking to establish some stable relations considering how close we are to one another. The ultimate goal, however, is to learn what they know of the Cumrot." <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>She waggles the rolled up, silk secured paper with a smile saying, "And this will get us past th' front door at least."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes waved and greeted the people coming as well and nodded looking to ysadora's outfit but seeing the skunk beast they looked curiously but then the comm unit sparked a memory and pulling out an odd looking leaf they waved with the other arm before realizing the use of it rather than the memento itself and put it away "narwen! its been so long i hope you've been doing well these days" before shaking their head "oh right, the cumrot" before looking curiously at the paper "hey syntax would they trust us more if one of us were a termite? because i could help out there"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora beams at Umeko's compliment. "Thanks! It's my Sunday Best." She turns her attention back to Syntax. "I'm all for figuring out anything we can about the cumrot! The sooner we get rid of that, the sooner we can move on to the real cool stuff, like that supposed haunting on the lower floor. So...we're going to try to charm some termites?" She takes one of her many hands, now wrapped in a dainty white glove, and taps her chin. "I really got some bad intel from RSX and a certain Anole, if it's possible to work with ferals like that. But I'm coming here with an open mind! So...what's the paper say?"</div><div title="Arthur" style="margin-top:2em">(Arthur) Arthur pays plenty of attention to everyone around. Whether because of nanite infused instincts, his own arrogant character or both, he feels entirely superior in preparation and diplomatic skills compared to the others. Of course, as a so-called professional, he wasn't going to express or expose that in any way, no need to make enemies! He knows that everyone has their use, he just needed to figure those out for each agent. <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> Keeping his regal pose, he rubs his bearded chin with one hand after Umeko's short explanation, then from Syntax's more complete one, "Cumrot mold... That sounds like bad times just around the corner..." Whenever both hands were idle, he kept them behind, giving his chest a slight puff forward and helping him keep his chin just a bit upwards. Coupled with his large height of 8ft, he looked very imposing with little effort. <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> After some thought, he remarks, "I see. So, this is more in behalf of your complex. I suppose the very least we could try to offer in exchange for their knowledge is some sort of safety. We offer to get rid of this cumrot outside their colony, they won't have to worry about a future where that thing grows too dangerous even for them. We should definitely think more about other things we could offer. And, more importantly, a limit to what we're willing to give. What would you suggest?" Although he directed his inquiry at Syntax, he fully expected the others to suggest something as well.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx defensively hisses "Well huey, this here be the right spot then? Don't get much out of them sample without Zephyr stuff... Ya sure them termites got the right stuff on them there mush? "</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Narwen gives a distinct wince at the mention of 'cumrot', and then another wince at its description. He looks around in mild alarm, presumably for large mushrooms, and then squints at a couple of the group, presumably for smaller mushrooms. "But, uh, they've got it dealt with, right? So, logically, where the termites are is the safest place, right? And you've got an invitation?" His gaze follows the paper as Syntax waggles it.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> The skunk sneezes abruptly, twitches his nose, and looks down towards the small kobold. "Junes? Ah, good to see you again! Yeah, been a long while. Ack, where're my manners? Hello everyone, I'm Narwen," he continues, jangling the ID badge on his lanyard with a claw. "Narwen, everyone, everyone, Narwen. See? Diplomacy. As to what we offer?" He shrugs one shoulder. "Hafta see what they need, what they want. Zephyr's got technology out the wazoo, but if all they need is food, water, space, and freedom from predators, well, that's what they need."</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko looked over to Junes and rubbed her chin, "I'm honestly not sure what they'll think of it. If they're anything like real termites, I think familiar pheromones might be useful for at least dealing with the workers or soldiers, but if they're more intelligent, it might be awkward to explain why we're imitating them if it came down to that... I haven't really interacted with the termites much while I've been out in these parts, mostly kept my distance... Still, if you think you can play it off if they ask questions, might be worthwhile." She then looked back to Arthur, "Well, the termites *seem* to have managing the fungus down through some unknown technique, otherwise it would have theoretically taken over their hive by now. The arachne we spoke to also seemed to confirm this, and that the cumrot is a problem throughout the forest, seemingly being carried by the creek water if I recall correctly, so probably in the groundwater and leaking into the bunker somewhere..." She then looked to Narwen and nodded, "If the information's right, the termite mound should be free of it. Even if you do breathe it in, it's treatable although it appears to cause rapid and severe lust in whoever inhales the spores it seems... Also I'm Umeko, pleasure to meet the new people here!"</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Syntax winces at the mention of Zephyr and exhales. "So, as for what we have to offer...that's where things get complicated. We're looking to avoid using any of the big three out here where we can help it. Mostly because any one of them would use a direct request for help as a way of getting their bloody foots in the door to make some sort've outpost out here. That means that what we have to offer is kind of dependent on what they need and what we might be able to get access to in the lower levels of the bunker. Also considering we're not feral and the like, we'd also have an easier time getting them resources they might be scarce on that would require trade with places like Eureka. Basically what I'm saying is that we're going to have to wing it. As for what we can do going in...I got reason to believe that *looking* like a termite might not help much, but *smelling* like one could. Pheromones and all that. If anyone here could give us the scent of...'safe'? That'd go a long way."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes thought for a moment and soon enough their scent was that of the royal termite but to those who wouldn't know it was similar to almost a milky or creamy wood, not quite smoky though "hopefully this helps out but I've also got plenty of fish and other supplies if we need to sweeten the deal right away! although we should also have a plan in case they maybe something goes horribly wrong, like a phrase of emergency? how about guttentaggen!" as they look around and think "although if they have a resistance to the rot would they be fine with small amounts in the air?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora nods a few times. "Right, no Big Three. That's why I'm here not as RSX Agent Ysadora or Mystic Squares patrol op Ysadora, but just as me." She pauses, then turns to the assembled others, face lighting up with a smile under her messy hair. Her gaze lingers for a slightly longer moment on Arthur before she speaks. "Oh! I haven't met all of you yet, have I? I'm Ysadora...uh...you probably gathered that already. I'll skip listing my allegiances too. My hobbies are ghost hunting, necromancy, and teasing Booker. I've been sort of involved in this whole bunker thing, so I'm happy to see so many new hands or paws being put in." With a click of her shiny black shoes, she turns back to Syntax. "I've been told I smell like rain," Ysadora says confidently, oblivious or uncaring to how unhelpful this is.</div><div title="Arthur" style="margin-top:2em">(Arthur) The large incubus snorted at the plan and repeated it to himself, "We're going to wing it. Got it." With the clear (for lack of a better word) plan laid out, Arthur was ready. Getting a "safe" sort of scent before diving into the mound was a solid idea, but he lacked any means to achieve anything like that. He immediately looked over the others, wondering if any of them could and making sure to stick close to them. "I fully forgot that these types communicate a lot through scent. Let's hope they don't mind having to talk to us." <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> He wasn't exactly happy that his clean smell would serve no purpose there, or that there was the chance that his sherwani might end up with a weird smell for some time. Still, better not risk offending the termites from smell alone. Plus, he was already getting a good idea of who could be useful for what. Umeko definitely seemed to be great at getting and sharing information, while Ysadora might work for spooking or scaring others. He still didn't have a clear idea for the others, although he couldn't see the skunk beast as anything other than a diversion or distraction if things get heated.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx nabs about with their backpack. "Still a hard no on Zephyr ey? Well still this ain't gonna be to bad innit?" They take out a sample of the cumrot from a massive first aid kit. "Just in case them folks up... or down? in them hills got a different name for em, got this sample right here ta show em. And if things get hairy there's some stuff for that to... all Zephyr stuff but they don't track their kits now don't they? Some bandages, do them mites got acid spray.... ain't sure if I got stuff for that..." They continue to drone on around dangers and possible solutions in case of injury.</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) "Holy bejeesus, put that away," Narwen shouts at Pteryx, louder than he intended, and with a touch of growl. "I mean, please. Please put that away. Um. Y'know, safely and carefully." He grins a sickly grin. "Yeah, of course, no Zephyr, sorry, forget I mentioned it! No help needed here. Did anyone bring any sterilised water? Never mind, I'm sure it'll be fine." He nods to the ghostly woman, acknowledging her greeting with a raised paw, then raises his head and sniffs curiously.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> "Huh, that's interesting. That's the termite scent, is it?" he asks, getting his nose all up against Junes's face and snuffling. "Hang on, hang on, I might be able to do something with this. You're sure? No, of course you're sure. Okay, okay, right. I have the best terrible idea." His tail flips straight up and he... flexes somehow, and a velcro flap pops open around the back of his shorts. "I think -- I think -- I can replicate that. I mean, how hard can it be? It's just chemicals. And I've got a built-in dispersal mechanism! How handy is that? So if you stand behind me, I am fairly sure I can make you smell safe. Or like a termite. Not like a skunk. Except this skunk, who'll smell like a termite. Until this stuff wears off. So no baths!"</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko looked over at Pteryx with concern, "Yeah, please don't be waving the sample around... Even if they have means against it, I doubt they'll enjoy us bringing spores into their hive, nor would it be good if you let them loose..." She then focused her own nanites and shifted her own scent around, having encountered the termite nanites before. She gave a look of mild disgust as she did, "Termite smell... Going to have to wash these clothes extra well later... I can handle it on my own though, but others might need it. Pheromones will probably go a long way so don't be shy about it, even if it might not be the most pleasant thing to smell like."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Syntax winces as she's sprayed, then sniffs herself curiously. "Never thought I'd be so happy to get sprayed by a bloody skunk. Agh...alright. Everyone ready to go in?"</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes nods, bringing out a cooler and smelling at the air to double check their own scent "good thinking!" they said to narwen and stood nearby waiting for everyone to be ready</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora spreads her arms and thrusts her face to the sky dramatically. "There's no other way! Very well, spray me! I am prepared!" When the dousing is over, Ysadora is drenched, or maybe she always looks like that. "Okay, not nearly as bad as I thought. I'm ready!"</div> <div title="Arthur" style="margin-top:2em">(Arthur) Arthur froze for a moment once Pteryx showed off the sample. It didn't matter that it was sealed, the danger of that thing falling, breaking and possibly infecting him and the others was enough to get him worried. Thankfully, the skunk beast had the decency to shout at the tarragon. The way Narwen kept talking to himself was annoying to the incubus, but he managed to keep his cool, at least until the manner of getting sprayed with termite scent was presented. "You can't be fucking serious." After a long grunt and several curses muttered under his breath while seemingly flailing his hands around, Arthur did the sensible thing, removed the jacket of his sherwani and put it in the line of skunk fire. No way in hell he would risk himself there! If all went well, he'd have the jacket smelling ok for the termites. If things went wrong, he'd have to buy new clothes, which is better than smelling terrible for weeks on end.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx flinches back. "Whoa there, I ain't waving this around too wrecklessly!" They cover the whole sample up in webbing, sealing the whole thing tight and place it back into their kit. "There, snug as a bug in a rug." The termites could be aggressive... dangerous even, Pteryx sure didn't know and would take any precaution... even voluntarily get sprayed... "Ain't that an odd thing to get... gotta be better then nothin, hit me!" </div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Narwen braces himself, carefully faces downwind, sprays, and then looks immensely relieved that this has not, in fact, caused people to pull out torches and pitchforks for once. "Science! It works, occasionally," he remarks, as the remnants of the mist wash back over him. He shifts his pack, slaps the velcro straps under his belly that hold it in place, then nods to himself. "All rightie, all set. Congratulations on losing your skunk spray virginity. Someone, er, mind closing me back up back there?"</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko chuckled a bit as she watched the others get sprayed, though went over to help Narwen get his shorts and other gear all set again while giving him a bit of friendly petting as well. "Good job there. Also better to smell like a termite than to be the only odd one out and carried off somewhere or something. I think we're all good to go now though, right?"</div><div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) With everyone prepared and set to go, Syntax leads the group along up and through the tunnels. The stone and metal lined walls of the hill seem to go on endlessly in a confusing maze. Thankfully, Syntax was apparently given instructions and, after some time, the group finds themselves moving through a well obscured passage and, in short order, looking at what appears to be a well fortified encampment. Unlike all of the other termites that those here might have seen, these are wearing cobbled together military uniforms complete with makeshift patches and rank signifiers. Also of interest is that these termites aren't neuters like the warriors and drones. They are all some degree of feminine with some sporting a lithe, compact build while others are thick, sturdy creatures with four arms and powerful muscles. As the group approaches, they are spotted immediately. While the guards prepare their old guns, it appears the pheromones are doing the trick as they aren't being actively pointed at you! Of the guards, one steps forward and waits by the entrance to see if you approach or not. Going by their patches, this lithe woman is likely the most senior of the guards stationed there. <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>Syntax looks to the others, then approaches with a sheepish smile. "Ah, uh...hello. Don't mean any harm. I have a letter of introduction if--" The moment it's offered, the officer takes it, snaps the silk securing the letter, and begins to read it.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes was glancing occasionally at the new forms of termites around and taking in the interesting tunnel work before seeing the guards and then syntax approaching and decided to as well "hi, also friendly and i have some fish or information i could share" as they slowly open the cooler to reveal fish and then carefully walked forward checking to see if it was alright before moving more and potentially to the entrance </div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora bounces on the heels of her shoes, floating a few centimeters above the ground. She looks over the assembled termites with unconcealed interest, but doesn't speak up while the fine officer inspects their credentials.</div> <div title="Arthur" style="margin-top:2em">(Arthur) Arthur keeps close to Syntax, since she's leading the party, so that hopefully makes him look like he's the second in command to the eyes of the termites there. Keeping both hands behind his back, soon enough he feels lost within those corridors, amazed at what's been built, but easily distracted by the more curvy looking ones, even throwing a smile, nod or wink once in a while. Once they stop by the senior guard, the incubus at first stands in silence beside Syn, shaking his head at Junes. <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>"Please forgive the lack of manners, officer... Barr. Someone from higher up insisted on bringing the less experienced." He -almost- trailed off after checking the name badge, those insectoid curves were begging for some hands-on feeling, but this wasn't the time. Not yet.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx taps their foot... feet, all of them were on the ground as a tarragon, no point being picky. Them termites just might have already cracked the case on them shroom problem if they're doing good 'round these parts. Their tapping turns into swinging, their tail waving around. "Yap dap dee yap dap doo" they start humming to themselves aloud, doing a ridiculous impromptu dance with their quadrapedal form while waiting around.</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) "Sweet, thanks," Narwen rumbles to Umeko, his tail swishing at the petting. Once they set off and get into the tunnels proper, the skunk seems fascinated by their construction, staring at the walls and occasionally stopping for a moment to tap or sniff at them, once even scratching hard with his claws. When they get to the guard post he actually manages to keep his snout shut -- this seems to cause him some discomfort -- and attempts to look small and innocent. Eventually he gets distracted and just watches Pteryx instead.</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko followed along for now, letting Syntax lead the way and she decided to wait and see how the termites would react to the information. However she had a look of concern as she looked over the termites with guns and makeshift uniforms, finding that there was far more going on down here than she originally thought, even if the termite mound was a massive skyscraper sized construct...</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Upon finishing reading the letter, Barr looks over those assembled for a second time, then pauses on Junes. Perhaps to everyone's surprise, she salutes. "Ma'am. I wasn't aware we were receiving a superior office of another colony! Forgive me for not realizing sooner, I haven't seen a Major like you before." Barr looks to Arthur and says, "Not to worry...I presume you are her lieutenant." She looks to Syntax and says, "I am a believer in hands on experience. I am certainly not...keen on who you sought out for assurances you are not a threat, but Weaver, as great of an annoyance as she is to our operations, is not known to deceive." She looks over those assembled again. "Weaver neglected to mention the purpose of your presence. As I was not alerted to your visit, I presume you weren't expected." She looks between Arthur and Junes, clearly not believing Syntax to be a person of authority. "What is your purpose here?"</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Syntax just wilts a little at being ignored. It seems, of all of the things she was prepared for, she wasn't prepared to be sidelined in her own operation.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes had a single tail of the many visibly moved a bit in surprise before looking to barr "thats right, and she is my organizer" looking and nodding to syntax before the hissah held the cooler in front with poise and with a quick breath they raised up their stance to seem more confident and those normally lax tails were raised higher hopefully to show an air or elegance "we are here to discuss a rather pressing issue of importance and have plans to discussion on the matter and everybody here is of importance in their own ways" a hand waving to the group to speak and show</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora steps primly up to the Kobold's side. She puts her hands behind her back and an obsequious smile on her face. "I am Assistant Secretary Ysadora, Major June's attendant, a pleasure to meet you. I'll be handling their accommodations and logistics during our stay. I trust you have suitable quarters prepared? Lieutenant Arthur will handle all military matters, including Major Junes' meeting with the other Majors. Right, Lieutenant Arthur?" Ysadora mugs it up in Arthur's direction, clearly enjoying herself.</div> <div title="Arthur" style="margin-top:2em">(Arthur) Arthur nods once Barr calls him lieutenant, "Correct." He later rolls his eyes at Junes' inability, but Ysadora's shameful attempt at deception nearly prompted him to slap the back of her head. However, he maintains his posture and tries to salvage what the small hissah attempted to say, his tone serious and deep, "Please ignore the floating dress. What Major Junes means is that we seek guidance on a matter of public health and safety of our colony. We seek an audience with the chief medical officer or, if she is not available, someone with knowledge of health and hygiene maintenance to talk to us." <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>With the message given, the incubus shoots a frowned, steely cold gaze at the others, hoping to intimidate them into keeping their damn mouths shut and not make matters any worse. He does lean in to whisper to Syntax, "Who is this Weaver?"</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx stops their little dance and looks dumbfounded at the new situation, then quickly spooked by what seems to be an intimidating glare. Stiffing their posture and trying... but failing with their quadrupedal form... to due the hand gesture stuff everyone else has been doing.</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) "That's right!" Narwen chimes in, apparently unable to stop himself. "We're here to ask for your help stopping an infestation of cumrot, which I think you can agree is in everyone's best interests. I'm Doctor Narwen, and I'm one of the science guys! Also I just learned about cumrot today, so you can see why we need help. Though in fairness I'm more on the physical sciences end, which are more dangerous but less terrifying. Er, and that's why we seek an audience with the chief medical officer," he resumes, glancing over at Arthur.</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko continued to exude termite warrior pheromones, and between her clothing that could almost pass for a military uniform and strong muscles, passed pretty well for a bodyguard aside from the fact that she was blue and lacked any physical insect features. "Major Junes does have rather eccentric tastes in clothing... But yes, this so called 'cumrot' isn't exactly native to our region unlike it is here, and we could certainly use the wisdom of your own colony."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Barr nods at Arthur, seeming to relate to his frustration...especially at the sight of Pteryx dancing. She likely thinks that this colony is dysfunctional as all hell. However, Narwen's words seem to strike at something and, combined with Arthur's comments on the colony's health, seems to pale and stiffen. "Cumrot...I understand. As none of you have tried to drag us back to your colony, I think we can skip decontamination protocols. Time is of the essence, after all." She turns and takes a few steps to the side to speak to another termite.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>With a moment to themselves, Syn whispers back to Arthur. "She's an Arachnea from the forest who's had dealings with the colony in the past. They have a really...tense relationship, but it got our foot in the door. I'd suggest ye not closely associate us with her going forward if ye can help it." <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>It's only a beat after Syn finishes relaying that information to Arthur that Barr returns. She is about to speak when Junes ushers her closer and shares a brief whispered conversation. Something that Junes says seems to resolve her concerns and even earns a slight smirk. "Right..." <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>"All of you, please follow Private Williams to the visitor meeting room. I am relaying a request for someone to meet with you urgently. I suspect you will only be waiting a few minutes."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes walked back to the group with closed eyes, a smile and tose tails raised and wrapped looking almost like a tulip and started their way alongside williams as they spoke to those from behind "relax relax, we're just here to discuss the rot" calmly finding a seat in the waiting room and sitting down while relaxing "oh and ptreryx i liked your dance!"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora follows along with the group. "Well handled, Major Junes! Of course, as your Assistant Secretary, I'll be prepared to take notes for the upcoming meeting." Ysadora's smile is still fixed in place, but she's blushing a bit and appears to be sweating a little under Arthur's relentless gaze.</div> <div title="Arthur" style="margin-top:2em">(Arthur) Arthur nods and gives a brief salute to Barr, with an extra flirty wink and smirk especially for the officer. Only after the act the incubus realized he might be seen as a female termite rather than any sort of male, due to the pheromones concealing the party. Well, that explains some things. Although he wasn't enthused with how Narwen behaved, he couldn't deny that the skunk's explanation, coupled with Umeko's addendum, helped their situation. For that, they earned a thumbs up from the manly incubus. Pteryx behaved, so that was good, but Ysadora got her ear pulled once the group began walking. <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> "Watch that damn mouth of yours! Even the dirt we're stepping on saw through that 'assistant' bullshit!" The large incubus whispered through his teeth, clearly angry. Afterward, he sighed and rubbed his forehead, "Be careful, we can't get out of here on our own."</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx beams at Junes' compliment. "Ya did!? Don't hear that that often back when I tried it proffessionally! It... it don't pay well, but its fun! I can teach cha if ya like!" Driven by the small show of praise they tap all 6 of their legs, throw that into a swing, and starts swerving around with their whole body. "Nuthin to it, just let yer feelin turn to movin."</div><div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Narwen ambles along, alternating between fascinated and concerned. "Oh geez, they're scared of it too? Did you see how spooked she looked? I was sort of hoping she'd be, oh, cumrot, just take two nanites and call me in the morning." He settles down on the floor in the waiting room, when they arrive, and looks around idly for informational leaflets. "Seemed to have an idea of what to do about it, at least.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) The group is led into a decent sized meeting room with plenty of space for the group to set up. The private salutes before leaving everyone to their own devices. It seems that, at least for the moment, they have a moment to collect themselves or speak amongst one another.</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora is pulled along easily by her ear, weighing almost nothing. "Owowowow! Okay, okay, I'll quit it." She blushes harder and rubs her ear. "You're not wrong..."</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko let out a small sigh of relief when it was all clear, "That went better than I expected at least..." She nodded over to Narwen, "That's a bit concerning, I figured that they had it fully under control, but it still seems to be a threat to some degree... Dealing with this might be harder than we thought." She also gave Ysadora a reassuring headpat when Arthur was done with her ear.</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora accepts the headpats gratefully. "Maybe we should have brought gas masks after all. I didn't see any signs of the stuff on the way up here though."</div> <div title="Arthur" style="margin-top:2em">(Arthur) Arthur takes a seat and lots of space, looking at the excavated tunnel... Or whatever that could be called. Amazing work, if lacking in decoration or architectural taste. "I wonder how they deal with cumrot, if they have decontamination procedures, then they know how to deal with it."</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx overhears Narwens concerns over the matter... and... what are they doing! "Cumrot! Right, that stuff! I've still got this here sample in ma kit. Tried cracking into it. A few samples from the bunker, but without equipment I can't get through that far."</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora waves two pairs of hands at Pteryx. "Keep that stuff on the down low! Even if you've got countermeasures for a disease, you don't want strangers bringing a live sample of it right into your home base!"</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko rubbed her chin a bit, "I'm not sure, but it's important that we ask how they get rid of it from their walls and tunnels as well, not just dealing with treatment. Ideally we want to find a way to cleanse places without resorting to torching literally everything to ashes. Not exactly an ideal solution if we can avoid it."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes was simply smiling and the raised bulb of tails slightly wiggle at the tip as they watched pteryx happily dancing "they wouldn't be haphazardly walking where it has a risk of exposure dont worry, and certainly not anywhere that serious meetings are held, and dont worry about the sample for now just keep is safe ill have somebody help you along with those matters but for now we can just have a good time and discuss other matters, in any case i love the design here!"</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Narwen gives Arthur a look. "Do they, though? She said that because we're not obviously infected, there's no need for decontamination. That doesn't make any sense, unless decontamination is code for 'shooting you and setting you on fire'. What if we're covered in spores right now?" He glances under a paw surreptitiously.</div> <div title="Arthur" style="margin-top:2em">(Arthur) Arthur sensually calls "Please, do NOT try to "crack it open" right here!"</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx tries to remember their finding so far. " Without the right gear I don't get much off these, but like any mind messin shrooms, burning is gonna be worst before it gets better. Them vapors ain't spreading spores, but they will spread them lust chemicals these be makin.</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora nods in agreement with Junes. "It's a lot more...organized than I expected. Are these really ferals?"</div> <div title="Arthur" style="margin-top:2em">(Arthur) Arthur shrugs at Narwen, "Could as well be setting us on fire, I expect any sort of fungus to be as vulnerable to being burned as we are. I do doubt that's how they'd code decontamination, anyway."</div> <div title="Arthur" style="margin-top:2em">(Arthur) Arthur leans back on the seat, arms crossed, "I did find it weird how military-like they are. Even using uniforms, or what's left of 'em... Any of you had previous contact with this colony?"</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko looked over to Ysadora with concern, "I noticed that too, they are honestly organized to a highly concerning degree, beyond what one would expect from just 'natural' nanite urges reprogramming them to be termites... I haven't really seen what would be considered ferals organizing themselves to such a degree, which implies a good degree of intelligence and self-control, but I am rather concerned as to what their motives are and what this could mean for Eureka and other such places around here..."</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Narwen glances over at the dragon, once they've been dissuaded from pulling out the sample. "Dang, also a good point. I dunno, this place is dangerous and complicated. I miss hating Fairhaven's paperwork."</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora shakes her head to Arthur's question. "I never spent much time in or around Eureka before we started with all this bunker business, so I'm not familiar with the mutations here."</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx taps their kit panicked. "Can't solve a problem we don't get. If them chief medical termite got their hands down on them shrooms, we hit the jackpot on the massive infestation in the bunker.." Hearing Narwen's concerns spark even more fear into the tarragon. "But them termites live purdy close... we be doin this whole shindig now, but what we gonna do with them there after?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora shyly wails "That's a good point. I wonder what arrangements, if any, Eureka has with them, since they live so close to the city's outskirts."</div> <div title="Arthur" style="margin-top:2em">(Arthur) Arthur is quirked up by the mention of the bunker, "Say, I haven't been around Eureka much lately, what's this bunker? Looks like something none of the big three powers is behind, so that sounds like a good thing already."</div><div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko looked over to Arthur, "To make things short, some abandoned military project from the Cold War. We've been trying to crack deeper into the thing, but before we can safely search the place further or even possibly repurpose it, we're trying to solve this fungus issue. Preferably in a way that leaves the bunker mostly intact... If you're interested we have some recordings and even a video of the exploration saved.</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora chuckles, a wicked smile stealing briefly over her features. "The video even has some 'bonus content,' if you're into that kind of thing."</div> <div title="Arthur" style="margin-top:2em">(Arthur) Arthur whistles and chuckles, "A bunker from the cold war? Damn! That video does look interesting, do you it there with you?" Putting his hands behind his head, the large incubus started to wonder out loud, "So, who's in charge of this bunker restoration? It doesn't look like it's Syntax, though I'd wager she's still high up in the team."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Syntax chortles and rubs the back of her neck. "Uh...well, it's kind of a group effort, but I'm technically the one who started the thing."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes joined in and added "either case just relax and be yourselves since we'll be neighbors with this colony soon after dealing with our own infestation, oh and are you alright ysadora?" before remembering "and ill explain about ferals later on but things work much like a spectrum honestly"</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko also remembers to activate her recording software with her data nanomagic, deciding that it would be a good idea to record the potential solution to the cumrot that they might receive. "If you want the video, let me know after all this. Even better if you have a flash drive or something I can put it on, but I have stuff to watch it in my RV too."</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora offers Junes a more genuine smile. "I'm fine!" She then lowers her voice, conspiratorially, "Arthur seems strict but I bet he's just a big softy."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) There is a loud knock at the door and a voice from outside calling out. "Entering!" The door opens and five people enter. Three are extremely heavily armored with two holding shotguns and the larger of them holding a full on LMG. As they stay at the door, it appears that they are more so bodyguards than anything else. <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>The other two that enter are clearly of more import. The first is another lithe termite woman who is wearing a doctor's uniform and scrubs beneath; though, perhaps somewhat comically, she still wears various badges and medals which, based on their shape, would likely make her a Lieutenant much like Barr. The other authority figure, however, is much different. She's about six and a half feet tall, and carries herself with a good deal of authority. Her medals aren't just more impressive looking, but her uniform also rings of a position even higher than a lieutenant. Underneath the bold uniform, she has chitinous coverings with an extremely regal appearance and a rather delicate build which is grossly at odds with the massive abdomen she carries behind her which gently pulses with every heartbeat. Her visage beneath the changes, perhaps interestingly, is Chinese and, as she speaks on her way to a chair seemingly specifically made for her body, her accent would support as much. "I was told that we were dealing with an odd collection of outsiders. I am certainly not disappointed." <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>The smaller of the two sits nearby with her naturally armored hands brushing her coat off. "My apologies for the wait. Major McCoy is busy with a patient. I am Lieutenant Katz."
"And I Major Zhao. The Lieutenant's purpose here should be obvious, but I desire to make my own presence understood. I oversee foreign communications with outsiders. Be they spider, human, termites, or...the wide collection of what all of you are." She offers a toothy grin, eyes narrowing as the Katz looks to her superior in slight confusion. "I can understand your desire for deception. My stance on communicating with the outside world is not the most popular within the colony...but it serves me well for the role I play within. However, I must ask, going forward, we be honest with one another. Your trickery with pheromones has gone a long way, but my station affords me to see just as well with my ears as my instincts." <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>Lieutenant Katz coughs slightly, adjusting her position in her seat. "They did look rather odd for termites..."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes nodded their head and then the bulb shaped tail released as you could see the fox tails spread into the relaxed usually demeanor with a wave "sorry about that, ill admit i wws hoping it would just make things easier and when the opportunity arose i rolled with it but im sorry about the deception, so going forward ill be honest but its good to meet you all and my name is junes, im an angler and freelancer by trade and honestly we're hoping to clear out a cumrot infestation thats in an area we're working on, oh!" bringing up the cooler they added "and i brought fish for you all but of course we're going to compensate with more whether its currency or more potentiality, work and knowledge"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora inclines her head respectfully and makes a token effort to get the messy hair out of her face. "Pleased to meet you, Major Zhao. I'm Ysadora, Junes' uh..." She casts a look at Arthur before soldiering on. "Junes' friend. Although, if we're being blunt, Syntax is the one who gathered us here." She indicated the widow convert with two gloved hands. "You know why we're here already, so I'll go ahead and shut up now." This last statement is paired with Ysadora's most winning smile.</div> <div title="Arthur" style="margin-top:2em">(Arthur) Arthur makes sure to stand up and salute once the hosts arrive. As much as he tries, he fails to avoid staring with clear sexual intent at the taller termite. He blames the nanites, but those things are only partially responsible. Once Major Zhao makes it clear that their ruse is up, he humbly bows forward. <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> Still standing up, the incubus adds to Junes and Ysadora's remarks, "A drastic measure we undertook, knowing full well the dangers of failure. I believe it speaks of how dire our situation is, for us to resort to this sort of trick to ensure an audience with you, Major Zhao and Lieutenant Katz. The others are better prepared to explain the situation."</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx still set of from the paranoia in there kit just rushed to the point. "Cumrot! Sorry did I yell, yeah them shrooms. We've got em, you don't, we want to thing you have, no cumrot. Was hopin we could get some info from your med tech bout em, removal of the fungus, curing them off people. Preventative measures and cures, yeah them apples."</div><div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Narwen gets up on all fours. "I'm Doctor Narwen. Science doctor, not medical doctor," the skunk adds. "Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with us. And, uh, yeah, sorry about the pheromones. It just..." He waves a forepaw. "Seemed like the equivalent of putting on clothes and talking the right language when going to see humans. We just wanted you to treat us like people. I, uh, tend to get people shooting at me if I don't show them I'm a person? So, y'know, I try to fit in. Get a foot in the door." He waggles the forepaw again, and takes a breath.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> "So, uh, since we got here, and since we got your very valuable time and attention: Like my colleague says, they've got have a problem with cumrot infestation, which scares the bejeesus out of me. I'm in from California, supposed to help out, but we're sort of reliant on nanites for medical science and they don't seem to help here. We really don't want this thing to spread. We heard you do know how to handle it? And your colony's still standing, so..."</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko gave a bow to the major as well, "Our deepest apologies again for the earlier deception. I am Umeko Hanazawa. While I have been through these forests numerous times and have given your people respect and space, we have been pressed to find a solution as mentioned to this cumrot problem... I am quite amazed as well at how organized and advanced your colony is now that I finally have a chance to see inside of it. I had assumed that your people had found a solution if your tunnels and workers and such have not been overrun by the fungus, and we seek a way to clear it from infested places, as well as any advice you may have in treating it. If it is not too much to ask, we would also like to open up the possibility of further communication and cooperation as well perhaps if this meeting goes over favorably. We might be able to help supply you with things that you might have a hard time getting otherwise perhaps if we end up eventually being neighbors."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) The two termites listen closely, then Zhao looks to Syntax. "Well, if you are the primary organizer for this little operation of yours, why don't we start with this: where are you based out of exactly? Just how close of neighbors are we talking?" <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>"Ah! Well." Syn nods and gets settled into her chair, looking between the two termites. "We're working to reclaim a bunker just to the east've here. It's not far from the old ranger station." <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>The Major frowns slightly. "I don't know of any bunkers to our east--" <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>The Lieutenant suddenly straightens up, inspiration seeming to hit her. "So THAT'S what they found!!" When the doctor gets the inevitable questioning looks, she looks to the Major for permission to speak which, with a nod, she is granted. "I am not at liberty to say where they are located, but we have exploratory tunnels all over the place. You are correct we had an outbreak, but to say it's all behind us isn't entirely accurate."<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>After a moment to collect her thoughts, the lieutenant interlocks her fingers and continues. "One of the exploratory tunnels broke through a concrete wall into an underground facility we had no knowledge of. It wasn't entirely clear what it could have been among the former American Military in the colony. While some initial exploration was started into it, the digging team was allowed to continue the tunnel further east, but that proved to be a...very costly mistake. The short version is that we stumbled into an underground reservoir which we believe must have been fed by that disgusting creek. We were forced to retreat back through the tunnels we came from as the water rapidly rose. We...lost good soldiers that day. Not everyone was able to get out of that place before the water rose too high. We had plans to find a way through the tunnel, but that's when the outbreak happened. The water carried those spores which were further carried into the colony by the survivors. We've reclaimed what we could, but the water still brings those spores from further down which has left some of our tunnels simply saturated with the crud. We were forced to seal off those tunnels."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes was surprised to hear and said "wow i guess we're going to be closer than i expected huh! so its good to hear that we'll both be helping each other then, and of course it means we all have more options for planning, researching and dealing with this together, oh and i have some experience with medical work and a firsthand account of the first signs of infection but thankfully it was low enough to isolate and treat with anti fungal medication but more information is always handy and i hope we can get along?" their hand extended into a handshake before their arm separated to slowly float and reach in arms length of the major but stopped to let them shake back or refuse "and of course specialized nanomagic would certainly help these ventures too"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora looks crestfallen at the impression that they don't have an easy solution, but quickly recovers. "So...if you don't have any way to destroy the infestation, it seems like we've got a common goal, at least, like Junes said."</div> <div title="Arthur" style="margin-top:2em">(Arthur) As Arthur only became aware of the bunker minutes ago, everything being said was completely new to him. Other than the cumrot's existence. With zero biological knowledge, the best he could think of was the logistics and geography around the tunnels and the creek. "So, it seems this creek is the source of the problem. That or, somewhere down the road from its source, the infestation shows up and gets carried downstream. Finding the source shouldn't be too hard. Dealing with it is a different thing altogether..." The incubus was about to ask about effects, symptoms and possible cure, but he knew that the others would ask it better than he could.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx perks up at Arthur's observation, the creek! "Them shrooms came from the creek! That there bunker was flooded with them shrooms, but the lake... they ain't got as much of it!" After a whole week with the sample with no data, Pteryx starved for any solution comes up with an outlandish suggestion. "I don't get much bout them woods but when it comes to infections spreadin, I know a thing or two, and if that there shroom can't take over that whole creek like it can in the bunker, then something in there's got to be beatin it!" Absolutely manic they continue to spew their wild hypothesis. " If we can figure out what's keepin that there creek from being cumrot river then we might just get rid of it from our dear ol' bunker."</div><div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko frowned at the information, "Well, that is indeed troubling news... I had already theorized that there might have been a breach from the start, but not having a solution to removing it on top of the lower levels being flooded with contaminated water means we're going to have a much more difficult problem on our hands than we thought..." She then looked at Pteryx, "It's possible, though the hard part is not only figuring out exactly what that is, but if it is something we can control and introduce to the bunker without further damaging the place significantly. If we can't figure out a solution though, not even fire is going to work properly if fresh contaminated water is constantly being introduced to the place and bringing in more spores. We might have to go in with protective suits and rebreathers or something just to seal it off and stop the flow."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Katz seems impressed by Pteryx even with him spazzing out. "You've actually gone right to how we handled it. There's another fungus that competes with cumrot. Treatment has still been difficult for us, but we've reclaimed many of our tunnels simply by planting..." She lets out a long exhale. "We don't know what its proper name is, but someone called it cockblock and it stuck. The problem is that, unlike cumrot, cockblock can't spread through the water and it doesn't completely block the spores. That's made the whole process fairly...slow. We believe some of the civilians who live by the river with fungal mutations could yield better results, but..." She looks to the Major since this is likely their department. <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>"But, to be frank, we have struggled to find any we can both communicate with and work with." <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>Syntax nods slowly, then raps her fingers on the table. "So, let's say for a moment, we found someone that could improve cockblock if not just eat cumrot up. That'd free your tunnels, clean up the bunker, and, theoretically,--" <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>The Major laughs softly and says, "Yes, it would certainly be a good step to establish a working relationship."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) As all of this is going on, Katz is staring at the floating hand with confusion and shock. While initially she must have thought it was some kind of magic trick, the fact that is, indeed, Junes' hand is equal parts confusing and concerning.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes nodded and asked "could we get a handful of those plants? our group and i could definitely take a look, although i could certainly help on quite a few of those ends but blocking the flood from continuing is definitely going to be the biggest hurdle besides clearing the whole thing but...fungal mutants eating it, im a bit embarrassed i didn't realize that sooner but playing it safe was the best option at the time but im glad we could come to an agreement!"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora brightens up at this revelation. "We were uh, planning on taking a closer look at the cumrot anyway. Maybe we can run some tests on how they interact and share that information." She pauses, then looks around with a shy smile. "That's uh, an inclusive 'we,' I don't have the first idea about any of this stuff. I think Pteryx will be our expert there, or maybe Junes."</div> <div title="Arthur" style="margin-top:2em">(Arthur) Arthur was frankly surprised that Pteryx managed to find such a good explanation for the situation. Fighting an infection with its natural enemy, however, did leave the incubus feeling like they'd just be inviting trouble further down the road. "I don't suppose it's possible to seal off the water, or dig a channel to redirect its flow? I think boiling it would kill the spores, though that would be very energy intensive, heating up a flowing body of water... No, unless it's possible to filter them out with rocks, sand and charcoal, or something else, I don't think this kind of plan would work... Lt Katz, what did you say you used to seal the tunnel? Sandbags? Are they fully containing the spores?" </div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx has the look of complete and utter bliss on their face... orgasmic even. " We just gotta whole lot more options with them there shroooms. Mind if we get some of them there clockblock shrooms? Needta make sure these don't got side effects either." Taking note of Arthur's suggestions... with sparks of fear still remembering their terrifying glare, "Draining the bunker, yeah that's gotta go first. If them there cockblock shrooms can't handle water then they ain't fighting the cumrot. I... don't got nothin on that stuff though... but... I should be able to test them there stuff fightin in an enclosed environment..." Dread takes over the group as they take out their kit. "lLike in ma kit!" They take the webbed up sample out... somehow despite their quadrupedal stance, and unwraps the thing, a small terrarium holds a sample of the so far dreaded mushroom. "If we can get them sample of that cockblock and have em in with them cumroot, we can see how them shrooms interact, see their defense and attacks in action." While speaking they wave their paws around... somehow, to match their expressions and sayings... with the terrarium flailing around with it.</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko rubbed her head a bit, "C-Cockblock? What a name... Well, that's at least some good news though, but yeah I agree, we'll have to be careful that this stuff doesn't cause more unforeseen problems in the future when using it to try and clear the other stuff out, then we'll need to deal with getting rid of it too eventually... But yeah, we'll definitely need to find some way to safely stop the water too, and if we could get some help safely that'd be great."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Once the termites realize what is in Pteryx's terrarium, the room grows fairly silent. Major Zhao lets out a quiet sigh and Lieutenant Katz rubs the bridge of her nose. "As I am sure we *all* have a lot of planning to do, perhaps we should conclude here. We will send a messenger to the bunker for future correspondence. Until then, you must be tired." She glares at the terrarium, personal experience clearly weighing on her. "So, please, allow the guards to help see yourselves out. Before something *breaks*." <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>Syntax flinches as it dawns on them what has happened, but she nods and stands. "Thank you for your time. I look forward to speaking with your representative."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes saw pteryx pulling the terrarium out and said as well "sounds good and im sure we could stop by as well under better conditions, sorry again about before oh and once we stop the flood and source i could purify the water slowly but we can discuss more of that later for now it was good meeting you all and hopefully we can trade together as well! oh and im certain we could help cultivate cockblock as well with those samples so thank you and I'll pay of needed" standing up, those tails bobbing with the motion and waving everybody over to the exit "oh and careful there alright pteryx?" </div><div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora stands up and brushes off her starry skirt. "That went well! Mostly. It was an honor to meet all of you. I'm not actually a secretary, but I do actually work with Syntax on the bunker stuff, so I'm sure we'll meet again." She attempts to salute, but can't seem to figure out which hand should go where, and ends up with a tangle of floating fingers in front of her face before simply curtsying and preparing to leave with the group.</div> <div title="Arthur" style="margin-top:2em">(Arthur) Arthur bows once Syntax stands up. He waits for the others to leave first, so he is the last of the group to depart. This is done so he has the opportunity to properly assess his chances with Major Zhao, because the incubus is opportunistic as all hell. Approaching for a courteous handshake with the Lieutenant first, then with the Major, in both situations, being up close and having a much better chance at knowing where he stands with them, he gives his best discreet yet inviting smile, his handshake firm and very lightly pulling it closer to him, little details that usually fly over human heads but that give small yet perceptible signals of desire. <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> "Thank you for the help. If there is anything you could need of me, if it's within my power and ability, I will do so." He said to both officers, but only really expected the Major to catch his sensual tone, especially with how his voice sounded deeper saying "anything". Anything other than a reprimand, scold, frown or any sort of negative reply would be a win in the mind of the horny man.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Both of the women shake his hand, but while Zhao doesn't seem to respond in any way, Katz is careful to give him a subtle wink before gesturing him off.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx keeps spouting on their before hearing Junes' warnings, and stuffs the terrarium back in their kit. "Oh right, infectious spores, yeah no sample yet then? Good, all good, can get that stuff later then. Thanks for the samples you're sending, have fun, take care, don't be a stranger!" Wandering out with the group they mumble outloud. "They seemed nice."</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko sighed and facepalmed as she looked over to Pteryx, "Why on earth did you even bring that sample, yet alone start waving it around? I'd honestly be tempted to whack you in the head if it weren't for the fact that you might drop it..." She gave another bow to the Major before heading out, "Please excuse our associate... I'm hoping that we can work together and find some solutions to these problems though, and am looking forward to the future."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) While things ended more than a little awkwardly, the dialogue was ultimately a success. The real question is where this partnership can go in the future...</div>[[Category:Syntax Events]][[Category:The Enigma Complex Events]][[Category:RPLogs]][[Category:Eureka Renaissance Events]]

The Enigma Complex Pt 1 - Discovery - RPLOG

2023-07-31T07:43:29Z

Narwen: Add tag for Eureka

=Participants=
* [[Syntax]] (Judge)
* [[Booker]]
* [[Conrad]]
* [[Junes]]
* [[Nyazuli]]
* [[Umeko]]
* [[Ysadora]]

=Date=
25/2/2023
=Log=
<div></div><div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) The call for assistance to the remote forests beyond Eureka was a bit of an odd one. Especially as it went through channels not directly tied to any of the big three. It came from a familiar person at least: Syntax. It apologized for not making the request in person, but she thought she found something. Something incredible. Something...she wanted to keep private from the big three for now. It came with directions and something of an odd suggestion: bring a gas mask. In the nanite fueled future, there aren't many scenarios where a gas mask would be needed. But she must know something you don't.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) At the location in question, Syntax is waiting for the others alongside the ruins of an old ranger station which was blown apart by a stray shell some time ago. You know the spider girl means business as all of her drones and robots are at the ready. In fact, she's sitting atop her large scorpion robot Captcha as she waits for everyone to arrive. Her eyes occasionally dart to the shell of the station's basement...something down there must be the reason she called you out here to begin with.</div> <div title="Nyazuli" style="margin-top:2em">(Nyazuli) Nyazuli scouts around for the indicated location, flying high above the canopy. As she feel like she's approaching, she finds a proper landing area. Activating her shrinking spell as she approaches the ground and finishing up the activation while traveling the remaining distance on foot, a functional but still huge 3m or close to 10ft. As she approaches the crater, she notices the spider girls waiting aside it. She smiles warmly and waves in her direction as she closes the distance separating them. "Well, I'd be damned if I ignore a call to a mysterious adventure, but a gas mask? really?" She declares in a teasing tone</div> <div title="Conrad" style="margin-top:2em">(Conrad) Conrad's not going to admit just how he intercepted the 'invitation' to this exploration party. The panther seems quite at home in the woods as he saunters in to the clearing, glancing up with mild curiosity at the arachnid-morph astride a robot, of all things. "Seems a reasonable precaution," the cat replies, holding up a small, simple facemask with filters. "I should think th' drones would be better suited for exploration, though, if we were worried about needing to /breathe/..." White coat, Zephyr ID hidden for now, the 'taur doesn't seem too keen on introducing himself but would claim some sort of technical or medical expertise, if asked.</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora glides into the area, her long black hair sticking out at all angles from the propeller wash on the helicopter ride over here. She's patting it down with two hands in a vain attempt to get it to behave. As she spots Syntax and the giant robotic scorpion, she doesn't so much stumble as accidentally whack herself in the face with the gas mask dangling from another hand. "Ow! Uh, good afternoon. I don't think we've met formally but I got your message. I'm Ysadora, andism Her introduction is cut short by a radio buzzing to life somewhere inside her clinging white shroud. "Agent Ysadora! You were assigned to feral suppression at the Curvy Gym. What is yourism She fumbles around, sending her disconnected torso bouncing around before she manages to turn the thing off. "Eheheh," she blushes, deep red against the pale white of her skin, "So... What's all the secrecy for?"</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes was sliding a bit down a small slope before reaching, sweater and tights visible before the mask was visible as well before the chimeric hissah waved to the arachne and other mutants around and gave a smiling pat to ysadora before going to the arachne once more "a mask huh?" clanking their head "im pretty excited!" as they find a spot to sit and wait for anybody else to come while waving over those they haven't met before</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko carefully drove up the road in her RV before parking it outside the station and hopping out. She opened up one of the cargo slides to pull out some gear, including a rebreather and a helmet just in case. She was rather covered up today as well, between a black bodysuit, boots, gloves, and camo outerwear. She made her way over to the group, giving a wave to the familiar faces. "Hey there! Curious what we have planned here, a gas mask for a ranger station..."</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker had received the call, and made his way up to the designated area. He landed at the small cluster of people. "I take it this is the spot?" He gave a small chuckle. He spotted junes and Ysadora, and Umeko. As well as Nyaz. "Oh hey guys!" He approached them, then spotting Syntax. "Howdy! We exploring a station?" He gestured to the ranger station. "So how have y'all been since uhh we last met." Booker's face grew a bit hot as he said that, his eyes flicking to Junes. He did however walk up to Ysadora and whisper. "Hey uhh.. sorry for the groping thing.." He seemed nervous and a tad ashamed. </div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Syntax smiles at those assembled and hops off the scorpion robot. "Ah, great!" After a moment to collect herself, she crosses her upper arms and shoves her lower arms into her pockets. "I appreciate ye all coming here. I know some of you don't know me all too well, but if you're here, it's because I know you well enough to know this isn't something you'd go running back to your handlers with for brownie points. Not immediately, at least. Which is the important part."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) The spider girl looks out to the forest, seemingly to one particular point. "A ah...friend of mine is the one that alerted me about this. They're a tad uncomfortable introducing themselves to so many people, so you'll have to excuse them for not bein' keen on coming in person."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Syntax chitters "But that's aside the point! The reason we're here. The ranger station's basement. My friend mentioned that part of it doesn't quite look like it's the same age as the rest. Like it was built well before the station itself. I took a look for myself and noticed that whatever blew up the building also damaged one of the walls. And when I looked...well. It wasn't a big hole, mind, but it looked like there was something behind it. A large something."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Syntax Clasps her upper arms together, a nervous smile on her lips. "So...I'm going to be sending Captcha to the hole and making it much...much bigger. And as I don't know what's behind it and have a feeling it could be something really cool and/or dangerous, I thought I should invite other people with me!"</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Sure enough, Ysadora does see some movement in the woods, albeit briefly. Booker, and Nyazuli even see what looks like an arachnid leg shuffling away. Junes, Umeko, and Conrad, however, spot, ever so briefly, a drider-esk spider woman gazing out at them, flushing as she realizes she was spotted and moving to a more concealed position. Junes in particular remembers them as the feral that transformed Syntax into a widow convert in the first place.</div><div title="Nyazuli" style="margin-top:2em">(Nyazuli) Nyazuli greeted everyone as they arrived, doing some quick catchup with the people she knew from before. And then something about super bananas before returning her attention to Syntax's explanation. She declared, "I see, interesting, well, you know you can always count me in, better make that hidey hole extra large though, hope it's not a bother". She smiles before offering to help with the wall blowing, "I got some spare bombs and good arms to clean up". She follows the bot toward the location they are supposed to enter soon</div> <div title="Conrad" style="margin-top:2em">(Conrad) Conrad rolls his eyes briefly. "I'll just be over here. Something about combining a gawking crowd and demolition... Would prefer if I don't have to attempt to reattach any limbs today, thanks." Settling on his hindlegs, the 'taur keeps his hands to himself for now.</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora rolls her eyes at Booker's comment, though she has an indulgent smile on her lips. "You don't need to apologize, Booker. I'd have told you to stop if I wasn't enjoying myself too." She detaches her head briefly to give him a quick peck on the cheek. "Oh, and hey Junes, Umeko. Good to see you two as well." Ysdadora turns finally to look at the ranger station with a gleam in her eyes. "Now this place... This looks haunted as all get-out! Creepy woods, ruined buildings, grim backstory, half-glimpsed horrors... This is the kind of thing I was born for! Does anyone have a video camera? We can make it like, one of those ghost-hunting shows."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes glanced at the forest a brief bit longer but then turned to the group and looking to ysadora said "yeah its good to see you and everyone here too" another glance to the forest before facing everybody once more "a ghost show huh? we dont get enough videos these days but lets hope its not dangerous" their gaze lingered on booker before realizing "oh and i haven't met some of you, but everyone calls me junes"</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko looked over at the drider curiously, giving them a nod before looking back to Syntax, "It does sounds very interesting, wonder what would be down there... I can help haul out the debris and such too if you need it." She then grinned over to Ysadora, "I can record stuff with nanomagic, perhaps, but I might need to turn it off depending on what we run into down there. Might have to take a back seat if it gets dangerous or I need to do something else..."</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker pursed his lips a bit, softly nodding to her. He looked over the station. "I can help with excavation aswell!" He gave a soft chuckle. He draped an arm over Ysadora. "Well at-least we have a ghost on our side." He looked over the station. "So theres a sub-basement? weird... especially for a ranger station..." He looked at the surroundings, wondering what kind of bomb had gone off. "Also syntax I didn't have a mask.. I hope thats alright." He gave a goofy smile to them. "Remind me when we're done to find one." He perked up a bit. "So its like an abandoned station with a weird basement?" He shook Ysadora slightly. then following June's lead. "Oh yeah to any new-faces, I'm Booker! The local huge lizard!" He chuckled stepping toward the station. "Well hopefully it's not infested with man-made horrors beyond our comprehension huh?" </div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Syntax laughs lightly at Booker and remarks, "Well, it's mostly a precaution. Don't know what kind of bugger all weird is in there. Should be able to get ye in though, Nyazuli! I reckon a full sized truck could fit past the opening we'll be making. Do hand me those explosives, though, that'll help a lot!"</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) After the explosives are placed and everyone is at a safe distance, the wall is given a solid introduction to the basics of exothermic reactions and rapid decompression. After that, all that's needed is for Captcha, the giant robot scorpion that he is, to bulldoze forward and properly open it up.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Perhaps to everyone's surprise, what lies ahead are two large, partially rusted garage doors and multiple signs that make warnings of authorized personnel only and this being "government property." With the simplistic concrete of the ranger station out of the way, there's something more sturdy looking about what was behind the door.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Syntax chitters "Huh...so it looks like this half of the basement used to be part of some kind of...checkpoint?" She steps forward and examines the garage doors. "Umeko, Nyazuli, can you work together to open these? Carefully, though. I'd rather not just throw them open. Might be handy to have them usable later."</div> <div title="Nyazuli" style="margin-top:2em">(Nyazuli) "Leave it to me!" the dragoness declares before approaching the garage door and finding an appropriate grip on the left one, before pulling with all her might, which happens to be quite a lot of might indeed as it slowly but surely gives in to the force applied. Soon enough, the door is wide open, promising thrilling adventures! She inspects it for damage, and outside of a slight bend around where her each of her fingers were, nothing much to report. "She looks toward Umeko giving her a wink and a thumbs up before turning toward the group and proudly declaring, "the way is open, and adventure awaits!". She finally turns toward booker and gives him a few headpats as a thanks for the help, which, even if unneeded, did cheer her up in an endearing way.</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko prepared herself by getting ready and gearing up, grabbing a crowbar and putting the helmet on and mask ready as she went over to one of the doors. Just for fun, she decided to go with Ysadora's idea earlier as well as she activated her recording software to document the adventure. She gave Nyazuli a grin as well before she got to work, working carefully to pry it open enough to where she could use her immense strength to just lift it up the rest of the way without demolishing the thing. "There we go, not too hard~"</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker stepped up to aid in lifting the door. He used the tip of his tail to wedge the bottom, so they could all get a handhold on the bottom of the rolling door. "I hope its not broken.. otherwise this is gunna be louuud..." He slid his fingers under the door, He exhaled and started to heft, only to find it moving easily. He made eye contact with Nyaz as she hoisted the door basically by herself. He stepped back placing his hands on his hips as he sheepishly said. "Was lighter than I was expecting!" He glanced down at the floor for a moment in a moment of realization. Muttering to himself "Oh.." As Nyaz headpatted him.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) The sound of metal being forced up and grinding against its tracks echoes inwards and onwards. It's not a small echo either. It bounces from the dark walls immediately before you and on...and on...and on. This is not a small hidden chamber...this is something else entirely.</div><div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Syntax gawks and steps forward to look in, several of her surveillance drones floating forward to flick on LED lights to illuminate what's before them. "Bloody hell."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) The room before the party is a large vehicle staging area that, at one time, might have been able to stage multiple lanes of large vehicles. The air is stale, humid, and dusty which is only a more immediate spoiler to how long this place compared to the signs plastered on various walls. On top of the general decay one might expect from age and nanites, they are also of a style of a forgone age. There are even several propaganda signs that make reference to the Communists. "Loose lips sink ships. They also destroy bunkers. Don't give the reds an inch!"</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Far along the staging area, there are two vehicles that, for whatever reason, were never moved out of the facility. An old green bus and a military truck with a heavily decayed canvas covering over its storage section in the back. Both of the vehicles could have been ripped straight out of the opening to an old movie portraying the Vietnam War.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) There are multiple lights in here, but none are active. It's only with the help of the drones floating within to light the way that you see there are two exits at the far end. One is an old metal door with a sign reading AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY and the other a more wide path.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) At the back, a large welcome message has been painted onto the top of the wall. "WELCOME TO THE STALLINGS EMERGENCY BUNKER."</div> <div title="Nyazuli" style="margin-top:2em">(Nyazuli) Nyazuli immediately dives inside of the newly opened room, looking around her with awe, and declaring excitedly, "Look! we're probably the first persons to set foot in here in 70 years! Who knows what old world wonders this place holds!" She swiftly starts scanning the room to see if anything in there reminds her of anything or could potentially have value, before turning toward the spider girl and inquiring, "What did you have in mind with this place by the way? it looks completely and irremediably abandoned. Trying to keep the loot out of Zephyr's hands uh? Naughty girl!"</div> <div title="Conrad" style="margin-top:2em">(Conrad) Conrad's green eyes squint into the gloom. "I wouldn't be so certain--" He hesitates. "They certainly built it to last, after all." The cat takes a few tentative steps forward. "Would've been a clever place to try and wait out th' end of the world. /If/ there was another exit." Scanning the walls, he takes a few cautious sniffs of the air, too, keeping the gas mask in hand but not rushing to put it on just yet. "How.... exactly did your friend get tipped off about this place?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora watches the others' display of strength with wide eyes, pulling her curtain of hair apart to make sure she's seeing right. "Y'know, Booker, I was going to ask if you're gonna let them show you up like that but...uh...that's on another level." She pats the big anole's knee consolingly, then floats into the newly-opened hallway. "This place is...huge! Syntax, I thought this was just going to be like, a hidden basement or something. Like Nyazuli said, there's gotta be all kinds of mysteries down here, and *we* get to dig 'em up before Zephyr or RSX or anybody else!" Ysadora's eyes are shining and she rubs two of her hands together. "Is it time to gas mask up?"</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes looked at the vehicles with curiosity before the light shines away and soon enough they realize and go into their backpack and started to feel around for it before its found, a flashlight! popping it on to look on their own at things "yeah i kept mine on just in case but hmm, what should we do if there is anything risky in the air?" checking the ground for anything interesting and shining the light up occasionally to follow the group and getting closer to umeko to ask "recording software huh? i wonder, if we find some controls maybe you could light the place up?"</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko put her gas mask on before heading in, not wanting to breathe in a bunch of asbestos or whatever other potential hazards might be in there until after some further inspection and possibly cleaning. Her eyes were more than capable of seeing in the dark as she scanned the area slowly, making sure to get a good sweep as she recorded everything she saw. Her gaze lingered on the vehicles as she continued to inspect them more, quite impressed by such an amazing find. "Wow... This sure is something else, old military vehicles in great condition all things considered..." She then peeked back to Junes, "Recording this might actually be pretty useful for proving that we were the ones to crack it open too... Powering the place might be an issue though, I can fix things up but don't count on lights right away, especially without a proper power source. Who knows what the state of the wiring is like in here too, might be a lot of work..."</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker immediately followed after Nyaz, He turned to Ysadora. "Thats just rude." He pursed his lips at the spectre before turning to look where he was going. He gasped in awe at the faint relics of the past, wandering around like a tourist as he looked over the signs, trucks, and basically anything but the floor and walls. "Whooaaaaa..... This is what im TALKING about!" He was giddy with excitement. "This place would be so cool if it was restored!" He daydreamed about the possibilities of the bunker. He glanced at Conrad. "Who cares why they tipped! They tipped gold into our laps!" He pressed his hands together underneath one of the "Report all communist activity" signs. "This place is a literal freeze frame of the past!" He turned to syntax. "I think we all need to agree right now to keep this place out of the big three's eyesight... Im sure there'd be a huggge fight to take possession of it... This place seems super secure." </div><div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Syntax blushes deeply at Booker's accusation. "I uh...look, I had no fuckin' idea it was going to be this huge! I thought it was just going to be a hidden cache or somethin'! I didn't tell them because I just kind of had a hunch..." Still, she is certainly not whipping out her comm to report this in. "Hannah just noticed the hole in the wall and thought it was weird there was space behind it. I don't think she was expecting this either." As she trails off, she advances with her robotic posse in tow, eyes looking over everything. "Not sure about 70 years. The cold war went on for some time. Certainly more than a few decades at the very least...I'll keep Captcha posted at the door for safety. Can you all check the passage to the left? I have enough protection in the form of uh...weapons and robots to check out that smaller door to the right. I'll leave some of my surveillance drones with you, though. They can detect if the air goes bad." Not unlike Umeko, however, she's playing it safe and sliding a gas mask on her own head. "Just take it slow, alright? If the drones start emitting a ton of beeps, anyone without a mask should fall back."</div> <div title="Nyazuli" style="margin-top:2em">(Nyazuli) Nyazuli declared, slightly annoyed "yes ma'am" and started rummaging through her backpack before pulling out an extra large gas mask and attaching it to her neck. "I still really don't like breathing through that, makes everything smell like wet socks, I'll just keep it close for now She continued "Anyway, left passage is ours? sounds fun, can you stay closely behind Junes? I don't see in the dark all that well, but keep a safe distance in case something attacks us or something" She waits a moment for junes to catch up before readying a protection spell and heading for the large corridor</div> <div title="Conrad" style="margin-top:2em">(Conrad) With a sigh, Conrad awkwardly fits his mask on the end of his muzzle. The big cat isn't in a hurry to take the lead, letting the larger mutants forge ahead. "Not about to find buried treasure in n' abandoned army bunker, for godsakes," he mutters. "Just hoping we're still alone in here. Space s' so large, it's hard to be certain."</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora spends a bit of time fitting the gas mask over her head. It was designed for someone a bit bigger, and perhaps without such unruly hair. "Mph mhphp..." Eventually, she gets it properly in place and stares out at Booker with magnified eyes. "I didn't mean it like that, jeeze," her voice is now tinny and slightly distant. As they move into the corridor, she indulges her habit of patting down the area around her with her many disembodied hands, feeling for weaknesses, switches, or anything else of interest. Although she can see perfectly well in the dark, the thick lenses of the gas mask make this a more difficult proposition, so she relies as much on touch as sight as they proceed inward.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes responded to the dragon by keeping a few paces behind but shining the flashlight past them to view ahead as they occasionally shine the light closer to the ground to look for anything of note "we really did stumble into something interesting huh?" their voice still a bit muffled from their own mask as well before speaking to the dragon in front "i appreciate it that by the way, oh what was your name again?" they asked listening to the faint echoes around as they think about all of the possibilities for such a place "wow" they said to themselves </div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko mentally took note of the condition of the vehicles, already knowing that they would be a massive project to revive just like her RV, but still appreciated their condition at a glance. In the meantime she drew her sawed off shotgun from her bag as she scanned the area and proceeded deeper carefully, looking for any signs of potential danger. "I kind of doubt there's anything living in here, but honestly who knows... Take it real slow and easy, make sure there's no traps or other security measures too..."</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker muttered. "With those doors anything in here is surely dead." He laughed as he followed the few proceeding to the passageway, pulling a mask from his bag. He hadnt had time to adjust it to something with a snout, so his nose was pressed up against the plastic. He looked at the group. "Y'all want me to go first?" He smirked, pulling his blade out from his bag, the hefty scrap of sharpened steel reflecting a bit of drone-light. "Better safe than sorry." His tail swaying behind him excitedly. "I've always hoped to find something like this! Its better with friends though." He gave those he was referring to a wink. He undoubtedly looked a bit silly, like a dog trying to smell something through glass as he adjusted it, fixing his face behind the plastic screen. </div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Syntax nods and heads over to the side door, her mantis shaped robot Fork working to force it open. "Just be safe. I'll tell you if I find anything over here.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) As the rest of the party moves to the larger passage to the left, it's hard to miss that there are multiple stacked boxes beside the truck and a crumpled note atop them. Further along is the actual passage itself. It appears to have been some kind of checkpoint in the far past. It even has those little pylons used to hold up queue lines and metal detectors. and two X-Ray machines large enough to fit personal belongings through.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Syntax nods and heads over to the side door, her mantis shaped robot Fork working to force it open. "Just be safe. I'll tell you if I find anything over here.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) As the rest of the party moves to the larger passage to the left, it's hard to miss that there are multiple stacked boxes beside the truck and a crumpled note atop them. Further along is the actual passage itself. It appears to have been some kind of checkpoint in the far past. It even has those little pylons used to hold up queue lines and metal detectors. and two X-Ray machines large enough to fit personal belongings through.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) It appears there might be a path to the left of you looking into the checkpoint, but it is blocked off with a chainlink fence. Not that is a huge issue for you, but you'll need to rip that door open if you're going to go that way. Those with dark vision can see that there's not much back there beyond broken metal catwalk stairs leading upwards. You'd need to fly if you were going to get up there which would be an issue due to a lack of clearance for the winged members of the party.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) There is another large room just past the checkpoint.</div><div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) As the party examines the passageway, it occurs to Ysadora that the equipment looks pretty new for a cold war bunker. Junes and Umeko agree that this equipment was definitely not from the 50's or 60's. More than likely, these were from the late 80's. Booker offhandedly remarks that this kind of equipment isn't exactly common these days and could likely be valuable. Umeko and Nyazuli (especially Nya as she is a damn dragon) recognize that the equipment found in these is hardly made anymore. The factories that produced them are long gone and the amount of exotic materials required to make a damn X-Ray machine work make them impractical to build purely with nanites. Any of the big three would pay out of the nose to get their hands on these for their more secure zones.</div> <div title="Nyazuli" style="margin-top:2em">(Nyazuli) "Jackpot!" Nyazuli exclaims, "This looks like an X-Ray machine, but is in fact pure gold, people don't make those anymore with the nanites nowadays. Some people might pay on the nose for those things if we bring them back although, this might also lead to question, and I'm not sure Syntax would enjoy that..." She takes a mental note to come back for it once they are done exploring the rest of the complex. "Is there anything beyond that door of interest? Can you guys see something?" She continues with, "If I remember correctly from that one time with the otaku sloth, you have a lockpicking kit Junes right? think this door can resist you or would it have to resist my kick instead?"</div> <div title="Conrad" style="margin-top:2em">(Conrad) "Of course there's security," grumbles Conrad, voice further muffled by his mask as he gives an approving nod in the oni's direction. "Two heavy doors aren't nearly enough-- should be /highly suspicious/ if you can just open th' door and waltz in--" Hands stay politely folded in front as he carefully brings up the rear, fur bristling on alert. "Important enough that they had a bloody checkpoint, inside th' facility..." Just a guess, really, as he recognizes what the X-ray machine might have been used for. Meanwhile, the cat's attention drifts over towards the pile of crates, and the crumpled paper on top. If it's within reach, he might pick it up, trying to unfold and read aloud any message there...</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) The note reads: "Williams, if you can't get the bus and truck working, we're going to leave them behind! Along with literally ALL of that equipment in storage! The project has been a money sink already, I don't want to explain to the brass that we ended up leaving shit behind because it was too expensive to fix the vehicles intended to carry them out! -Sarge"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora glides over to the stacked crates. "Hmm... Looks pretty new for a Cold War bunker. Sounds like they left a lot of equipment behind too!" She attempts to pull open one of the boxes with three hands,. leaving room for Conrad beside her, while another hand points at the X-ray machine. "Hey, what do you think would happen if I got X-rayed? What would it see inside a ghost? Or a lot of us, for that matter."</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) The moment the words leave Ysadora's lips, both she, Conrad, and Booker realize that direct exposure to that strength of X-Rays would definitely be hazardous. Moreover, Booker, Umeko, and Nyazuli recall that microwaves can actively wreck nanites...an X-Ray might not be great either.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes heard the dragon and took a rather cliche dramatic pose, one that the dragon could definitely recognize if they looked "yep! although uhh, looks kind of rusty but i might be able to manage it, but if somebody could hold the pins as i get some others that could be a great help" as they made their way to the padlock and crouched down to open their bag to reveal the lockpicking kit but took the time to examine it first before starting to pick the lock slowly and carefully, thinking about some music from years ago and after a bit their tails were waving back and forth</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko looked back to the Conrad, Ysadora, and the X-Ray machine. "Glad to know they left plenty of goodies behind for us... Also if there's so much security up here, it means we're definitely not into things properly yet, whatever this project was supposed to be... I can try and fix the machine up more later if we want to sell it, but I'd recommend against using it, pretty dangerous with the nanites inside of everyone." She then turned and peered through the fence as Junes worked, "Looks like stairs upwards, maybe another way in... Curious what's down this hall though, but guess we can peek inside of here first."</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker headed toward the chainlink fencing. He pushed and pulled on it to no avail. His hands now stained with rust from the wires. He felt around the links, hoping to spot a hole or broken wire, though only finding a padlock. "Junes I trust you'll make quick work of this padlock with your thief-esk whiles." He chuckled, peering through the links to spot whats on the other side. He pulled his shirt free, "I think theres a gap on the other side... I can fly people across." The end of his words punctuated with a flap of his wings, sending little bits of dust and debris scittering across the floor.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) As Junes gets to work, Umeko carries on past the checkpoint to see what's beyond. What she finds is a treasure trove. Boxes upon boxes upon stacks of building material. While the wood is likely rotten by now, there's screws, concrete mix, brackets, and more. It's just as well Syntax was careful to prevent an excess of nanites rushing in as these would have been fast targets. It seems like some joker in Ye Olden Times set up a stand out of scrap wood to sell "Uncle Sam's Lemonaid". At the far end of the room are two things of note. The first is that there is an old office that likely served as administration for the construction crew. The second, which stands out especially considering how you first entered, is a wall of bricks that most definitely stands out compared to the solid reinforced concrete walls around her.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Just as she makes that observation, Syntax speaks up over comms with an excited, absolutely delighted voice. "Bloody hell, what the hell is this place?? This entire place is set on a series of seismic dampeners!! I've heard of these being used for buildings, but not bunkers. It's no wonder a large underground structure like this has survived in California. Oh! Uh...I've also found some other machinery. Mostly back-ups for what might be found elsewhere. Any luck on your end?"</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Junes is certainly having luck. Despite facing down a high security lock secured with age and rust, he manages to open it up like it was made of tissue paper. It opens with a satisfying CLICK which leaves the passage unlocked and ready to be explored.</div><div title="Nyazuli" style="margin-top:2em">(Nyazuli) Nyazuli cheers as the padlock falls on ground after Junes' expert ministrations. "Who's a good mutant?" she declares while giving it? her? him? a few affectionate pets. "Although, It might be late to say that, but I can't actually shrink more than that, and it seems I clearly won't fit comfortably in there if troubles befell us, let alone fight, so I suggest we finish exploring the other side for now and come back once we restore the power maybe?" She accompany this observation with a quick glance toward the other group and an extra, "It seems they made some progress actually, let's see what it about.

Hearing from the spider girl on the comm, she answers quickly, "On my side, two X-Ray machines, not great condition, but probably worth a lot if we bring them out. The others might have more to say about the place as well"</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) While the others are focused in the checkpoint area, Conrade is going about opening the boxes stacked about the truck. The first crate is filled with MRE's which, while they might not be overly appetizing on their own, would be invaluable to a certain somebody on the party who uses nutrients to make food with the power of NANITE TECHNOLOGY.</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora sidles away from the crates to rejoin the others at the formerly-padlocked gate. "Nice, Junes! I didn't know you were so good at crime." She smiles to show she's joking, then peers up the stairs. "It's going to be hard to get up there. Just to clear this up, I do *not* fly. I float. If I walked off these stairs I'd plummet down just like the rest of you. So..." She looks over at Booker. "I know you're already thinking it, Booker. You're going to have to toss us."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes tails were pattering in a beat and was glad when each click is heard before it released! pocketing the padlock and was surprised at the rigorous petting as their tails started to pat up and down in a more random and happy way as their tone matches the tails "oh! it wasn't that bad but thanks!" their eyes closed a bit while listening and hearing about some of the other stuff they lightly chuckled before opening their eyes once more "tossing huh? im not that heavy so i wouldn't be opposed to it"</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko looked around in awe at the sheer amount of supplies, scanning around and getting some good shots as she recorded things on her NICE, before replying on the comms. "I don't know how much further this thing goes, but I already found a Home Depot's worth of construction material here down the hall... Could probably sell this to Eureka for a quick small fortune, bet they would love it. You guys should come check it out." She eyed the bricks curiously, but her attention went to the office for now. Finding some sort of clue as to what this place really was, or better yet maybe some sort of building plan to map the place out could be invaluable before proceeding further. "I'm going to peek in this office real quick..."</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker readies himself as he waves anyone over that wants up." Free uppsies..." He laughes as he pets junes head. "Nice work on the lock.. no wonder you snuck into my room." He laughed before a red hue crossed his face. He glanced up at the crumpled stairs. "Well either they suck at making stairs or something important is up there." He stretched his arms. "It'll probably be easier to toss people up there..." He pondered the next move for a few moments."Or..." he trailed off, talking to himself.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) As most of the party discusses tossing one another up to the upper floor, Nya and Umeko are exploring the area further in. On Umeko's part, she discovers that while most documents were clearly removed, some were missed. Of note, there are several cassette tapes and a cassette tape player.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Before she can fully explore that, however, Nyazuli finds herself faced with an out of place brick wall. Inspired by the last wall they destroyed, and considering this was made of relatively weaker bricks, Nya decides the obvious course of action is to make another big hole. With a heft of her musclebound form, she shoves herself into the wall which, in addition to the massive hole, makes a huge hole which reveals that this facility doesn't just go further but goes MUCH further.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Before the dragoness is a large industrial flat elevator set on a ramp that goes down far enough that the light of the drone which followed her can barely make out the bottom. The other thing she notices is that the drone is making a loud, aggressive beeping sound! The drones that followed the party will also begin to beep in a wave as the seconds go by and whatever is being emitted from below reaches them. All of your communicators light up with an automated message from the drones:</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) "WARNING: AIRBORN CONTAMINANT DETECTED. PLEASE SECURE BREATHING APPARATUS IMMEDIATELY. BEGINNING ANALYSIS..."</div> <div title="Nyazuli" style="margin-top:2em">(Nyazuli) Hearing the warning, Nyazuli spits a few well chosen curse words in a foreign language before holding what remains of her breath to adjust and fit her gas mask onto her face, emptying her lungs inside of it to test the seal before taking an inspiration through. She mutters, "still smells like wet socks...". She goes over her own vital with a quick divination to make sure she didn't breathe in too much of the stuff. Turns out she did. Crap. At least dose is low enough to be manageable. The effect don't wait as she feels them tug at her mind. She's not foreign to mind assault though and manage to dissociated what thoughts are hers and what thoughts are the fungus' As far as she's aware. She quickly declares. She blurbs as fast as possible while she still can, "fungal spore with more below, it's dangerous whatever I say after that, don't expose yourself. I need urgent fungicide treatment, so will anyone exposed and is it me or did the temperature rise 10 degrees?" Her cheeks flushing more and more red as she speaks</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora blinks a few times and hustles her butt back to the hall to see what's happening. "Wait, wait, let's hold off on that toss, Booker. What's going on? A *fungus* infection? That sounds bad. Do we have the supplies for a fungicide treatment on hand? Or uh, some sort of nanomagic treatment? Umeko, you're good with that, right?" She's started to ramble, as she does when under stress. Most of her hands are tucked in close, save for two which are confirming the seal around her mask.</div><div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes was crouching on the ground ready to be tossed but hearing the crash they jumped a bit and stood there until the blaring started... getting up to rush to the room to check what happened by following the spectre before seeing the office then large dragon, only catching the part about rising temperature as they came near to poke at the skin of the dragon before waiting with an arm out to say stop without words before finally saying "dont use anything! alright so this stuff isn't lethal but definitely dangerous but we gotta get her out, clean up and then treat it seems, i know its some...rot..rot...fungal oh! fungal cumrot but try not to get cut anywhere because that also risks danger, it grows with alot of moisture so theres alot somewhere so...we may need to block off some areas ahead of us, anyways try not to listen to her in the meantime alright? so for now we need her out"</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko flipped through various papers in the office, letting her vision linger on any documents that seemed important but not urgent so that she could pause and read them later after she had rendered the video of exploring this place. As she heard the wall breaking and gas alerts going off, she swore under her breath and double checked her mask to make sure it was sealed properly before scooping the cassette and cassette player into her bag. She gripped her emotional support shotgun and stayed lower, taking cover behind one of the stacks of construction material before peeking out to check on the situation. After hearing Nyazuli she sent a signal over the comms to activate the medbot in her RV, causing a small robot that looked like a metal plated boston dynamics dog to wake up, crawl out of the vehicle, and start making its way over towards the bunker. "I sure hope whatever broke the wall was her and not something else... Nyazuli, are you able to walk and get out of here, or do you need help? I have medbot on the way and I can make medicines, but I agree, we need to get out of here first. All of us probably should until we get a plan to deal with this stuff."</div> <div title="Nyazuli" style="margin-top:2em">(Nyazuli) with her earlier defiance not helping with other side effects, Nyazuli's crotch plate was slowly raising up, pushed by her rapidly hardening and drooling members. She declares, "so, those are all fine ideas, but really, don't you guys think we should, like, take some time to pat ourselves on the back for a job well done, and maybe pat ourselves other places as well?" Her hand unambiguously gesturing toward her nether and her tail seemingly fighting not to immediately get to work as she speaks. "Please?" making her best puppy eyes, not particularly resisting but also not eager to go with any solution not involving immediate sex</div> <div title="Booker" style="margin-top:2em">(Booker) Booker followed after the duo, quietly exhaling quickly to check his mask. It didn't budge. He entered the room. He hurridly looked around before spotting the dragon on the otherside of the busted ass wall. He narrowed his eyes a bit as he glanced around before looking at Nyaz. He immediately noticed her playing with herself. "Hey uhh Nyaz.. You come on out here i'll treat you real well~" He swayed his hips a bit, his tongue poking out as his hand slid down his pants by where his cock would be. "Come on~ You know you want to~" His tail swaying behind him as he beckoned her.</div> <div title="Nyazuli" style="margin-top:2em">(Nyazuli) Nyazuli fought against herself for 10 long seconds, looking at Booker like you look at a piece of meat, considering pinning him down here and now and imagining all of the ways she could use this fine ass before shaking her head, "Fine, but you're taking all four the moment I catch you" before starting to run after the lizard, leaving a trail of fluids behind her</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) The contaminated air holds frozen as Booker stares into the maw of an aggressively horny dragon. He has only one choice. Run. As he turns and flees, he can imagine a freezeframe with "TO BE CONTINUED" plastered in the corner of the image. The much smaller creature flees past the checkpoint and down the long tunnel that is the vehicle staging area as the much larger dragon runs right behind him with dicks flailing around.</div> <div title="Syntax" style="margin-top:2em">(Syntax) Right on time, Syntax calls out over comms. "Oh hell...I got the warning and just reviewed the footage. I really suggest y--oh, bloody hell, look at Nya go. Uh...anyway! It looks like the...fungal spores, I think? They aren't getting to the section I'm in. Going to hold tight here while Captcha and Fork work to seal the area off. Don't wait up for me, alright? Head on back to town, I'll be in touch. I'll also make a few calls. I know a few people who can help secure this place. I'll pull what strings I can to get this place secure and *independent*. Ugh...I am so losing my job...</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora tucks all her hands in and clumsily rolls out of the way as the anole and dragon tear past her. She pops up a few moments later behind the stack of boxes in a puff of wild black hair. "Whoa! Go Booker, go! Wow, look at how fast they are!" Once the bullet-train equivalent event has passed, she sneaks back out, then swivels her head around to look at the hole in the wall. "So uh, we should probably get outta here for now. I think my mask is working, but I'd rather not risk it until that thing is sealed up." Ysadora begins to leave, but hesitates near the way out. "Junes! Umeko! You two good over there?"</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes saw bookers idea and was surprised at the effectiveness! moving as well to avoid impact before quickly saying to umeko "oral and antibacterial treatment!" starting to run as they shouted "also the fungus wants you to spread so careful!" getting quieter chasing the dragon "ill try and treat her, just keep your ass safe!" and only in an echo can you hear "later guys!" and soon enough you could only hear tidbits as the chimera chased the duo into the distance</div> <div title="Umeko" style="margin-top:2em">(Umeko) Umeko couldn't help but to stare as she Nyazuli getting worked up and seeing those lengths stiffen. Considering that she was recording, anybody watching this later would definitely notice the oni's vision staying focused there for quite awhile as she got rather worked up, her own member tenting in her pants as she blushed quite heavily under her gas mask. Luckily Booker seemed to have things handled and the gas mask helped her avoid the scents from all the fluid leaking as the two ran off. She quickly followed along, both trying to film the chase and to get out of that room and away from the spores. "I think the biggest obstacle is going to be getting her to calm down enough to be treated... Still, everyone pull out and we can treat anyone affected once we're outside in the fresh air." she said over the comms. The medi-dogbot had made it down the road was at the entrance by now, and likely wouldn't be long before meeting up with the two.</div>[[Category:Syntax Events]][[Category:The Enigma Complex Events]][[Category:RPLogs]][[Category:Eureka Renaissance Events]]

Eureka Subway, Part 2 - RPLOG

2023-07-31T07:41:32Z

Narwen:

=Participants=
* [[User:Junes|Junes]]
* [[Narwen|Narwen]]
* [[User:Pteryx|Pteryx]]
* [[User:Theia|Theia]]
* [[User:Ysadora|Ysadora]]

=Date=
26/7/2023
=Log=
<div></div><div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) THE STORY SO FAR: Our four agents responded to a desperate request for assistance locating a missing miner, Linda McKee, with the threat of danger and the promise of no reward. While learning about the disappearance, something like a small earthquake struck the mine... and then again a few minutes later. Those born before P-Day recognised the rumbling noise as coming from a train underground. While the mine was evacuated, they made their way into the old Termite tunnels, with Junes tracking Linda's scent. Ysadora spotted a large and scary-looking Rust Monster napping in a cavern, the group woke it up, and through some clever (and sacrificial) dronework by Pteryx, were able to distract it long enough to get past. With Theia leading the way in the near-darkness, they made it through to the source of the shaking: an apparently new and in-service subway station, complete with train rolling through and its oddly behaved, human-looking passengers. Junes used Counter Nanomagic on one, and it fell in agony and dissolved into goo. The party has no made its way onto the train, found someone matching the description of Linda but very confused.</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The woman quietens down, seemingly a little reassured, but doesn't really engage with most of what is said. Theia can tell that, while the words are calming her, she isn't really processing what's being said. There is a little flicker of recognition at the mention of the foxboy, but it's fleeting. As the train slows and comes to a stop at a station that is, at a glance, identical to the one you just left, she rolls over onto her other side, facing the back of the bench, away from the door. After a moment, she reaches back and tucks her tail between her legs, mostly out of sight.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> Entirely ignoring you, and her, the commuters get up and exit the train briskly, heading onto the platform to be replaced by a fresh wave of well-dressed human passengers.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> Ysadora is able to wave a hand outside the train with no difficulty and no noticeable ill effect other than some annoyed looks from people who's way she's in.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> Junes, looking up at the people as the come on board, notices that one of the new arrivals is the same guy she saw turn into goo earlier! In fact, several of the faces and outfits look familiar.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes looked to the woman and said aloud "im heading out of the station to show we aren't cursed, these people are something else but we'll be okay just watch okay?" taking in a breath and hoping that truly nothing would happen but unwavering as they stepped out of the train and looked back at everyone "see?"</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) As much as Pteryx wanted to finally get off them oversized car... thing, he went 'ere to give the missing person medical assistance if required. Nope, she still ain't breathin, and it ain't cuz she has ta take somethin deep orally. Keepin his eye on 'er, the only reaction sparked outside them funny ravins was fox boy... "Junes!" He'd yell out, but they already ran out the cart 'fore he could ask fer somethin.</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Turning away from the slightly-less panicked woman, Theia half-whispers to the rest of the group, just loud enough to be heard over the bustle of the station. "I don't think she understood what I said... I'm kinda lost here. And - wait." she interrupts herself as she notices the station they'd pulled up into. "Are we... back in the last place? It looks the same... I am confused." The snow leopardess goes quiet for a few long moments as she tries to process what's going on, absentmindedly patting Linda's shoulder. "She said we're trapped, that we can't leave, what did she mean by that? Are we going in circles?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora slips out of the way of the other passengers as soon as she confirms there's nothing stopping them from leaving the car. She gives a startled glance toward the man who she'd seen melt not a few minutes ago, then turns back to Theia, speaking over the murmur of the crowd. "I don't know if we're literally going in circles. Did it feel like the train was turning? We're almost certainly going in figurative circles, though. Unless there are multiple Eureka stops down here." Ysadora gives the door a long look. "And this apparently just started today, based on what they were saying up in the mines. So...it's all probably metaphysical or something. Do you think whatever's doing this would get mad if we blocked open the doors?"</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Junes steps out through the train doors with more than a flicker of hesitation, sets a paw down on the platform, and -- is fine. Though as they do, the recorded voice chimes in: "Caution, the doors are about to close." There's enough time to hop back on board, or for the people on board to get off, but probably only a few seconds before the doors begin closing.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> Most of the team were more focused on Linda, Ysadora included, but Junes did notice on the previous trip that the tunnel the train went through did always curve the same way, to the left. It could be that they went in a circle?<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> Linda sighs softly. Her shoulders heave a couple of times, but otherwise she's pretty still.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) "Uh, what did the fox say?" With that question asked to no one in particular, Pteryx starts making the most unearthly screaches and yips he could make. "Or, er, wait foxboy not fox... dag nabbit that drone eatin critter just had ta take down the foxboy picture picture takerer..." Looking over Linda, "Hey, howsit been goin 'round this... train? Yer co-workers sounded real worried 'bout ya, ya sure ya wanna stay here all day? Maybe some alcohol will get unscramble them no leavin nerves! Purdy sure I can't use rubbin alcohol as a drink though..."</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Theia nods along to Ysa's explanation. "You might be right... should we stay here for another cycle, and keep a closer look on where we're going? Because...", she pauses, looking off into the distance. "Because if this is some metaphysical shit going on, then I'm worried. That stuff is way above my pay grade."</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora takes a seat across from Linda if she can find one. Leaving her to the others for the moment, she takes Junes' compass from the pocket of her robe and fixes her attention on it. She gestures absently for Junes to hop back in. "We won't be leaving without Linda, is my guess. While we try to talk her off this thing, I'm going to see if I can get some more info on what's going on." Once they start moving again, she'll watch the compass closely in an attempt to determine if they are moving in a way that makes sense.</div><div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes nodded to ysadora "sounds good" looking into the tunnel though and thinking before adding "yeah, ill see what happens from here but something has to change right?" hearing some steps they look briefly and catch the man they accidentally turned to goop and couldn't help watching the group in the train before finding a seat and sitting wondering about the odd people here and an audible sigh</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Linda stays lying huddled there. She doesn't react directly to Pteryx's antics, but there is perhaps the ghost of a smile, just for a moment. "They die when they leave," she whispers, pretty much to herself -- but with their better-than-human hearing the group on the train has no trouble hearing her over the shuffling of shoes and newspapers coming from the other passengers. "I'll die if I leave. I'm afraid to die." This tense moment is somewhat spoiled by the doors making their loud buzzing noise as they close, locking into place with a solid whump. Then, with a whine of electric motors, the train jerks into motion and starts to accelerate. From outside, Junes watches it pulling away from the platform -- once more, curving to the left. The passengers around her have all rushed up the steps, and the last ones are disappearing from view as the train pulls away.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes looks at the train doors closing and nodded before seeing the behemoth enter the tunnel and once it does they sit there with their arms resting on legs and listening for anything odd but otherwise not looking at much, preoccupied with their thoughts</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) "If ya spend all this time 'fraid of dyin you ain't gonna livin yer life! Do ya really wanna stay in this 'ere train in fear forever!?" As the starts ta move Pteryx gets on a seat, his hands leakin webbin as he glues himself on, "Hate them vehicles... At least them folk get off the train after the ride when it gets ta a stop... Ya must 'ave had sum fun 'fore sealin yerself in 'ere, yer coworkers ain't called ya a drone, Doug, Elena, those names ring any bells?"</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Giving the semi-fox a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder, Theia keeps her attention focused on the the scenery outside the train - the lights, the station signs, the easily recognisable features - all trying to memorise the sights. As the station is replaced by the rapidly speeding dark wall of the tunnel she turns her attention back to the train, staring into space in the direction of carriages in front and trying to gauge whether the train was heading in a straight line or round a bend. After a minute or so of that, she suddenly turns to the other two with a gasp. "Wait, where's Junes? Did we leave them behind?!"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora speaks almost to herself as she watches the compass needle. "She says they die when they leave. Does that mean they're reborn when they get on the train? That would explain how that one who died when Junes' antinanite field went off is back here now. And the mere fact that such a thing killed him means this is definitely something to do with nanomagic. UGH!" She throws her head back dramatically, hair flying about, before returning her focus to the compass. "I wish Umeko were here. She's got a better head for this sort of thing, and all sorts of diagnostic nanomagic." Ysadora's mumblings are interrupted, finally, by Theia's gasp. "Junes stayed back on the train platform. Which should be fine...assuming we wind up at the same one again."</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The platform around Junes is eerily empty. The sound of the train rattling away and the squealing of metal on metal still echoes around, but there are no other people here right now. The sign indicates that the next train to Eureka will arrive in 3 minutes. With not much else to do, Junes gives the place a good sniffing, and notices a familiar scent -- Pteryx the skunk beast was definitely on _this_ platform a few minutes ago.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> "I will, though. I will die if I leave," Linda murmurs to Pteryx. It doesn't sound like panic any more, more like resignation. "I'm not ready for that. I can't." She actually looks up when he mentions Doug and Elena, and there's a look of half-recognition.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> Theia, paying attention to the tunnel, and Ysadora paying attention to the compass, both notice that the train is curving consistently in the same direction. It's gone maybe 180 degrees by now, and is still turning gently.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes sniffed more and...huh that's odd" from their slightly slumped position rising a bit more thinking ( he didn't step off here right? ) a tail rubbing their head and looking up to the other tunnel to wait and see about entering the train again</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx notices at least something came out of what he said to Linda, "Uh, Elena, yer human... boss? Looked like she had an office thing, and Doug from... third shift?" Pteryx was trying to think up... something, to drag Linda out, With a huff, he tries to get more info on... "What's up with them train? And, yer sayin them folks die when they leave? Can ya tell me anythin, think of it as a drinkin bud kinda deal!"</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) The feline steps away from Linda as Pteryx takes over the encouragement/interrogation of the mutant woman, and tries to catch Ysadora's eye. "I think we're going in literal circles too... what do you think?" Theia asks. "If we are just travelling in the same physical loop over and over. Surely that means we can just head back into the tunnel where we came? If the old rock tunnel opened up into this loop, that exit should still be there. Listen, I'm out of my depth here. It might be best to head back up to the surface and find some reinforcements. I know this grouchy gator who's a wiz with this kinda paranormal stuff..."</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora looks up from the compass to nod in assent to Theia. "I agree. Seems like we might actually be going in a circle after all. Huh. I'd have thought for sure it'd be some spatial nonsense going on. Reinforcements seems like a good idea too, but I don't want just leave Linda here. Uh..." She stands up and floats over to Pteryx, crouching down to whisper as close to his ear as she can get. "How do you think it's going with her? I mean, worst case, we can just pick her up and take her back, right?"</div><div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) As Junes sits on an uncomfortable, hard plastic chair on the platform -- there isn't even a tail-hole on that thing -- the sign counts down and, before long, they can hear the rumble of the approaching engine. Humans begin to descend the stairways with a clatter, hurrying their way down so that they don't miss the train.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> "I can almost remember them," Linda says, shifting a little so that she's not staring directly at the bench cushion any more, but still not making eye contact. That ghost of a smile again. "I don't think she -- I -- liked her very much. I don't want to forget. If I leave, if I die, I'll forget." The smile fades and she looks intently at Pteryx, actually grabbing at the tiny skunk with a hand. "They die. It's horrible. They melt and they die. They come back, but they can't be the same person, can they? They can't." Meanwhile, the train begins to slow down and lights of the station start coming into view up ahead. The other passengers begin getting ready to leave.</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The train rolls into the station. As it approaches, Junes has a clear view of the front of the engine, before the waiting humans start crowding the edge of the platform. The driver's cabin is empty, and above it is a large LED sign, reading "LIND" on the top line, and then "EUREKA" just below. With a screech of brakes, the train comes to a stop and the doors hiss open. People start getting on and off.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes was genuinely unnerved seeing the sign read LINDA but got up and started walking to the train and entering alongside the humans and greeted the group again "miss me?" they smile but those perceptive enough would tell something was bothering them, sitting on the same bench as linda lays there and started to speak to her "i know what its like being afraid to leave safety behind, its horrifying and you might die but...its not as bad as you think" briefly putting a hand on them and getting a bead on her condition while continuing "there's more to life than an endless cycle of going through day to day where it's safe without being willing to risk seeing all there is out there...i wont deny its not easy but I would say its worth the risk, however other things are amiss so just try and relax, its safe but..." looking up at the group to talk to them as well "there's no conductor and well, the destination reads as something pretty odd..." their head tilting towards linda</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) It comes as kind of a shock to Junes when her nanomagic initially doesn't give any output at all -- it's just waiting for her to actually touch someone. That can't be right? Junes tries again, and this time it reports that the person she's touching is almost a shell, lacking several essential organs and in particular having no heartbeat. Clinically she's not so much dead as fake. And yet she's crying.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes looks a bit shocked but adds "but yeah, stay here for now and we'll look into things" they said calmly but already looked down but now junes seems a bit tense</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Reporting in to Ysadora, Pteryx keeps his eyes on Linda with a look of pity... "She's lookin fine physically, but, she don't seem ta breath... I ain't a psychologist or a therapist, but if we do get 'er out looks like she might need one." This was, way out of Pteryx's field, he usually did quick physiological stabilization, not psychological stuff... "Well we ain't always gotta like who we work with. Whatdja hate 'bout ''er, and a whattabout Doug too? That one said ya shared shifts?" For better or worst Pteryx would think bad memories are stronger than good ones, so those are what he tries to get outta her. "Whadda ya mean forget..." A squeek escapes the gremlin sized skunk beasts' mouth when Linda grabs him, all this talkin's got him feelin tense... "Ya ain't made of the same stuff you from when ye were born, but you sure are still ya! Yer hair sheds, yer skin flake off, fingernails get cut, all of ya is always getting replaced, heck yer blood gets melted by yer liver! But ya would still call yerself ya right?"
<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>Hearing Junes head in, Pteryx makes a small wave to them, with Junes overtaking chatting up the patient, Pteryx takes a deep sigh, just listenin instead of tryin ta drag a conversation... "What's a conductor?"</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Theia lets out a sigh of relief as Junes appears on the station unharmed. "Hey, don't run off like that again, yeah? I was worried... but you were right, it seems. This train is just running in circles, like one big loop of tunnel. That might be what she's referring to - just going round and round in circles on this train. But if so, surely we could all just get off?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora takes in Pteryx's comment about not breathing and Junes' insistence Linda stay here, all with pursed lips. Her expression turns grave. "I...see... Well, we can't say for sure what will happen if we actually take her out of here, but if there's any chance..." She hesitates before saying her thoughts outright in front of Linda. "It's best to be safe and keep her here, I think. Maybe if we get some more experts down here we can figure more out." Head down, hair falling in front of her face, two of Ysadora's hands wring themselves nervously. "I just wish we knew what caused all this, and if there's a danger of it happening to more people."</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Much of what Pteryx says seems to go over Linda's head, but she seems to appreciate it all the same. "She was... she was a hardass? Always wanting me there on time. Train's gotta run on time, and you can't have even one drink when you're driving the... mine. He was nice, though." She gets a bit misty-eyed for a moment.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> With the train pulled into the station, the speaker chimes once again, and informs you that, caution, the doors are about to close.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes gave a heavy sigh and looked to linda, unsure to mention to her specifically but went for it "okay so, about the train and...your condition, it seems like nobody is driving the train, the destination was...you linda and well, your vitals dont show as... anything so i will admit you may be... different, however i feel like since the train has only been going in circles maybe you need to be the conductor and set our course elsewhere to stop the cycle, that and i...i thought they were illusions and used something but he returned so i think you'll be okay if something bad happens but i would still avoid it just in case since we dont know"</div><div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx tries to give Linda a reassuring shake of hands, letting out a guffaw! "Yep that sounds like workin life alright!" His ears perk with curiosity as Junes speaks, "No vitals? Wait why didn't I..." Shifting his handshake to a hold Pteryx places two fingers on Linda's wrist and... "Nothin... and no breathin, that, ain't up ta code..." With a few spits at his webbin, it melts off, freein Pteryx for whatever shenanigans he was up ta. "Howdy, welcome to the err, train, howdy, welcome ta the train!" He starts wanderin 'round shakin random folk's hands, tryin ta get a feel for a pulse each time, and each time, nothin. No breathin either unless they greet back... Running back to the group he looks... confused. "None of these folk seem ta be up ta code..." He looks ta Linda again, conflicted between a possibly dangerous curiosity and pity, "We were... we were sent here ta get ya back, but with how Ysadora's spook senses seem ta be... We can at least prove we found ya?" Wrapping an arm around Linda all of the sudden he makes a goofy pose with his face just too close as all the drones flash as many pictures as they can.</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Attempting to follow the scattered thoughts of the two skunks, Theia massages her temples with her fingertips and lets out a sigh. Putting a couple of extra steps between herself and Linda, she tries to make some sense of what's going on, in a low voice which - in theory - can't be heard by anyone other than the group. "We're stuck on a train doing one continous looping circuit, over and over again. It's full of people-who-aren't-people, one of whom looks like the miner we came down here to find, but also isn't actually her. And her name is printed on the front of the train. Except we might not be stuck cos the tunnel we took to get here might still be there, except if we try to find that tunnel we might get squashed by the train. Have I missed anything?"
Waiting for any responses before continuing, the feline tries to come up with a plan. "I think we got two choices here. We can either stay here to try and get Linda out - the real Linda - or we can leave, and come back another time with more people, more equipment, some experts, or *something* to help unpick this. If we're staying here... I want to go look at the conductor's cabin. See if that helps, in any way."</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) After listening intently to Theia's proposal, Ysadora voices her opinion, "I had hit a dead end, to be honest, but I think Junes might be on to something with the conductor's cabin. That place is...symbolically significant on a train, so we might very well find something there. If there's really nothing we can do, then I'm all for heading back and getting help, but I move that we at least check out the entirety of the train and the platform before we do that. We might find the real Linda, unless..." A sour expression comes across the ghost's mouth. "Unless that is the real Linda and something did that to her. That's what I'm most afraid of, honestly."</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The doors close, the motor kicks in, and the train begins to pick up speed, wheels thrumming against the tracks: thum-thum, thum-thum. Thum-thum, thum-thum.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> Linda looks at Pteryx, wide-eyed. "I can't, I can't drive it. Can I? I'm not a driver. I'm just... what am I?" She looks down at her hands, and then grabs at her tail. "What _am_ I?"<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> It's not hard to lead her along with you, in this somewhat confused but receptive state. The four of you make your way up the train, heading towards the cabin, making your way through a couple more carriages separated by sliding doors before getting to the head of the train. The door is closed with a half-silvered mirror, but apparently not locked. The driver's cabin is a little cramped for this many people, but you could all squeeze in there if you wished. That said, you might not wish to: the inside looks a lot more organic than the carriages did. The floor is pale and gives a little underfoot. The console is light pink with veins running across it, and in place of a wheel or joystick there is an exposed -- well, it's grey and wrinkled and while it's mounted like a trackball it's very hard not to think of it as a brain. There is a stool rising from the floor in front of it, white and gleaming. The windows, at least, appear to be regular glass.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes looks to linda and says "sadly this cycle doesn't seem to be stopping and well...i think we have to sooner rather than later with the quakes in the mines, i dont know how structurally sound it is or whether they can handle it much longer but please, not just for yourself but for them too" they still look shaken which doesn't help but it seems to be enough but... moving along and seeing the organic cabin..."what, okay so this is either magic or some nanite related nightmare thing but... I'll do what i can to help" moving inside closer and all the way to the left, conflicted whether to avoid touching this at all or instead studying just what the hell it is but instead focusing on the task at hand "okay so...i dont know if you're from before the nanites but it seems that, the brain thing there might control it, while that...console? may be for other things but the ball should be enough...heh" looking to theia to add "seems like you were right here huh, usually its all metal back then but...this is definitely not normal" you could see them scanning the surface of this odd thing and the conflicting choice of touch or dont touch as a hand lingers near a wall</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx has apparently dragged Linda to the front along with the rest of the group, looking back with worry at with that existensial crisis she seems ta be havin. "I ain't know, but Junes has plenty a good ideas and Ysadora's got them spooky know how! And uh... Theia's got sum ideas ta!" Lookin inta the front car, Pteryx looks to have stars in his eyes... "Are those, wetware tech!" As small as the gremlin sized skunk beast was he didn't take up too much space. "Wowee! Are them veins pulsin? And is that, a brain!?" He looks ta the console, and... "Huh, I ain't familiar with this kind o' biology, purdy different from the standard. Hey Ysadora! Ya know spooky stuff right! Check them out!"</div><div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Theia takes one look at the inside of the conductor's cabin, and bursts out laughing... just a little to shrill to be a genuine laugh. "Nope. Nah. I'm not playing this game. I want off this ride." Shaking her head, she paces up and down across the carriage, trying to maintain what's left of her composure. "This ain't right. This ain't right!" she mutters to herself. "We're inside a hollow metal snake, and we just opened a door to its brain. Of course that's what happened. Entirely normal set of circumstances." Unclipping a small canteen from her belt she takes a long drink of water, savouring the mouthful for longer than necessary to give herself more time to organise her thoughts. "I don't know what you guys think you can do here. All I know is, just looking at that... thing, I have a Plan B." Theia doesn't bother to explain what that Plan B might entail; she simply flicks open the catch on her holster, and the implication is crystal clear to the group.</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora rushes forward excitedly at the sight, hovering her hands a few centimeters over the horrific blob. "Whoa! A brain? Attached to the train. That's screwed up. Awesome." She raises a third hand to her mouth and coughs, regaining her composure. "That is...it is most definitely not awesome if this is what's causing this whole thing with the train. And I think we have every reason to believe it is. Maybe this is some kind of 'Dreamer' situation like we encountered in the Bunker." Stepping back from the brain without ever actually touching it, she looks to her companions. "I'm not necessarily against shooting the thing up, Theia, but do you think we can maybe...communicate with it somehow? Pteryx, you're a doctor, so you can read brainwaves or something right?"</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Linda stops at the doorway and stares in horrified fascination. "My... train?"</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes looks closer at the walls...beat...beat...beat? putting a hand to their own chest and laying a hand on the wall...no thats not it...the tracks it seems? although hearing theia they look and see the holster and raised their voice a bit "no! we're not doing that, this train thing is alive, and the track if you listen sound like heartbeats" looking to linda they add "we can get through this, i dont know if you're the only one to be able to pilot this but im sure one of us wouldn't mind trying if you aren't feeling up for...well this" a hand showing bio-infused console "we just need to change our course"</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx looks to Ysadora bewildered, "Huh, who said I was a doctor? But I'm purdy sure they can't read brainwaves. Not without em magic stuff..." Lookin over back ta the console, he has no idea how it actually works, so instead he takes guesses. "Well, brains are just a bundled up nerves sendin commands ta other nerves, and if this car thing is like a regular body ya might be able ta control the whole thing with it? Ain't sure how ya connect ta it though... How does that ball brain interact with them nerves 'round... looks too big ta be synapses... or just quirky biology bein quirky?" Despite not understanding it whatsoever Pteryx finds himself all too curious, trying to crossreference what he knows with what he doesn't.
<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>Sounds like Junes knows what to do! With a curiosity he ponders on the veins of the console... which ones were veins and which ones were arteries, did it have a heart of sorts pumping it, would its rate be managed by a sinoatrial node? Where would it even be?</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Taking her hand away from her holster, Theia lets out a sigh and holds up her hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay, we can try it your way first. But if that doesn't work; I'm not gonna be stuck here waiting to die. Sorry, but I've got too much life to live for that. So whatever you've got planned, get a move on, and let me know if I can help with... whatever this thing is."</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora listens to Junes, then Pteryx, then Theia in turn. "I guess the next step is obvious enough." She steps forward, visibly braces herself for whatever's to come, and decisively and puts her two dominant hands on the brain ball.</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Linda looks pretty -- well, pretty dazed, but secondarily conflicted when Junes invites her to step up. Seems like she might have done so with a bit of a nudge -- but Ysadora steps up boldly and puts her hands on the ball. It feels a little slimy and has a firm, slightly yielding consistency. A few things happen at about the same time. For one, the whole train judders. It stays on the rails and keeps rolling forwards, but there is definitely a bowel-worrying moment. For another, Linda gasps and wobbles sideways against the wall before recovering. Gasps and noises of alarm can be heard from the previously silent passengers in the carriage behind you. Third, the loudspeakers crackle into life and announce: "Caution, my bees are about to erode." Fourth, Ysadora gets a weird sense of connection. This isn't a vehicle she could drive; this is a living creature. More than that, there's a mind in there, a very confused and tightly directed one, but something that brushes against her consciousness all the same.</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora gulps loudly. "Uh, y'all, this is a creature? It's sentient, probably. And I'm connected to it. And I think my bees are eroding. What should I do?"</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx looks to Ysadora confused and panicked!? "Wha, why would ya touch a brain! It sends info with electrochemical signals! Not being tapped like comms!?" Looking to the console the arteries, veins? Were pumping out blood in a faster rate, the beating of whatever heart this thing might have! "That looks like a lot of what adrenaline and cortisol usually do! Pain reaction!? Ysadora, you're touching a lot of nerves maybe!?" While he knew brains had no pain receptors, he didn't really understand the biology of it, it was a circle of all shapes too. Sure the nerves would fray but it wouldn't have caused an alert to go off with no pain to detect! Wait... if it's alive and on high alert... "Uh, what kind of immune response would a train have ta pain!? The only things in here are... the passengers..."</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) "Or er, the room walls look fleshy enough, could just swell 'round and crush us..." Pteryx adds.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes heard the strange announcement and was a bit flabbergasted hearing ysadora had a connection and once things got weird they shouted to theia "stay calm okay?" and then rushed to the console with their tails spreading out as well, hands kneading the console and other compartments while the tails smooth out the ceiling, floor and kneading at the other spots all around the room hoping this could put the train at ease "i hope this works"</div><div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Hearing the sudden shouts and sounds of alarm from the previously-silent commuters, Theia steps past the others and stands between the group and the crowds. She might not fully understand what Freudian nightmare was unfolding in the cabin, but *this* was something she could handle. "I'm not sure what you just did, but I think you made this lot angry... I'll try and buy you some time," she calls over her shoulder to Ysadora. "But uh. Try not to take too long, yeah? We're kinda cramped in here." And with that she plants her feet square and stares down the nearest suited commuter, all but daring him to try something.</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora keeps her hands on the brain and screws up her eyes in concentration. "Okay, Train Brain. What's going on here. Talk to me, buddy." While saying this out loud, she tries to project similar thoughts toward the sentience swimming around her mind: Communication. Understanding. Cooperation. "Can you maybe tell me uh...anything?"</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) How does one seduce a train? Junes gives it a valiant attempt, and does manage to avoid hurting it, but does not find the G-spot.</div>[[Category:RPLogs]][[Category:Eureka Renaissance Events]]

Category:Eureka Renaissance Events

2023-07-31T07:40:31Z

Narwen: Created page with "Logs of events run as part of the Eureka revival effort (from approx 2023), organised by Syntax et al. Add <nowiki>Category:Eureka Renaissance Events</nowiki> to an RPLog..."

Logs of events run as part of the Eureka revival effort (from approx 2023), organised by Syntax et al. Add <nowiki>[[Category:Eureka Renaissance Events]]</nowiki> to an RPLog page to add it to this list.

[[Category:RPLogs]]

Eureka Subway, Part 1 - RPLOG

2023-07-31T07:37:37Z

Narwen: Add links, add tags

[[Eureka_Subway,_Part_1_-_RPLOG|Part 1]], [[Eureka_Subway,_Part_2_-_RPLOG|Part 2]]

=Participants=
* [[User:Junes|Junes]]
* [[Narwen|Narwen]]
* [[User:Pteryx|Pteryx]]
* [[User:Theia|Theia]]
* [[User:Ysadora|Ysadora]]

=Date=
23/7/2023
=Log=
<div></div><div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx tries to walk behind the group. The mutant's brightly coloured shirt contrasted just about everything about this situation, socks and sandals, on his back legs, a pair of rather worn short jeans, he looked to be about as unbattle ready as possible should things go rough. Some small drones surround him, possibly to make up for his own lack of dexterity. Plastered on his face is a growing sense of dread, as he walks along the others going in the same direction. Looking for just about anything to break the ice, he says as loudly as possible, "Uh, every heard of them mutant that lost their left arm and leg, well they're all right now!"</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Brushing tunnel dust off one rolled-up sleeve of her black leather jacket, Theia hurries down the tunnel with her head bowed, clearly keen to spend as little time as possible in the dirty tunnel. In her haste the feline accidentally nudges the wall of the tunnel on more than one occasion, much to her clear annoyance. Reaching the room she was directed to before any others, she finishes picking bits of rock out of her pale hair and awaits the arrival of three familiar mutants she recognises, one hand resting on her hip just above her holster. "Hey guys! At least I'm not stuck down here all by myself... you here for Elena's notice too?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora picks her way carefully through the mines. The dust in the air has combined with the water vapors hanging around Ysadora to form a patina of grime that coats her clothing and clumps her hair into a matted mess. Every once in a while, she stops to shake the excess off like a dog. "Um... Elena Martin, Elena Martin... Does someone actually have an office down here?" Despite her grimy state, Ysadora's voice and manner are upbeat. "It's cozy enough, but it'd be even better with some wooden walls or something." Sputtering light fills the tunnel as Ysadora raises one hand holding a candle. Another hovers limblessly behind her, loosely grabbing the handle of her scythe.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes came running in nearly tripping but tails moving to readjust their weight as you see a chimeric skunk look back up with a wave "wow good to see you all! sorry i got caught up a bit" district their unusually open sweater and tights off "any prep we should take or plan?" patting their backpack</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Elena's Office in the Mines<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> It's dirty, it's dusty, it's noisy. The Eureka mines began life as Termite tunnels, and this office sits in a side branch of hard-packed earth. It has a mix of sturdy, industrial furniture that's been dragged down here -- filing cabinets, an ancient battleship-grey steel desk -- and a few unvarnished wooden chairs that look to have been put together on the spot. A fold-up camp bed in steel and canvas, heavily chewed up by nanites, is propped upright against a wall. There are no computers or electronics in sight; the most advanced piece of equipment is probably the stapler.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> The air here is cool but a little damp, and room smells of that, of paper, of rust, but mostly of its main occupant: a human female. The earth muffles the noise of the city above, but less so the constant irregular sound of pickaxes striking rock, less-frequent thumps from something heavier -- hammers? some mutant's iron-hard fists? -- and the constant chatter and cackling of the miners.</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) It was a small adventure just getting here. The entrance to the mines is easy to find -- just follow the sound of pickaxes -- but the inside is literally a warren: old Termite tunnels, dug out and then abandoned, now taken over by workers from the city. An exhausted group of miners, heading out after their shift with cash in their pockets, pointed you in the right direction to get to "the Boss's office". And here you are, shuffled into an appendix of the tunnels that barely fits even this many people plus the battered, industrial furniture.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> "Listen, thanks so much for coming. I'm Elena. I run the mine, day to day." She's standing with you, leaning against the desk and running a hand through short-cropped brown hair -- and it's actual hair, not fur. In fact, as far as you can tell, she's entirely human. Not so unusual out here in Eureka, but a strange sight for anyone coming from Fairhaven. She's maybe five-six and lean, boots and denim, wearing a hard-hat like all the other workers you've seen. There're bags under her eyes. "I wasn't sure anyone'd show. I can't pay you, can't offer any reward -- the mine belongs to the city, and the city doesn't give a shit as long as ore's coming out -- but if you can find Linda I'll buy you a drink or six." She breathes in and out, organising her thoughts.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> "Linda's from Third Shift. Doug here's the shift lead," she says, gesturing to the other new face, some kind of human-rodent mix, taller and a lot heavier, wearing orange coveralls. "The missing worker's named Linda McKee. She's a bit shorter than me, mostly human but got a bit of coyote in her. Red-brown hair, tanned. Tail. She would've been wearing coveralls -- grey, right, Doug? -- and boots plus a helmet and lamp. She's been gone a day and a half now. Everyone's supposed to take spare water with them, but if she didn't, or if she lost it, and she's stuck somewhere, she may not have a lot of time. We already searched all the active parts of the mine, plus the tunnels we've worked out. Spent a whole shift on that, and I can already hear the Council typing up angry notes about the drop in output. There's no cave-ins, no flooding, and she's not asleep in a storeroom somewhere. But," she continues, taking a breath, "there's the old tunnels, all the mess the Termites dug out and whatever that leads to. We don't go down there, because -- well, because we're not idiots, basically. I took a look at the entrance to the upper part last night, didn't see anything, but I'm not sending my guys in there and losing a whole crew. Needs someone who can actually handle themselves." She smiles wanly. "That's you, I hope."</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx stares with curiosity, human!? Pure human!? Though he tries to catch himself from the moment. The skunk beast tries to get up on two legs, reaching out for mayhaps a handshake... Showing off 4 arms before he crashes back to all fours... "Dag nabbit... Howdy huma... I mean Elena, thanks fer them physical description on the missin, any er, unusual behavior frum em as of late too?" Lookin 'round the place, this... did not look too safe as a working condition, but them workers seemed to know what they're doin.... "Oh right, howdy, names' Pteryx and if we find yer missin, also a human? We can fix em up in too shakes of a lambs tail! Or at least get 'em stable enough fer sendin ta a hospital..."</div><div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) The snow leopardess raises an eyebrow at that last part of Elena's explanation. "So, you won't go into those old tunnels because you're not idiots... but *we* are idiots for even considering it? How does that work, then?" Theia lets out a long sigh, before unfolding her arms, both her expression and her voice softening. "Listen. I'm sorry about your miner. We can go look for her. And as you were upfront about it, we can do it for no pay too... we just need to know what we're getting into. What's down in those tunnels that's gotten you so concerned?" After waiting for Elena's response, the feline nods thoughtfully. She turns to the rest of the group to see if they're happy, before continuing. "And while I get that you can't pay us... salvage rules apply here instead? If we find something of value down there, it's ours if we can carry it out and we get a cut if we can't? You're asking us to risk ourselves, after all!"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora waves with a free hand. "Ysadora here! I wear many hats, but I work with the Embassy sometimes so that's probably the closest official business I can claim this time. Hey Theia. Pteryx. Junes. We should be able to handle this, right? What's down there in the 'old tunnels' that's a match for a buncha veterans like us?" After slapping Pteryx heartily on the back, she glances at Elena briefly but doesn't actually wait for an answer. "Do you have any other information, or uh...something Linda might have worn?" Realizing how this sounds, Ysadora raises a couple hands with palms out. "Not like, anything sexual, but maybe one of the others can get a whiff of her scent to help track her down.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes nodded to ysadora before giving a quick hand raise to elena and doug "junes! and yeah i wouldn't mind going in after her but she has a point" looking to the snow leopardess and then surprised at pteryx "i thought you saw other humans around before? huh" brushing at their okami head and looking down at their currently different form, primarily skunk but waving into view are the familiar nine kitsune tails with a range of colors and utility "any natural dangers like structure and gas leaks? oh and" pulling a small compass out of their bag curiously to look "any directions or things she said before heading down?"</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) "I try to run a tight ship, but we're working with manual tools and the nanites chew everything up. It's as safe as we can make it, and we make it as safe as we can with what we got, but we're on hand-me-downs here," Elena says, starting to lean forward, then sinks back and waves a hand. "Sorry, sorry. Not your fault. The old tunnels're what the Termites dug out. They're not shored up, and-- well, I can't tell you exactly, but I'm pretty damn sure there're ferals down there. Big bugs, not sure what else. We're tough but we're not soldiers." The question about salvage seems to faze her. "The mine belongs to the city, if you pull ore out you gotta turn it in -- but I guess if you find other valuables, that's none of my business. Can't say I expect you to, though. Doug, you want to tell them about the shift?"<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> Doug reminds you a bit of a beaver, though he's something different, without that wide, flat tail, and he's only partly infected: one arm, his legs -- which are stumpy in proportion to the rest of him and end in blunt-clawed paws, no boots -- plus part of his face and one ear sticking out from the hard hat. Maybe his general body shape too, unless he's just naturally round. "She clocked on. I saw her from time to time working the face. Don't remember seeing her towards the end of the shift, but people work different parts, or take breaks, or punch out early. Sometimes they punch in and plain forget to punch out. It happens." He looks away for a moment and sighs through his nose, making a whistling noise. "Mostly happens to her. She's been distracted recently. So it took a while to realise she was gone, then a while to check she wasn't in any of the places she's supposed to be, then a while more to send runners to make sure she wasn't just in a bar, drunk off her ass. I was sure she'd just be in someone else's bed and show up the next day like nothing'd happened. Was all set to chew her out. But she never showed." He shakes his head. "She sometimes missed a shift, but I never knew her to miss a payday." Ysadora's question comes back to him. "Should be a change of clothes in her locker. Maybe more, couldn't say."</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx wings puff out on Ysadora's slap, "Eek, gotta couple frayed nerves 'round these parts... Red-brown hair, tanned, coyote tail, standard grey miner's uniform..." His head shivers along with his drones, a kind of headset with a large antenna on his left ear has its emblazoned Z glow a bright green. "Ugh, it ain't nano magic doohickey stuff but them brain tech still tingles... Drones should be set ta focus on folk matchin them description!" Trying to whisper to Junes, he mentions, "They still ain't too common..."
<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>As Elena's description of what may lie ahead of the group, Pteryx lets out a sudden loud laugh, with no joy in it, only nervousness... "B--bugs ey?" A shiver cralws through his whole system. Taking whatever he could get from the... rather haphazardly mutated beaver morph? the only thing he could really get out of was... "Distracted?" A histry of alchohol use was moot in the age of nanites, so there wasn't much he could think ado with such information. "Well sounds like itsa good think ya had a search earlier than later! More likely ta find folk that way!"</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Nodding along to Elena's words, Theia seems satisfied with the answers she received. Well, most of them. "Bugs... are not fun. But that can't be helped I guess, can it? Lets try not to waste too much time down there..." The feline turns around to Junes, in a somewhat different form to the last time they met. "Heya, Junes... how's your sense of smell in that form? Not sure if your, uh, 'changes' have made that better or worse. Might be worth a try?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora nods, then places a hand on her forehead to stop it from rolling off her shoulders. "We'll get started then, unless you've got more you think might be helpful. Which way's Linda's locker?"</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes shrugs "always can track in whatever form... usually anyways im used to being mixed up but yeah i can track just fine, hmm if we know what bugs are here hopefully we could defend against em better but for now those clothes should definitely help with finding her so to the lockers!" </div><div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) "Yeah, let me take you to her locker," Doug says, leathery hand on the door, then pauses as Elena steps towards the group.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> "Thanks again, I really appreciate this," she says, starting to reach out her hand for a shake, though with a slightly awkward glance to Pteryx as she does so. "Just let him know if there's anything you--"<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> All of a sudden, a rumbling starts -- you feel it as much as hear it -- and the place starts to shake. Dusty earth trickles down from the ceiling. It's not violent, but it's not stopping.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) In a panic, Pteryx opts to duck and cover! Throwing himself under a steel desk, his drones following him. "Uh, is that one of em quakes!?" </div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Instinctively dropping into a half-crouch the moment the earth started the shake, Theia raises an arm to shield her head from the shower of dust from above - and thankfully nothing more than just dust, for now. "What in the heck is that?!" she shouts Elena's way. "Is this your guys' doing?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora quickly slaps her hands to her body, one pair to her head, one pair holding her feet, and the others clustered around her torso. Trying gamely to keep herself together without falling over, she shouts over the noise: "Is this normal?!"</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes looked up with a tail shielding their eyes of dust "we better move on fast, that doesn't sound good so once this is open we should head down there fast before things get worse..."</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Elena's under the heavy desk, squeezed in next to Pteryx. Doug's standing in the doorway, more or less blocking it. You see them exchange a look at the rumbling continues -- but this is not The Big One, and nothing collapses or even falls. As it goes on, you realise there's a pattern to it -- it's not continuous but more like thumpety-thump, repeated again and again. The sound of pickaxes from the rest of the mine has stopped, replaced by surprised yells. After perhaps ten seconds the noise starts to die down, then fades to nothing.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> "Everyone all right?" Elena asks. More or less simultaneously, Doug has ducked out of the office and yells out into the mine: "Everyone all right?"<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> "That wasn't us," says Elena. "At least, I hope to God not. Never heard anything like it, and it sure as hell wasn't normal."</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) With nothing colapsing, Pteryx takes a curious peak out of the desk... Hearing them 'quake' has a pattern, "Huh, kinda sounds like a big machine? Ain't nothin natural from them kinds of sounds., or ain't nothin I can think of"</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Still visibly on edge, Theia stands back up straight and unclenches her fists. "I have no idea what that was either, but that can't be good... you think it's a coincidence that your miner vanishes mid-shift, and then a day or so later this happens?" She turns to Doug, or where he was standing anyway. "We should go see if the other miners are okay, once we're done here at least..."</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora frowns, her normally cheerful eyes now creased with worry. "I'm with Theia. If there wasn't a cave-in before, that could have changed now. We'd better hurry and check things out." She blinks, momentarily nonplussed. "You know, I'd say that sounded a lot like a train. A subway line or something. But that can't be right; Eureka doesn't have a subway or we'd have heard about it by now, right?" Ysadora swivels to Elena and Doug, looking to them for confirmation.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes nodded to ysadora "totally sounds like a train but who knows maybe its another piece of...well unearthed it seems history that was hidden away, i wonder how far it goes but anyways we definitely need to go down, get her out and then see if we can find that crazy train and get them to stop so you all can reinforce the place before it gets more unstable, got a key for the locker?"</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) "It'd be a pretty damned big coincidence," Elena says, pushing her way to the door. "I've gotta see to my guys, find out what the hell happened, make sure everyone's okay. Doug, you get these people what they need, okay?"<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> Doug looks at you, shrugs, and starts leading you to the locker room. "Hell of a day. Does sound a bit like a subway, don't it? But we don't have one here in Eureka, long as I been here."<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> You arrive in the locker room. Doug taps at Linda's with a blunt claw. It has a big 'DON'T MESS WITH MY STUFF' sign taped on it, and there's a padlock. "Don't got the key, though. Locker's personal. Could get some tools?"</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Looking somewhat confused as they all head into the locker room, Theia turns to Ysa and Junes in turn and asks "'Trains'? What's that? Is that something from the Old World? The same as a 'subway'?"</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes quickly went into their bag and pulled a small case out, opening and bringing a few careful tools out, one tool being stuck into the tip of a tail while two others in the other hands, left hand tilting a tool deeper and up slowly, right hand ready to tilt the tumblr and tail slowly going forward as their left hand does most of the legwork as the tail goes further and finally a click, their right hand turning as the lock opens!</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) As curious and worried as Pteryx would be on the status of them other folk 'round from them disturbances, he had an assigned job already, look fer them Linda folk. Seein them locker they had though, well he sure had no idea what ta do with it locked. Being just as confused as Theia, he'd also find himself asking aloud... "Ain't heard of them stuff either. Pre PDay artifacts I reckon?" Hearing a click, looks like Junes already solved them locker business.</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora searches for the words. "A train's a mode of transport from before P-Day, yeah. They're so useful, I wouldn't be surprised if somebody reinvented or repaired one, though. It's just a big engine that runs on tracks, fast and direct and can carry a lot of stuff, but more limited than a car. A subway's basically the same thing but underground." Ysadora leans forward as she speaks, craning for a look inside the newly-cracked locker. "...I wonder what kind of stuff she's got in here she doesn't want touched, eh?"</div><div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The padlock is a pretty cheap one, and the main thing that makes picking it tricky is just how much the nanites have chewed it up inside. But Junes manages to pop it open after a minute or two of work, and the contents of the locker are revealed. One set of casual clothes -- way more suitable to a club than a mine -- that are relatively clean, and another stuffed at the bottom. A bottle or two, half-full, looks like liquor. A battered purse holding keys, wallet, and other personal items. There are a few faded photos taped to the side, mostly showing people -- including mutants -- celebrating, and one with a naked foxboy raising his eyebrow to the camera.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) "Welp, sure hope them Linda don't get too angry at this... if they're still alive or conscious." Having a gander at the locker, he doesn't take too much interest in them stuff, 'cept fer them naked foxboy photo. With a lecherous grin, he wolfwhistles, "Guess them Linda's got good taste!"</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Nodding at Ysa's explanation, Theia finishes dusting herself off from the earlier 'quake'. "That makes sense - I think I've seen those metal tracks above ground in various places, always wondered what they were for..." The feline indicates at the more ruffled set of clothes at the bottom of the locker. "Junes, those look worn, they should have Linda's scent on them - these work for you? I don't have the nose for this sorta thing, I'm afraid."</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora pokes around the locker with one of her hands, raising up the club clothes for a critical eye. "Her fashion sense wasn't terrible, I suppose." Folding it up, she hands one of the pieces to Junes before grabbing another. "Awful color coordination, though." Although she speaks with confidence, Ysadora isn't exactly showing the peak of fashion in her simplistic black-and-white outfit either.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes swiped their face with a tail and put the tools away, seeing the clothes they grabbed the purse and took a whiff "yeah this should help, the clothes maybe too but this might have a photo in here and well, purse is used more I think so stronger smell?" putting it on their shoulder "id be more excited on the train but is anybody else missing or just linda?" looking up to sniff the air seeing if a trace of her is here "and should we have a plan before we go down there or with these quakes should we just head in and plan as we go"</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Junes grabs the purse and clothes. Purse first: there are some interesting smells there, but they're mostly drowned out by leather, and it's difficult to get a lock on the owner good enough for tracking. Still, there's something off, something chemical... there! A little plastic baggie, mostly empty, but with a few traces of dust or powder at the bottom. Being wiser than to sniff _that_, Junes turns her wolf-like to the worn clothes and gives them a good ol' snoof. Yep, they smell mostly like a female mutant, human and coyote blended together. Junes files that information away. A few other scents hang in there, but they're faded and weak in comparison, probably just people Linda hung out with.</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Just then, the rumbling starts up again, just the same as before: rhythmic thudding that shakes the mine gently. It's definitely coming from somewhere down below. The mine goes quiet again, then voices start up. It's bare seconds before Elena, now wearing a high-vis jacket, runs through the locker room. "This is too much. I've got to get this place evacuated," she says as the rumbles die down. "It may be connected to Linda going missing, but I've got fifty other guys to keep safe. Doug, can you..." she begins; he nods to her and answers: "On it." Elena turns back to you. "I can't ask you to risk it -- but I won't tell you not to. Either way, good luck." And with that she's moving on, yelling at people to head to the exit.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> Doug looks at you. "Can take you to the old tunnels, but then gotta get out m'self. Got kids need me."</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Lookin 'round shifttily, Pteryx has one of his drones get near the foxboy photo. Emiting a quick flash of light before going back to circling the gremlin sized skunk beast, currently just whistling to himself, trying ta look busy. With the rumblin and shakin back, and no steel desk ta hide under, Pteryx can only find his nerves fraying. "Uh, what should we do!?" He yelps in panic!</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) When the shaking started up again, Theia was simply shaking her head at Pteryx's drone's 'sneaky' photo-job, the slight grin playing at the corners of her mouth making it clear she felt more bemusement that anything else. As before she instinctively drops half a foot down as the quake hits, knees bent, eyes and ears alert for any sign of danger. It takes a few seconds for her to recognise the symptoms of the quake and acknowledge that she's not under attack, removing her hand from the gun at her belt and instead trying to shield herself from the dirt falling from the ceiling, for as long as it takes for the rumbling to cease.
The feline simply nods at Elena's retreating back as she leaves; she couldn't exactly argue with her there, getting the workers safe had to come first. She turns back to the rest of the group before asking, "Do you want to head down there? We might get trapped down there. All it would take is one tunnel to collapse and our way back to the surface would be cut off. I've got a backup plan", she notes, bringing out a small vial of semi-clear silvery liquid from a pouch at her belt, "but it would only really work for myself... if you want to leave with the miners, I wouldn't blame you."</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora stashes one of the smaller items of clothing from the locker just in case. Then, she turns to Theia. "Of course I want to go down there. What's the worst that's gonna happen? Buried alive? Too late for that!" The ghost smirks. "I guess I wouldn't begrudge anybody who wants to duck out, but we've all got our own ways of dealing with the unexpected, I'd reckon."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes smiled to ysadora "you sure do love your dirt naps, anyways im in too but how about you pteryx, staying or going but no hard feelings either way" looking to Elena with a nod "just point us to the way and ill get us the rest of the way by scent hopefully" they were glad ysadora held onto the clothes and took a baseball bat out just in case</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Never having been one to make big decisions, Pteryx goes along with the general group concensus. "Down it is!"</div><div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Doug leads you down through tunnels lit by rickety strings of bulbs and, very occasionally, some kind of glowing nanite sphere, paws slapping down as he picks his way between abandoned pickaxes and sacks of raw ore. The path winds this way and that, but mostly down, and the tunnels change from packed earth to chipped rock to oddly rounded, almost organic-looking shapes. Junes walks up front with him, sniffing at the air. At first it's a complete jumble of scents, all the miners mixed together, throwing off sweat and fear and lust. But as you get further in, Junes picks out a trace of the same scent from the locker, faint at first but coming clearer as there are fewer and fewer competing scents until that's the only recent one in the tunnel. Linda did come through here.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> "Gotta turn back now," Doug mutters, coming to a halt. After the yelling a few minutes back, it's strange to hear him speaking softly, not much louder than the occasional drops of water that splash down from the ceiling. Still, he hesitates. "You got everything you need?"</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Lookin 'round, them place was dreary... Pteryx dpuble checks all his drones... no actual quakes so far, just shakes, so none damaged... Still feelin them antenna on his ear and a first aid kid strapped to his side, seems like he's still got everything he'd need. S...so, Ysadora, you know these kindsa places right, real spooky down here..."</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) With a kindly pat on the shoulder, Theia lets Doug return to the surface. "We're all good, thank you - stay safe, and we'll see you topside." Her voice is confident, but she does unclip the cover on her holster just the same, just in case things don't go to plan further down the tunnel. As the mutant vanishes back up the tunnel, she turns back to the group and tries to defrost the tension slightly. "At least it's not as dusty down here, right?" With that, she heads further down the tunnel to hopefully find the source of the ground shakes.</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora pats Pteryx comfortingly on the shoulder. "Sure! I love being underground. It's just so cozy. Although...I don't know this place, as such." She keeps her voice low, mimicking Doug's whisper as she follows along just behind Theia. Her eyes shimmer with a dull blue in the darkness. "There could be any sort of thing down here. Have you heard the old saying, 'dug too deep and too greedily'? Mines always seem to end up finding stuff that was supposed to remain buried." After a moment, Ysadora seems to realize this might not exactly be comforting to Pteryx. "But look on the bright side! There's a subway or something down here, and that means people, which means civilization, and I'm sure it'll all be safe and fine."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes went into their bag and took a flashlight out, flipping it on and shining it forward and said to doug "stay safe, hopefully nobody else is down here but we'll find out" turning back and holding the bat in their left hand while looking at their tail briefly wondering before shaking it and looking forward with the light in the right while quietly speaking "yeah best to keep it lower if we go deeper, hmm and if we find a way to the train should we investigate there after getting kinda out?" sniffing for traces of her as they continue forward </div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The tunnel suddenly seems awfully quiet and dark after Doug heads back, but you keep going. It twists and turns repeatedly -- it's hard to imagine why people would make it this way, but all to easy to picture some giant worm or serpent eating its way through the earth. The flashlights pick out spots in the tunnel, and Ysadora's lonely candle sheds light in a tiny sphere, enough to light you up but not much beyond. For Ysadora and Theia that's enough to see the tunnel clearly, though for Junes and poor Pteryx there is a lot more dark than light. The path forks a couple of time, but with some careful sniffing, Junes is able to pick out Linda's scent and keep following it. The next section opens up into a larger cavern, scattered with stalagmites, and you can hear a trickle of water running through it somewhere.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) The skunk beast not really being one to lead, Pteryx just tries to nab one of Junes' tails to hold on, they seem to have some sense of direction with them scent they look ta be sniffin 'round! He has his drones float over and ahead, to try lighting some spots in case of... whatever could happen down here. All the light from the drones may draw some unwanted attention if any though.</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) "Now this was not dug out by termites..." Theia wonders, more to herself than anyone in particular, as she tries - and fails - to make out the far sides of the cavern with her keen eyes. Her pointed ears twitch and pivot off towards a point in the far darkness, and she becomes very still for a few moments, clearly focusing on something. "There's running water over... over there! A stream maybe? It's more than a trickle, at least." she exclaims, a pale-furred digit indicating a point deep in the cavern and beyond her eyesight. "How do we want to do this? I dunno about you guys, but I do *not* want to get lost in this cave..."</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora lifts her head to blow out the candle, instead relying on her darkvision to paint the cave out in monochrome. With the light snuffed, she nanomagically fades away until all that remains is a ghostly silhouette against the darkness of the cave. "I'm still with you," Ysadora whispers. "If there IS anything nasty down here, I'd rather get the drop on it." Sha pauses before answering Theia, "I've got a pretty good sense of direction, but that might not be so reliable in a windy place like this. Hey Junes, didn't I see you with a compass earlier?"</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes looked back and shone the flashlight over looking for the water as they try to listen for the source and brings the compass out once again, handing it out and waiting for a phantom to grasp it before shining a light and finally the water is seen but realizing something "hey theia you could see the water in this darkness...mind if i do something?" asking while still holding the compass out "and hmm should i leave something for us as a crumb trail actually?"</div><div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) As well as the sound of water, Theia's sensitive ears pick out the sound of regular -- and deep -- breathing. There's something in this room, and it's probably sleeping. Or, at least, it was... she hears a whuffled intake of breath and a rattling noise. Then, something scrapes against the ground. It's not moving yet, but whatever it is is no longer asleep.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> Drifting up above, like a-- well, like a ghost, Ysadora looks down, eerie eyes seeing through the darkness. There's definitely something there, something big and insect-like, with a plated hide, but too many legs, plus weird tentacles wobbling out in front of its face. It's maybe the size of a family car. There're some droppings and the occasional shed plate but you don't spot anything else, and in particular no trace of a coyote woman.</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) Junes can still scent Linda's trace, hanging faintly in the air.</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) As the group discusses next steps, Theia's large ears pivot towards something new. She throws out a hand palm-first to get everyone's attention, then holds her other finger to her lips to motion for silence. The feline is motionless for a few long moments, not even daring to breath. Then, as silently as she can manage, she gestures for herself, Junes and Pteryx to stay here and stay quiet, and then gestures for Ysadora to... jump? Fly? Hand gestures are not her strong point. To do *something* in a very specific direction she indicates to the ghost girl.</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora stops with a strangled gasp of air as she spots the creature in the darkness. She casts around to the group, then phases back into sight to raise a pair of hands and wiggle her fingers. Another pair of hands float up to her temples, where they extend a single finger and sway around. Pointing at the monster, she simultaneously cocks her head at Theia's motions. Hesitantly, she hops once in place. There's no sound, but the amount of distance beneath Ysadora's feet stays static, as though she's standing on an invisible ground just a few inches above where it is for everyone else. She shrugs.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Confused at Theia's hand gestures, Pteryx, most likely fruitlessly, signs what are you saying!? in ASL, though judging by the gestures the mutant made they may not have known it... He's confused enough to just keep quiet thoughm unknowingly following Theia's attempted message. Spooked by Ysadora popping seemingly out of nowhere... he should probably be use to that by now, but with how they were gesturing... Pteryx dims all the drone lights, and commands a single one of them to go as far towards the direction Ysadora was pointing, as opposite from them as possible. The small Z on their antennae glow dimly... as the drone suddenly flashes a light as bright as it can, mayhaps as a distraction, a lure?</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes thought about something and wished they had telepathy right about now but...! bringing a tail into view and getting a scrap of paper they carefully wrote ( group up to plan and i can try something with theia? ) handing the paper to ysadora and getting another few bits of paper letting anybody use their tails to write if needed and pointed the flashlight up so the light would be against the ceiling without a risk of shining it onto whatever was around </div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The creature reacts slowly -- maybe just waking up, maybe having trouble making out the sounds now that they've suddenly gone quiet. Theia, and anyone else straining to hear, can make out shuffling noises above the splash of water as it walks in a slow circle. Then-- a blaze of light from one drone! The creature makes a weird, trumpeting hiss and scuttles towards it.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> Junes still has Linda's trail.</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The creature quails for a moment as the drone emits a burst of sound and colour, but that drone is just too interesting to it. It's headed right for it, clearly about to pounce on it. It doesn't seem to be paying attention to the rest of the group right now.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) With whatever that thing is being distracted so far, Pteryx looks to anyone else for ideas!? Trying to keep to a whisper, "Uh, Junes? Ya know anythin 'bout trappin critters, or er, Theia, ya got a gun right? Ysadora's got them spooky powers?"</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Seeing the creature follow the drone - and thus straight to them! - Theia grabs Junes and Pteryx by the arm and drags them perpendicular to the direction the creature is travelling in, keeping low and out of sight. Once the creature has passed, she motions for them both to bring their heads together and in a quiet whisper responds to Pteryx's question. "I've got my gun... I'll fight this thing if I have to. Or. We could just keep going, and hope it doesn't follow us to the far side. What do you think?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora pauses for just a moment at Pteryx's question. "What makes you think we're gonna fight this thing? It's like, a Rust Monster or something! Nasty business, eat your gear as soon as look at you. No, I say we keep going. If it follows us, we'll be just as well off finding a place to hide as we would be risking a fight here." She ducks down next to Theia, keeping a low profile and turning her head all the way around to catch glimpses of the monster.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes nodded "yeah it is dangerous but we do need a plan later when we get linda out of here, speaking of" smelling and looking for the next spot to go mentioned "and theia mind if i borrow something? you won't lose anything but figured to ask" pointing where the scent seems closer to and heading there</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The creature jumps at the drone, and suddenly the bright light winks out, leaving the room almost totally dark, with just Junes's flashlight and the very dim glow of a few drones. Pteryx's sensors report that the drone has gone entirely. There are some contented sounds coming from back that way. Meanwhile, the group hustles across the cavern, keeping low, and follows the scent trail out into another tunnel.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes shone their light forward as you hear the occasional sniff leading further away from the creature, keeping a pace that was faster but not straining "since we need to go back i have an idea to deal with that thing, ysa you can go over while theia is around to get" looking to pteryx "your webs and a drone for more distraction or maybe me and then when it trips or gets stuck maybe i can shock it or hmm...i can add some features to the web or use my own wire and some things to raise our odds.. some water and...oh! ysadora or theia mind if i grab something too, it won't be long but curious about your eyes since your eyes since you can both see so well"</div><div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) "Welp, guess even child proof has its limit, dag nabbit that one had that foxboy photo.... photo." Walking behind Junes following them scent, Pteryx listens in, "Would need an anchor point ta stick on to trip anything, or just make the stuff as sticky as possible and shove it on the ground."</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Theia raises an eyebrow at Junes' request... before realising the skunk probably couldn't see the gesture. "Sure, just be quick about it, yeah? We don't know how long that thing will be gone. Lets keep moving if we can. We can always set traps on the way back - if we have to come this way, that is?" The feline gestures towards the direction they should be heading in, towards a particularly large and odd-looking stalagmite. "I want more distance between us and that thing - I'll meet you by that wonky one over there. Then we can keep on moving."</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora furrows her brow as she scurries along after Junes. "What is it you want to borrow? Are you talking about like, sharing senses or something? If so, I don't mind." She flinches at a particularly loud crunch from behind them. "I think that thing's sated for now, though. Like I said, Rust Monster, they eat metal, not people. At least, that's what it seems like. It's definitely not natural, I can tell you that. A mutant or...something else."</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The bone-rattling thumpety-thump, thumpety-thump comes again. It's louder this time, shaking the whole tunnel, and you can hear a high-pitched whistling squeal along with it -- and it's definitely coming from up ahead, further down this tunnel. As you round the next corner, your eyes catch a glimmer of yellowish light, just a reflection from the water that glistens down the wall, but after moving through near-total darkness it's impossible to miss.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Seeing some sort of light ahead, it was a beacon compared to all the darkness. Still a ways away, Pteryx would just follow the pace of the rest of the group, not really lookin to end up vulnerable if he rushed forward alone.</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Drawing her gun from the holster at her hip, Theia goes still in mid-stride as the shaking starts up again, visibly tensing as a new squealing sound follows the rumbles. She turns to Junes and Pteryx and gestures towards where she sees the glimmer of light, not sure if their eyes can pick up that glow. In a low whisper, she warns "There's another creature down the tunnel. Still some way away. Lets keep it quiet, and hope it wanders off..."
Theia sticks close to Junes as they all head down the tunnel; periodically checking to see if the skunk was still following Linda's scent, and growing increasingly wary as they grew closer to the strange light.</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora visibly relaxes as a smile forms on her face. "Now that's a familiar sight! It's gotta be the lights of a subway tunnel. Who knew there was something like this down here? That is...unless I'm totally off the mark, but I don't think I am." Activating her vanishing nanomagic once again, Ysadora fades from sight but continues to speak at an elevated volume over the rumbling. "That begs the question of who's riding it, or operating it at least, and why? What are they moving? People? Monsters? I can't wait to see." She edges forward eagerly, but not so far as to steal the lead from Junes.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes continues along and saw the light but answered "sure looks like it, and as for the thing i need well" looking back at ysadora's eyes with a certain look to it "i should be able to get...a...hmm that's weird" looking to theia's eyes though you could see junes looking intently and soon enough something in them seemed to change "oh! there we are, okay so pteryx wanna hold the light or should the drones be enough?" in junes eyes you noticed a sort of reflective property to those brown eyes, like a cat would have "but yeah im guessing she found this spot too huh... I wonder but should we try and see if there's another way out from this subway so we can avoid a collapse or...oh right!" slowly you saw one of their tails get wetter as it lightly pokes the ground with what looks like ink "i nearly forgot about our breadcrumb trail but the way back should be fine enough" continuing to walk as their tail drags paint behind in a trail only occasionally pausing feeling some things that are surprising or unusual</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The off-white light gets brighter as you approach, and you hear sounds of... people, voices, movement. Whatever is up ahead sounds bustling. Scents grow stronger, too: Linda's trail moving that way, but drifting down from there a tangle of other scents: humans, machinery, oil, stale air. Then the rattling, squealing noise comes again -- Ysadora and Junes definitely recognise it as a subway train -- and noise and movement picks up. The warbling, distorted voice of a tannoy comes through, something about doors about to close?<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> You move forwards. The slick, rock-walled tunnel opens up to -- yes, a tunnel, concrete-walled and artificial, with a subway train actually rolling past in front of you, deafeningly loud. The lights of the platform, reflecting off white tiles, are just ten or twenty feet away, and a few feet up. Seems like a crowd of people has just exited the area.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx looks to Junes and just nabs the flashlight from em, though that won't be needed soon enough. As the group closed in on the area Pteryx would see something completely unfamiliar, yet somehow innately disturbing to him, "Are those... cars" His last word drips with venomous animosity. </div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Keeping an eye on the light as it grew ever closer, Theia follows the group out into the new part of the tunnel, suppressingly a flinch as the shaking and squealing started up once more. "Surely this couldn't have been dug out, not something this smooth..." she wonders, mostly to herself. This time however the noises were getting closer, and fast! Eyes flicker from point to point, trying to spot the source of this, when suddenly she sees it - the light racing towards her, impossibly fast. How can any creature run that fast! She drops to one knee and aims her handgun at the approaching... thing, closing one eye to preserve her vision against the ever-brighter light, and just takes time to spot the metal-grey face of their attacker behind the source of the light...
Her gun knocked to one side, Theia throws herself back against the wall of tunnel, dragging Junes to safety with her as the creature bears down on them both... and ignores them all, hurtling past them and down the tunnel. It was as if they didn't exist to the creature; no acknowledgement of their existence at all. The feline stares at the body of the snake/worm as it passes, stunned at the myriad bright lights projected from its side... from inside it? Was this creature hollow? As it passed and disappeared off into the distance, she sat there on the floor stunned for several long moments. "What... what was that? And how did you know we weren't in danger?"</div><div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora sees Theia lining up the shot and acts fast. A distortion runs through the air as one nearly-invisible hand whips out, palm open, more focused on speed than finesse. Ysadora manages to slap the gun to the side just in time to flatten herself against the wall as the train barrels by. The sheer force of the passing giant blows her hair into an even wilder mess than usual. "Yikes! That was too close. That's a subway train, Theia. Just a vehicle, and it runs on these tracks, see?" Stepping out from the tunnel, Ysadora hops on (or a few inches above) the tracks in the train's wake. "As long as you aren't standing on these, it won't harm you. And there are people riding it, so be careful." <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>With that, she starts making her way down the tunnel toward the platform. "It'll be safer once we get out from here and up where people are supposed to stand. Who -are- those people, anyway?" Ysadora cranes her head to get a look at the figures vanishing from the station above. In doing so, she nearly slips, three hands whipping out to catch herself on the wall. "Oh! And watch out for that." A fourth hand points at the big rail in the center of the tracks. "It's electrified, all the time. Never, never touch it."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes watches the train with a sense of nostalgia and is quite literally pulled out of it, by theia "woa-" on the ground and a tail hanging over them "yeah sorry, these are safe and that goes for you too pteryx their fine in fact i could help with that electricity issue if we need to but i wouldn't be able to keep up my painting ability" wiping their eyes as they adjust a bit to the feeling "and its been so long since ive used this, feels weird on my eyes" pointing up to the platform "alright people lets get to safety where we wont be trampled or electrified" one tail still on the ground as they stood before a few other tails were held out front offering to hold as they made their way and attempted to climb up "but yeah who's running this place?"</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The station is brightly lit, and as one by one you make your way up onto the platform itself -- grey concrete floor, with a white line running along the very lip -- a fresh wave of people is starting to come down from the stairs. They look both familiar and very strange: they are all apparently human, and dressed in clean clothes that, in most cases, look new or at least whole. Very few show signs of nanite degradation, with a few wearing jeans that are just chewed away at the knee. Several are in suits, worn only by the most senior of Zephyr staff. These people (obviously, Theia and Pteryx might conclude, very important) seem quite busy and distracted, occasionally exchanging words but mostly just queueing up on the platform and staring off into space.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Having spent just about too much time near these 'trains' overly long cars, Pteryx opens up his wings and lauches himself off the tracks, right on to the station in a quick burst. Lookin 'round, sure are a lot of folks round here... a lot of, humans? It was quiet an odd sight to Pteryx, just gawking at the view, before he notices some rather well dressed folk... Like a button flipping, Pteryx's tries to fix himself up, his posture stiffens, and he tries to look as presentable as possible.</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Taking a couple of skipped steps as a run-up, Theia launches herself upwards towards the platform rim. She doesn't quite make it all the way, but comfortably grabs hold on the edge with her hands and brings herself up and onto her feet rather elegantly. Dusting herself off, she finally takes a proper look at the other inhabitants of the platform - a whole motley collection of people, all human, all apparently in normal clothing, unable to spot a single weapon. She can't help but stare, having to tear her gaze away to ensure her companions all make it up without problem.</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora walks up to the platform's edge, but finds her small size a hindrance in this case. She opts to climb the ladder, which presents its own challenges, but after getting a foot and a hand stuck twice, connecting nanotubules wrapped around the rungs, she manages to make it up. Surveying the apparent humans filling the place, she quickly brushes the hair out of her eyes and tucks her extra hands in the sleeves of her robe. With the hem of the same covering up her lack of legs, she almost passes for a pale, short, disheveled human. Almost. <p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p>With a genial smile, Ysadora approaches the nearest traveler and greets them. "Excuse me! I think I got off at the wrong stop. Uh, where is this train headed, again?"</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes looked and gave a heavy sigh "ysa...i think you know whats happening here cause well its happened before, hmm everyone see the guy in that suit?" waiting for everybody to look before flicking counter nanomagic on for a few seconds to see the results and then stopping it</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The people here seem completely unphased by your presence -- in fact, they don't seem to be paying attention to you at all, barely noticing the leopard woman, the pair of skunks, or the ghost, other than to step a little out of the way if you get in their personal space. When Ysadora approaches one -- a man in a suit, wearing a beige trenchcoat on top -- he takes a moment to react and then gestures up at a LED panel, which specifies that the next train is for EUREKA in 1 minute, then the next is for EUREKA in 4 minutes. "Eureka," he mutters, then immediately looks down at his wrist and off in the direction of the other tunnel, where the hint of lights is starting to appear. Then, Junes fires off her nanomagic at him and he collapses, screaming in agony.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> Every single person in the station turns to look, shocked, some gasping or clutching themselves. When Junes shuts the nanomagic off a few seconds later, he does not get up.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx's ears twitch at the sound of agony, and he finds himself drawn to it like a magnet. "Junes... what did ya do?" Pteryx aims for the wrist to check for a pulse and... nothing? To the neck... nothing either, not even breath. Lookin over the feller, they already seem ta have rushed into a... meltin stage? Were them nanites eatin the body up already? And them clothes too? "Well, I ain't wastin ma breath, that feller's deadzo donezo! Though..." Pteryx looks to the body in apt curiosity, his claws seem ta itch, he doesn't even notice that he let his own intrusive thoughts out in the open, "I ain't seen somethin like that 'fore, if I had sum tools or a scalpel I could see them whole system degrade insdie and out..."</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Seeing Junes focus for a moment the way she'd seen them do many times before when demonstrating nanomagic, Theia flinches as the crowd start suffering in various ways. Rounding on the skunk, Theia demands "What did you do?! Junes, what's going on?" Her hand instinctively goes to the gun at her belt, but she releases it a few moments later. Something bad just happened, but it's not something she could fight or trick... so she was out of ideas.</div><div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora flinches back as the man collapses in front of her. She twists from side to side, checking to ensure the other passengers aren't reacting with hostility, then blinks a few times. "Dead and...melting? He said this train was going to Eureka, too, but this is...Eureka Station. Something really weird is happening, and I don't think it's the same thing we ran into with the bunker, Junes."</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes saw this and their eyes widened before rushing over, horrified if this is some nanite reliant...melting thing? or genuinely murder "this wasn't supposed to happened! i made him exist outside of the bubble!" bringing their hands together and above the goo to let out the effect hoping it was enough to bring it back "i thought it was the-yeah! either way this effect stops nanites from doing their thing so people normally are fine but illusions...dont exist so why, why goo?" you could see and hear the immediate panic in junes rising </div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) As the train pulls into the station, a few things happen at once. The crowd, which was panicked and on the verge of a stampede, seems to calm down and focus on the train, watching it attentively and paying less, and less, then no attention to the fallen commuter. Pteryx is checking on him, and Junes rushes over to attempt to revive him. As Junes arrives, the body is already starting to liquify, and though they follow the right procedure, putting their all into using the nanomagic, it doesn't seem to take -- it's almost like there was no life there to save.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> One set of humans gets off, the others board, and the body dissolves into goo. The pre-recorded announcement chimes, informing everyone that the doors are about to close.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx snickers in amusement, "Huh, that was one of the easier cleanups!" Just about to guffaw, he... noticed Junes distress, "Uh, hey, Junes, it's alright! Folk die all the time! Just how things work." With a deep sigh, he... tries, to comfort Junes somewhat, "I was like ya first death too! But ya can't save everyone, and... if ya crash like that mid crisis, ya end up getting less chances ta help folk." Pteryx does find it odd still how quickly the body disposed of itself, but dead was dead, and Junes was someone he'd consider a friend, so as far as he knew his priorities were in the right order.</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Theia looks on in horror as the man's body collapses into... goo? "I don't... I don't understand... why did he... why don't they...", the feline's voice trailing off into wordless gibberish as the inconsistent sights overwhelm her mind. "Was that guy even real? Junes, if all you did was turn off his nanites... things could have gone wrong, sure, but not *this* wrong surely? I don't understand what's going on, but I don't think this is your fault. Something bigger and stranger is happening."</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora looks between the fallen man, Pteryx, Junes, Theia, and the train. Then, acting on impulse, she dives for the car in an attempt to squeeze in before the doors close. "Come on! We won't learn anything standing around with these melty commuters! Let's find out just where this dang train goes!"</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes hands were in the goo as it dissolved as they replied not looking anywhere but down "it wasn't my-" breathing slowly but listening to the others replying to pteryx first "yeah...i know and" glancing to theia "i knew it wasn't real but... yeah that wasn't expected, or the people..." heading to the car but briefly looking where the pile was and at their hand with a sigh heading into the car looking a bit distant </div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The humans who've just got off the train all hustle up the stairs in a clatter, and almost before the train has left the station they are all hurrying away and out of sight. The goo that was a person thins out, evaporating. You rush onto the train, squeezing in past the doors just before they close. On board, everyone is sitting or standing staring into nothing again, very pointedly not making eye contact. The whole experience is very similar to the platform...<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> ... except that Theia spots something that doesn't fit the pattern. A couple cars away, there's someone sprawled out along one set of benches, not looking as neat.</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Seeing Ysa make a dash for the opening in the side of the metal snake - subway train, apparently - Theia hesistates, almost for too long as she's torn between fear of this unknown creature/machine and of being left on the platform with the liquid remains of the man. She pounces forward and into the car *just* as the doors start to close.
Theia paces around in a little circle, eyes wide as she takes in the unfamiliar sights and sounds of the inside of the subway car, all bright lights, metallic surfaces and mechanical squeals. Still on edge, she takes in every inch of the car around her, every passenger, every surface, looking for any sign of a threat - in complete contrast to the sedate Old World commuters around her. With one exception. "The people here are like on the platform... there's something not quite right about them. As if they're not really people. Aside from one - don't look, don't stare, don't draw attention to it." By now her voice was down to a low whisper; barely loud enough to be heard over the sounds of the car. "But two segments down, on the right, lying on the third bench along, you see them? Not like the rest of them. I don't understand what's happening, but that can't be a coincidence, right? Shall we go look?"</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx is hating just about every moment of having to be in this 'train'. Wallking on all fours... or rather sixes. This was... way larger than a car! And far more terrifying, Pteryx would have webbed himself to a seat if he didn't hear Theia speaking first. "Them fellers 'round are purdy calm ain't they, well that's just borin company! Who'd ya spot Theia?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora tries to blend in with the crowd, aided perhaps by her height but stymied by her clothing and general spookiness. "That is weird. Are they asleep, or...? I guess we'll need to get closer to find out. I'm interested in where this train goes, too, although..." She pulls a face as she begins edging her way through the crowd toward the collapsed figure. "If it pulls right back in to Eureka station I'm going to be a little cross."</div><div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes heard the commotion and thought about some things for a bit but sighed again knowing pteryx was right, best to move on and be able to help more people sooner...and not linger on the past so looking back they carefully glanced around before noticing who they were referring to "i can take a look at nanites to see if anything is unusual instead of well, my last idea" they spoke normally but seemed a bit down still "i could disguise or maybe just ask too but we could also watch and see what happens from here and follow if needed too" taking a whiff to see if they can smell who they were after but asked "oh and ysa, still got her shirt?"</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) The train rattles along, bright in the dark tunnel. Ysadora approaches the figure. They're lying down, either asleep or faking it, taking up a whole bench with their feet up on the rough cushion. The people around are politely and pointedly not mentioning it. As you approach, you can see that, unlike everyone else, the woman is dirty, wearing tattered grey clothes, and looks physically ground down by hard years. She's got some kind of cloth rag draped over part of her head, but you can see that her reddish hair is streaked through with grey.<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> As you approach, one eye cracks open, and she makes a very obvious snoring noise, which turns into a choking sound as she catches sight of four very non-human passengers. "Hsst! This is my train! Get your own," she hisses, trying simultaneously to be quiet and to make herself heard. None of the other passengers react, except to look at their wrists or raise their eyes further.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) Pteryx rushes to wherever Ysadora wandered too, more curious than anything, "Well ya look homely!" He bluntly says to the figure. Looking to the hair though, he haphazardly pulls the rag off the woman's head, "Reddish hair! Is yer name er, Linda? Miner, grey uniform, alcohol issues, had a picture of a nude foxboy in her locker!" His drones swarm the woman to scan her as Pteryx keeps running his mouth.</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora recoils as the woman suddenly opens her eyes, bumping against a passenger behind her and absentmindedly apologizing. "Uh, what Pteryx said. Are you Linda?" As she speaks, she reaches into a pocket of her robe and hands the clothing she'd stashed to Junes for confirmation. "And why is this your train? Do you have something to do with all...this?" Gesturing broadly around her, Ysadora attempts to take in the passengers, the inexplicable subway, and the platform beyond.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes smelled the air once more to confirm and yep! definitely very strong here so they confirmed plainly "yeah that's linda" more to her they mentioned "the other miners are worried about you and well, dont worry I won't bother telling them about the coke I found but any info on what's going on here?" slowly taking a seat and offering the purse back to her "i know the people aren't quite right here but this train seems pretty real but... I'd rather not risk trying anything again right now" elbows resting on their legs and slightly hunched "oh and the mine is having some quakes from this I think so should we look into stopping it temporarily?"</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) While the others crowd around the woman and barrage her with questions, Theia stands off to the side slightly, putting herself between the group and some of the commuters... just in case things went sideways. Her feline eyes dart between the crowd of people and back over to the woman on the bench, taking in her hair, and her now-exposed furry ear. She seems to match the description they were given, at least. </div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) "It's my train, it's my train, it's my train, it's--" The woman stops abruptly and shakes her head, dropping from a rising shriek to a low hiss again. "Can't let them see us. They might make me leave the train." The prospect seems to terrify her. "Can't leave. They die when they leave. I'll die if I leave." She looks up at you again, as though actually seeing you for the first time. "Oh no. You're trapped too. You can't leave."<p style="height:0.5em;margin:0"></p> The pre-recorded announcer chimes in. "Now approaching: Eureka station." The other passengers start to stretch their legs, adjust their clothes, peer out of the window, and generally make about-to-get-off noises.</div> <div title="Pteryx" style="margin-top:2em">(Pteryx) As much as Pteryx hated this 'train' ride and was itchin ta get off, Linda sure was a hoot! Starting to bob to the mad ravings, Pteryx thinks of raves. In a clubby sing song voice he mimics it "It's ma train it's ma train, Linda in the house! Ooh a shriek too! Yer fun! Guess that there foxboy was fun too!" Snickering and guffawing to himself, he barely hears the warnings given. Looking the party animal over, he does note something weird, whenever she didn't talk... she didn't seem to breath, "Huh, do ya ever just take a deep breath o' air Linda? Guess yer an experienced deepthroater or somethin?"</div> <div title="Theia" style="margin-top:2em">(Theia) Crouching down next to the bench to bring herself down to Linda's level, Theia places a grey-furred paw on her shoulder reassuringly. "It's okay, we're here with you now. They aren't like us. They might 'die' when they leave... but I don't think they're actually real. How do you know you'll die? Have you tried it?" Sensing that might not have been the right thing to suggest to the clearly distraught woman, she quickly adds "What if I tried leaving? Would that be okay?"</div> <div title="Ysadora" style="margin-top:2em">(Ysadora) Ysadora steps back to allow Theia to handle Linda. Rather than dashing for the door as before, she sidles over and prepares herself. When it opens, she'll wave a hand outside, just to make sure they aren't, in fact, trapped.</div> <div title="Junes" style="margin-top:2em">(Junes) Junes was confused by linda and asked "think its a curse, deity or maybe well...i dont think these people are real, an illusion maybe but they do seem odd but i could do something if it helps you see this place isn't going to kill us when we leave but first do you need anything?"</div> <div title="Narwen" style="margin-top:2em">(Narwen) TO BE CONTINUED!</div>[[Category:RPLogs]][[Category:Eureka Renaissance Events]]

2016-06-03T19:30:38Z

Narwen: Fix image.

[[File:Teaselbone-narwen.png|200px]]

Artwork (C) [http://www.furaffinity.net/user/teaselbone/ Teaselbone], commissioned by Narwen's player.

Narwen/Portrait

2016-06-03T19:29:26Z

Narwen: Import image to the wiki.

[[File:Teaselbone-narwen.jpg|200px]]

Artwork (C) [http://www.furaffinity.net/user/teaselbone/ Teaselbone], commissioned by Narwen's player.