( december event log )

[hownkai]

Who: Everyone
When: December 17th and on
Where: Throughout the Moira
What: The reasons for power failure become a little clearer...
Warnings: Possible character death. Please label anything you do that needs a warning.

E V E N T

transmission theory "A thousand fibers connect us, and our actions run as causes, comimg back to us as effects." As of now, it's common knowledge to the crew that Tipota is dead. The manner of her death, however, is still being determined, and the other captains have sent another reminder through the MIDs to continue traveling in groups and not to wander around. The power issue has yet to be resolved, though it seems nothing is apparently wrong with the engines or the wings, but slowly, the chill begins to recede into something a little more tolerable—still cold but not freezing. The malfunctions that manifest aboard the Moira start to resemble a more systematic pattern, lights flickering in certain sections of the ship before shutting down in intervals of 30 to 60 seconds and coming to life again. It moves on through several areas, though it doesn't affect places with larger groups of people. A day or two after the power begins to stabilize itself, everything comes to a standstill. There's a moment that seems as if time slows and stops. Things are eerily quiet... Anyone in the hallways will hear the lock of one of the I.L.R. release, security measures suspended to preserve life support functions. What had been a peaceful moment roars into chaos. ☄ Ploiatos It's been here as long as anyone can remember. It lurks in the shadows, a human-shaped figure dressed in the tatters of a Moira uniform. In the dark, it feels the most comfortable, and its movements are impossible to pinpoint without the light. From a distance, it might appear to be someone you know, another crew member who's become lost in the corridors, but up close — well, no one actually knows what it looks like. At close proximity, it sinks itself into you, and the cold that has plagued the ship seems warm in comparison as the dark rises. Perhaps there had been something to the warning the captains had given before; maybe you should R U N. • Together: There is always safety in numbers. Ploiatos is severely confused by the presence of more than one body, and though it's attracted to the particular emissions of the crew, it prefers the choice of one to two or more. Trying to hunt or capture it is impossible; it's gone as quickly as you can blink. • Alone: There is no hope. You don't realize that it's there until you're waking up, the marks of its touch spreading across part of your body. These are permanent, a beacon to Ploiatos that it's had you once and only needs to get you once more to end it. Once will not kill you, but a second time will. Any attempt at contact via MID isn't likely as they momentarily short out within proximity to the creature. ☄ Bait & Lure For those brave enough to try, a plan has been implemented by several of the crew to attempt luring Ploiatos back into its room in the I.L.R. Life support systems are drastically depleted now, oxygen levels low and the lights barely working, but it's up to the crew and those who SIGNED UP to help protect their friends and fellow crew members.

Comments

ota

[heliakal]

Alone (closed to Ivan)

[ It isn't that Clark didn't take the warnings seriously - he's very aware of how dangerous the creature is, and that's all the more reason to find it before any more of the crew are attacked.

He diverts to pick up any fallen crew members and bring them back to medbay, but generally he spends his time looking for trouble. The lights and the slowly failing life support systems don't impede him, but the creature proves harder to find than he would have expected.

It finds him first, alone in a darkened hallway. It's faster than a blink, but so is Clark, when he wants to be. He turns, unafraid even as it reaches for him. If it was locked up once, it can be locked up again.

Nothing has ever really been able to harm him before, and he doesn't expect it to start with this. Before he can say a word however, the creature reaches for him, and cold overtakes him at once.

The only sign that anything has happened is a distress signal from his MID. ]

Medbay (open)

[ It's extremely unsettling to wake up in a hospital bed, tired and cold. The latter is an almost entirely novel feeling, but Clark pushes himself to sit up, the blankets pooling around his waist. He immediately regrets it, flinching in obvious pain; his whole body is just one tired ache. It's not exactly scary just - new, and strange. Maybe he should have been more careful. Nothing on Earth can hurt him, but the universe is a lot bigger than Earth.

Quietly: ] Huh, so that's what it feels like...

[ His shirt and uniform jacket are laying at he foot of his bed - the medical staff probably removed them so they could get a look at the marks spreading up from his bicep to the side of his neck. Clark lifts his arm to try getting a better look at them, but they don't seem dangerous. He scratches lightly at one of the dark lines. It doesn't hurt more than anything else. The marks just feel invasive somehow, after a life of nothing leaving so much as a scar. He doesn't like this.

He reaches for his shirt to pull it back on. He's moving a little slower than usual, but he's clearly planning on leaving immediately now that he's awake. ]

medbay

[forwardmomentum]

[ hurts, doesn't it? is the remark miles stops himself from making; he could continue the childish snipefest that had ended their last conversation, but while he'd felt satisfied with getting the last word in, sort of, that feeling had soured on him after a few days, and he'd had an uncomfortable abundance of time to meditate on it during the three days he'd spent in the morgue with loki. miles doesn't feel bad about playing admiral naismith close to the chest, but he...really didn't have to turn clark away like that.

the opportunity to talk to clark just hadn't come up since his release from the morgue -- or maybe he just hadn't made one. he's spent the last week and change since then in varying states of misery and alarm, trying to turn over all the things he's seen and heard in the last three weeks. he swears the cold must be making his brain freeze, too, because he feels awfully slow.

the involuntary stay in the morgue hadn't been very good for miles, and while he's had some time to recoup, he still looks a little too pale and thin, although at least now he's bundled in a coat instead of just wrapped in blankets -- one that actually fits. the medbay's a little warmer than other parts of the ship now, at least, now that the cold is beginning to subside. miles shifts on his perch -- the chair next to clark's bed has been turned around so that the back is facing clark, miles' legs straddling either side with his arms propped on the low back of the chair. he tilts his head at clark with a smile as thin and tired-looking as he is, but it is, at least, an attempt. ]

I wouldn't try getting up just yet, if I were you.

[heliakal]

[ He hasn't seen Miles since they fought in his office. A part of it has been the ship's failing systems keeping him busy, it's true, but by the time he'd gone looking, Miles was being hauled out of the morgue. That didn't exactly put them in the best position to talk. Clark could hardly fault him for being where he wasn't supposed to - he and Snake had gotten chewed out by a captain for their own misadventure - but he and Miles seemed to have a talent for getting into arguments, and they hardly needed the added incentive.

Miles looks a little worse than the last time Clark saw him - he looks like he needs to be here more than Clark does, honestly. He wonders how long Miles has been seated beside his bed like that, but he doesn't even know how long he's been out.

Clark pulls his shirt back on, stalling. ]

If you were me, you'd already be up. [ He says, glancing over at Miles. ] What are you doing here?

[ Not accusatory, just curious. ]

[forwardmomentum]

Ah, but I've had much more practice.

[ that bleak little grin sharpens, his eyes glinting, but it isn't all flippancy. there's a real edge of concern to his gaze as he watches clark, eyebrows raising as he watches clark determinedly start to dress himself, tracking those black marks on his arm until they disappear under the sleeve. miles doesn't know how long he's been out either, but obviously, not enough. he shifts on the chair, propping his chin up on his arms. ]

I heard it from Ivan. [ he clears his throat. ] I figured I ought to come by.

[ to make amends, is the unspoken finish to that sentence, but miles figures clark will hear it anyway. miles can be proud at times, but he isn't above admitting when he's wrong -- and what had happened in his office really left a bad taste in his mouth. he's been such a miserable prick all month, no wonder clark had lost his patience. miles purses his lips as he watches clark. ]

Seriously, you ought to slow down. It's gonna hit you like a freighter as soon as you stand up.

[heliakal]

[ That gets a wry little smile out of Clark. ] Fair enough.

[ He and Ivan hadn't been on the best of terms before this either - he'll have to talk to him again soon. It had been a frustrating time for everyone, but that doesn't excuse the fact that he'd gone too far with Miles. What he'd done had been -- petty. He should have handled things better. That Miles had come back - let alone to sit by his bed or apologize (sort of) - wasn't something he took for granted. ]

I appreciate it. [ He smiles, a little subdued, but entirely sincere. ] It's good to see a friendly face. I mean, the last time I woke up in a medbay, someone was planning to dissect me...

[ The words are light and distracted, but more than he really means to say, half focused on trying to get his buttons done up. (A far more frustrating exercise than could possibly be necessary.) The memory of helplessness and the lingering fatigue are a little too sharp a reminder of what happened on the Black Zero, and the sooner he leaves the medbay behind, the better.

He can practically feel Miles fretting at him. It's kind of him, and he's probably right, but Clark isn't planning to take much of his advice. Not because he thinks Miles is wrong - but because it doesn't really matter. As long as he can stand up, he's got to get back to work. He smiles at Miles again. ] You know, if you want to keep staring like that, you'll have to take me to dinner at least once.

[ He inclines his head. ] How are you feeling anyway?

[forwardmomentum]

[ dissect him? miles is starting to get a real sense of just what brand of loneliness clark suffers from. he's not really sure he deserves that smile, but he's relieved that he hasn't fallen out of the friend category as of that last spat. miles will allow that he was being kind of a prick. he smiles too, briefly, but his eyes fall on clark's hands, fumbling with the buttons, and he wonders if clark's hands are stiff as miles' are when he wakes up sometimes.

miles lets out a strangled laugh at that passing remark, swallowing it back in an attempt to make it sound a little less choked than it was. sorry, clark, miles is just a little too barrayaran not to choke on that one, and he's been having a weird time lately. ]

Ha -- like shit, thanks. [ it's an honest answer. he gives clark a wan smile. he hesitates just a beat, and shrugs. ] Osteo-inflammatory attacks. A result of my, ah, condition. I get them every so often. I don't think the cold is helping.

[ it feels a little bit like over sharing, but it's a peace offering, kind of. something to make up the deficit of honesty. he's still watching clark attempt to dress himself, still looking quite disapproving of this course of action. ]

[heliakal]

[ It's normally all too easy to break something if he's not careful, but it's especially so when the numbness from the cold makes it difficult to tell if he's getting close to that. He's tempted to just give up on it, but it's not like he can walk around with his shirt half done-up, and even with Miles staring at him, his stubbornness will win out over embarrassment any day.

He smirks at Miles' choked laugh before he can help himself. He's never heard a sound like that come out of Miles. He doesn't seem angry or derisive just - uncomfortable. Clark isn't really sure why; he hadn't really meant it as anything, and Miles seems to know that.

Miles isn't really one to share much about himself, as Clark is getting to know very well. He doesn't expect more than the first comment. ]

Anything I can do? That hug offer is always on the table. [ The first bit is genuine, the last bit just teasing, though not untrue.

He pulls his jacket on, a thankfully much less laborious process that helps a bit with the cold that doesn't seem to fade. He hesitates.

Getting back out there and helping people is important to him, but so is sorting everything out with Miles. And frankly, there's a line between disregarding his duty and disregarding the safety of others because he's too stubborn to admit that there's something he might not be able to do.

Clark shuffles enough to sit cross-legged and pulls the blanket around his shoulders, too. He gives Miles a resigned look in the hope that he'll finally stop looking at him like a disapproving aunt. ] I'm guessing that trip to the morgue didn't help either. I'm sure you've heard this at least two times already but - what were you thinking, Miles?

[tearmeanewone]

[Elizabeth is sitting up in her bed with her back to Clark, two doctors prodding at the lines arcing from her shoulder blade across her back. She's hunched over, holding a sheet to her front to maintain some amount of modesty while the doctors examine her. One of them taps a perfectly circular scar-- like a puncture wound-- over her spine and mutters something to the other doctor.]

That's old, please don't touch it. [The tension in her shoulders makes it obvious how she feels about this whole situation, but obviously she has to be looked at to make sure everything's alright after... whatever just happened.]

[She hears movement on the other bed and she turns her head to look. Clark. Of course. Right when she looks her best. Elizabeth looks forward again, humiliated, and the medical staff seems to get the message. They move away after draping her medical gown over her shoulders.]

[heliakal]

[ Clark turns at the sound of a familiar voice, but Elizabeth is already turning away. He takes in the state of Elizabeth's back for a half-second before the doctors drape a gown over her and move away.

She doesn't look like she wants anyone near her right now, and it's about the only reason that Clark stays where he is for the moment. ]

Elizabeth, are you alright? What happened?

[tearmeanewone]

Clark-- [Elizabeth's voice shakes, but there's plenty of volume for her to be heard. Her hands are busy tying her medical gown in front and she's taking a few deep breaths to calm herself. Once she's done she looks back over her shoulder and smiles faintly.]

Don't know, woke up on the floor with Mr. Hart trying to get me conscious again. What about you? Taking a nap?

[heliakal]

Something like that.

[ He grabs his jacket and zips it closed; it's a lot easier than trying to fuss all of the buttons on his shirt back into place at the moment.

He shifts his legs over the side and eases off the bed, holding onto the bed frame to keep upright past the rush of vertigo. It doesn't make any sense that he still feels this drained. ]

Those marks on your shoulder - the black ones - I think they're from the creature that's been wandering the ship. I woke up with the same ones. [ He pauses. ] Not that I meant to ah. Look. I just glanced over when I heard your voice.

[tearmeanewone]

Right, yes-- [Elizabeth says hurriedly, closing the neck of the gown with her hand. Reflex.] It's a med bay, we're all like this, right? [In various states of undress is what she means, but all she can think about is the fact that now her back is going to receive a lot more traffic than she's comfortable with.]

So it's a black mark? [She'd heard something about the shape being 'like vines', but it was the only detail Elizabeth had heard before she'd had to focus on holding herself steady with two doctors behind her.]

[heliakal]

Yeah, of course. [ He clears his throat. ] I think they're gonna leave us alone for now, at least...

I guess it's a scar, but it looks almost like a tattoo. Not like that other mark you had... [ Another hesitation. ] Do you mind if I ask what happened?

[imaginary_wife]

If you try to sneak out before your final evaluation I'm going to lodge a formal complaint, especially if you intend to go alone. Don't get up.

[Meh is about sick of people doing this "sneak out of medbay" thing and her rough voice carries the tone of an aunt that knows you've been stealing money out of her purse every time she drops by to visit. Clark might be an alien with the powers of a titan but that won't stop her from using her most restrictive tone.]

Stay.

[She comes over with a scanner to get another look at his vitals.]

[heliakal]

[ Clark doesn't even get past opening his mouth to argue before she talks right over him. He doesn't think he's been scolded any time in the last fifteen years or so. It's not that he's being contrary for the sake of it - this isn't necessary. He doesn't get hurt, usually.

Even when he does, it doesn't tend to last like this.

While Clark might be a little headstrong, he's not above listening to someone who might know better than him. ]

Yes ma'am. [ He pulls his jacket the rest of the way on, but he doesn't move otherwise. His shoulders sag just a little. The uneasiness he feels is as obvious as the fatigue and the cold. He feels almost like he did right after taking down the World Engine - drained of something vital. Sunlight, maybe. ]

What's wrong with me?

[imaginary_wife]

[Meh Yewll is easily frustrated when people don't rest- it's a chronic issue with heroic types she's discovered. Or at least wait for a clean bill of health.]

Whatever that thing is has been draining people, a little like a race that I know. But it's leaving scars, and it only takes so much at a time.

But don't let yourself get attacked twice. I don't think you can take anymore. Don't leave alone.

[As she's speaking him, she's giving him another scan. Still significant damage, and worse- she doesn't know if she can get much of a cell sample from him.]

[heliakal]

What race is that? [ He's never heard of anything like it. Vampires come close, but even if they exist, they usually go for blood.

He's not planning to let it touch him again but... ]

I've got to go after it, Meh. You saw the broadcasts - this thing is killing people for sport.

[ Clark isn't quite as invulnerable as he thinks. Most of his superhuman power is fueled by the solar radiation stored in his body - at the moment, it's largely depleted, and he'll heal far more slowly until he recharges. ]

[imaginary_wife]

And going after it alone is stupid. It's already proven it's better than you once and it will do it again. But it's not better than two or more people of any strength. So don't. Leave. Alone.

[She gets done with her scan. Well, he seems mostly alright anyway.]

It's likely killing for food, too. What I'm used to is the Gulanee. But the Gulanee are stronger than this.

Don't worry, I'm sure that someone's going to be by soon.

[heliakal]

[ Clark purses his lips, but he doesn't argue or try to get out of bed. Meh is quite the force of nature all her own - and she's right.

He draws a knee up to his chest and drapes an arm over it. Really, he's staying put. ] You deal with the Gulanee a lot?

[ He lifts his glasses enough to rub at his eyes with the heel of his palm. He just got up but it feels like he wants to fall asleep again any minute. ] Can I help with anything around here while I'm waiting?

slams into this with dunkin donuts instead of starbucks

[whatdidisay]

( ivan likes to think he's a sensible sort of individual who doesn't go looking for trouble so much as he walks away from it at a leisurely pace that doesn't invite suspicion. so he doesn't pay attention to the distressed signal at first -- someone else can handle it.

and then no one does. and then he looks at it, and groans audibly. clark's not too far, right outside the door even -- ivan slips on his holster under his uniform jacket and shoves a stunner in it before grabbing the nerve disrupter and doing the same to the holster on his hip. like hell he's going back out there unarmed after his experience with miles.

he makes it to clark in short order, finding him passed out on the ground in a way ivan didn't really think clark could be, somehow. it's the cape thing. why the hell does the other man wear a cape when he's not wearing glasses. is he dead? god, ivan hopes not. )

Clark-- ( he starts, nudging the other man's shoulder while attempting to keep a damn lookout all around him -- he's drug clark off to the side, ivan's back to the wall to make himself feel better. it's the little things. ) C'mon, don't be dead--

how dare you come in here without my grande half-sweet peppermint no foam green tea latte

[heliakal]

[ It takes a few tries, but Clark starts to stir. He feels like he's dragging through mud; his head is foggy and everything aches. He bites off a groan when he tries to move, cold leaching into his shoulder.

This isn't possible. This doesn't happen to him.

But more importantly -- ]

...Ivan? What are you... [ Clark takes a breath, and tries to fumble for enough leverage to sit up on his own. ] Where did it go? You can't be out here.

i don't know what half of those things mean omfg

[whatdidisay]

( oh thank god. ivan breathes a sigh of relief, his shoulders slumping slightly when clark starts talking. they should be safe for a bit. )

Wherever it goes when it's done. Don't really want to figure out where that is, if it's all the same to you. ( but he can be out here and he's going to be out here, so there. ) It doesn't attack if there's two people -- which is something I guess you've ignored. Do you know you look like you got run over by a groundcar?

( he's so helpful. )

(nottalking)

[heliakal]

[ Clark glances down the hallway - well, he might be glaring - like he definitely wants to go right now and figure out where that is. He's seriously considering it, but he's not entirely sure it's possible right now.

Ivan guesses exactly what happened, more or less. Clark rubs at his temples, trying to ease off a headache.

Dryly: ] Thanks.

[ He pauses a moment, then looks up at Ivan, some of the irritation going out of him with the disorientation. ] Really. Thanks for coming to look for me.

I just need a minute, you should go back inside.

look!! coffee???? what's that???

[whatdidisay]

Nice try, Clark.

( you think he's miles cousin for nothing? he knows when people are about to go and do something stupid, and something like leaving clark alone? definitely something stupid. and not the sort of stupid you recover from. )

You're clearly not an exception to whatever rules this thing operates by, and you heard the captain. Second hit kills.

( and sometimes they just don't come back right. he's not willing to let that happen to the other man. )

only mY LIFE BLOOD

[heliakal]

So I won't let it touch me a second time.

[ Clark reaches for the wall to pull himself up - his fingers leave dents in the metal, but he keeps a steadying hand on it even when he's standing. He looks pale and exhausted in a way that he never does. ]

I'll be fine. I'm not the kind of person you have to worry about. I survived Caducus, didn't I? [ This isn't about survivor's guilt at all, nope. ] How many more people are going to die if I don't stop this?