(no subject)

[savmods]

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.]

Comments

[lavelly]

Do you understand what I did?

[He surprises himself by shouting. He didn't mean to, but he's just so frustrated, and as much as he cares about Sideswipe he can't handle the neediness right now. There's a buzzing in his skull and it's only increasing the longer he stays here having this conversation.]

This isn't something I can just pretend didn't happen. I need to do something. And maybe that means leaving until I figure out what that is, I don't know, but don't you get that this is more important?

[redshitlord]

[Something just snaps. Maybe if Lavellan had used different words, phrased it another way, it wouldn't have broken down like it has. He wouldn't feel like screaming.]

Fine! Fine!

Get out of here! Run off again and not tell me anything, because I'm a dumb kid, right? I'm some stupid kid who doesn't understand things, or you gotta protect me or some scrap like that!

[They were almost the same words he'd heard the last time he saw Riptide. The reason the other Autobots had never told him anything upfront. The same tone people like Strongarm had always used.]

[That I know better than you, that stupid kid tone.]

If I don't know, it's because none of you will tell me anything! Then you act like it's all my fault!

And then you leave!

... just like ... just -- fine! It's just fine!

[It's not fine. He's just so sick of this. Of this stupid place.]

But don't expect that I'm gonna be waiting around for you to get back!

[lavelly]

[Lavellan flinches at every word like they're physical blows. The silence rings between them once Sideswipe's done. He's nearly curling in on himself, like he's trying to disappear without actually having to leave.

He doesn't want to hurt him. He doesn't want to hurt anyone. What should he do? What should he do? What is the right thing to say here? He feels like he'll never be able to trust his own judgment again.]

Sideswipe, it's not... it's not your fault. It's my fault. All of this is my fault. I'm just--trying to make up for it, somehow, but I don't know how to do that yet. I just need time.

[He inhales.]

Okay?

[redshitlord]

[He steps back from him. Shoulders hunching up. Arms folding across his chest. It looks for all the world like he's been hit, too. Another backward step. Until he's standing in the road again.]

[Maybe he'll go home. Call Riptide's line or listen to old messages. At least one thing that won't lie to him, or talk to him like he's a child -- a recording can't do that.]

Yeah. Sure.

[He folds. Looking away from Lavellan as he transforms.]

Whatever.

[And drives away.]