Difference between revisions of "Eureka Subway, Part 3 - RPLOG"
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| + | [[Eureka_Subway,_Part_1_-_RPLOG|Part 1]], [[Eureka_Subway,_Part_2_-_RPLOG|Part 2]], [[Eureka_Subway,_Part_3_-_RPLOG|Part 3]] | ||
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=Participants= | =Participants= | ||
* [[User:Junes|Junes]] | * [[User:Junes|Junes]] | ||
| − | * [[ | + | * [[Narwen|Narwen]] |
* [[User:Pteryx|Pteryx]] | * [[User:Pteryx|Pteryx]] | ||
* [[User:Theia|Theia]] | * [[User:Theia|Theia]] | ||
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7/8/2023 | 7/8/2023 | ||
=Log= | =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></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]] |
Latest revision as of 14:39, 8 August 2023
Participants
Date
7/8/2023
Log
(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.
(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. 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. 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.
(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. 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. 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. (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.) The train begins to brake gently. Are you coming into the station already?
(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
(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.
(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!
(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?"
(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.
(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.
(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
(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!
(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.
(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..."
(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"
(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.
(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."
(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
(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...
(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?"
(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.
(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. 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. 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."
(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...
(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...
(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..."
(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."
(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. 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?"
(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
(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!
(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?"
(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.
(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. 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. 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?"
(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.
(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
(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.
(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?"
(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!"
(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." 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.
(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...
(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?"
(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.
(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.
(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...
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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?"
(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."
(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. 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. 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.
