Who: Everyone
When: July 1 and onward. See this post for info.
Where: Kauto + Chioni + Ingress Complex
Warnings: Potential violence. Please label warn-worthy content in your subject headers.

There's a burst of light in the sky when the Ingress breaks, a final flare followed by a shuddering that only those in the facility can feel. A flurry of panicked activity in the complex follows, ushering new arrivals to where they need to go in a hurry, with little time to give them the needed information, much less answer questions. The lights remain on, but dimmer now, life functions still operating but little else. On Kauto and Chioni below, the sky fades into an early twilight, followed by night, and day does not come again.

nerds save the world

Before the end of the day, all TABs receive an emergency broadcast notification outlining the situation. The speaker, a lead Savriite Ingress technician, does not invite panic but nor does he mince words. The Ingress is broken; their best efforts have failed to restore it. The time has come to turn to anyone who can help: scientists, engineers, those who have worked with advanced technology on any world. Formal qualifications don't matter when it could be the end of everything.

"Help us. Before it is too late."

Those who come will have the run of the complex and full access to the Ingress, as well as whatever tools are available and as much coffee as they can drink. People are encouraged to work in groups and share ideas, and a small number of young and nervous technical assistants will be on hand.

the land below

As Thisavrou is denied light and warmth, the weather becomes brisk and descends into bitter cold. Chioni is evacuated due to the effects on the already-harsh weather cycles there, although a skeleton crew of scientists remain behind. On Kauto, the arboreal Region Three and pastoral Region Two suffer the most from the temperatures and the snow that eventually begins to fall. Many crops are frozen over, and refugee citizens are driven from their homes to the Regions One and Five, where stored energy will keep dwellings warm. Save for those who choose to leave the underwater facilities, Region Four remains largely unchanged, but there are unverified accounts of strange aquatic animal behavior near the surface.

Overcrowding, limited supplies and a pervasive fear presents the opportunity for both heroism and foul deeds. Many come together to share resources, supplies and fellowship in what could be the end of worlds, while others take what they can from the unwilling or exploit the desperate. Sentient evacuees are followed by fauna from Region Three and unsettled lands beyond, in search of warmth or food or merely confused by the change in habitat. Some are unthreatening herbivores, while tanglesnakes and clownbees are more troublesome. Others are poisonous hunters, while still others are small, but dangerous when faced as a pack.

Just when all seems lost, light returns to the sky. The Ingress begins to function once more.

the coming days

As the temperatures rise, many demand answers, but most turn to the rebuilding of their lives first. Damage has been done that isn't so easily fixed, and even in the least-affected areas, remnants of the crisis show in the lack of fresh food, in the increased signs of criminal activity. Those who can help others through their own efforts of by organizing assistance are needed, but those with impure intentions are more likely to go unnoticed.

Eavesdropping on the streets may reveal a desire for vengeance. "Those intruders from last week. They're responsible for this, aren't they? What's being done?" But don't listen too closely, or a suspicious eye may be turned on you. "Aren't you one of the refugees from the Midway Hub? You should return to where you came from! All the trouble began when your people showed up!"

Life goes on. But life does not go on unchanged.

[quick ooc note: the Region 4 search & retrieval mission/RNG fight will be posted in a separate log.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Yeah. Really... really certain."

Unless someone hijacked his DNA when he was a kid. Which is way, way too weird to think about. He shakes his head.

"Family doesn't have to be blood, though. If you really want to push it, sure, we're like siblings."

"Siblings." Family doesn't have to be blood. Once, perhaps they may have agreed. But now - ha. They know better, now. They know precisely what family is, and what it does, and what it's capable of.

They know precisely what family means.

"Not fatherly in any respect?"

He makes a face. Resignedly watching the scene at the house's roof unfold. That's going to be a mess to deal with when he gets back. Maybe he'll take the long way.

"No." Firmly. "Not unless someone pulled a Back From The Future."

He's way, way too young to be this team's actual parent.

"I've found that age doesn't necessarily contribute to such things. It's all in the demeanor." Coupled with a broad sweep, the opening supination of one palm.

As if Shiro's demeanor needs further explanation.

"Demeanor."

It really shouldn't be possible to cram that much skepticism into one word, but wow, he tries. He's just doing what he has to, really. Without much thought to it.

"You know the hair's not... natural, right?"

Yes, he is aware that isn't what they mean, but hey. A little deliberate obtuseness doesn't hurt, right?

"Could've fooled me." Are they joking? It might be hard to tell with the smile and all. Or maybe he'll simply be struck with the notion that they're messing with him, just because they can.

Haven't you heard? Because they can, they have to.

"Were you not attempting to model yourself after a skunk?" says Chara, altogether too innocently to be genuine.

"Fools a lot of people."

Deadpan all around. Seems like it's a constant presence here. Then again that's sort of Shiro's sense of humor all around.

He does blow out a breath, which just serves to fluff up the little puff of hair in question.

"No, actually, I was trying to match my lion."

Not... even close. But oh well.

He's a little like a tiny dog trying to be intimidating in that way. Perhaps it's because he's made it so plain that he refuses to hurt them in any fashion. So they'll continue to press and pry until he reaches the point where he will.

It's bound to happen sooner or later.

"You failed."

"If it ever shows up here, I'll have to introduce you."

It's not a hollow promise, either. He means every word. Even if he has no idea how the ancient robot would react to them. If it would react at all.

He grins at Chara for a moment, before inclining his head in a sort of "see you".

They tip their head in disdainful farewell. His baseless optimism can be so terribly grating at times, but what else can they do but prove him wrong, consistently and concisely?

They will.

Inevitably, they will.

It's only ever a matter of time.

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nerds save the world

the land below

the coming days

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