August Event Log: Part I

[savmods]

Who: Everyone
When: August 9 and onward
Where: An unexpected destination
What: The newcomers go on a trip and end up far from where they expected
Warnings: Potential violence. Please label your content!

NOTE: PLEASE READ THIS OOC POST FIRST.

When the time comes for the travelers to go on the off-world trip that will help restore Thisavrou, they are not alone. Others who have settled on the planets longer and come to call them home are also prepared to travel; through the Ingress and do their part. Yet when the newcomers step through, whether they stepped through the Ingress seconds or hours apart, they will find that they have arrived at the same time, and only newcomers are in sight.

What awaits them is not a land of plenty. The land is barren, and dark storms in the sky resemble those held at bay by the Ingress complex—but much, much closer. Those who traveled on the Moira may recognize the landscape; though they have come through at a different point from the crash, they are on the Midway Hub. And there is no portal back. They are trapped.

hitting the road

Though some have been here before, the Midway Hub is not as they remember it. The storms fill the sky, leaving it dark and ominous even when they are not sweeping across the landscape—but they have clearly done so in recent times, and often. While never a lush land, large patches of ground an acre or more wide looking nothing more than utterly dead; the thistle that naturally grows is brittle, black and unable to be consumed even with the usual preparations to make it edible, and here and there animal corpses are found twisted into unnatural poses, but seemingly uninjured. These places are particularly concentrated near the broken Ingresses litter the landscape. While Midway Hub as a whole may seem naturally arid, these dead spots leave no hope that anything can possibly live there again.

The travelers have two options: stay where they are, or move on. While it might seem that they've been tricked into coming here and been left abandoned, those with the technological ability to do so may detect a sign of hope: a familiar energy source, far in the distance. Although none of the Ingresses they pass will ever work again, the faint energy shows that one still-functioning Ingress lies far in the distance, days away.

Although technological scanning or impressive memory of the landscape indicates that they are not separated from their destination by one of the gates that divide the land, they are also far from the shelter of the facility at the center of the Hub. Any attempt to travel in a direction other than that of the energy signal will result in a strange disorientation after several hours, bringing individuals back to their original path as though they've gone in circles. Meanwhile, though travelers will feel the need to slake their hunger and thirst through any natural water sources they discover, wildlife they can hunt for food and any supplies they have on them, if they don't find sustenance, they'll find that they will never pass out or reach the point of starvation. Instead, they'll be left alive and awake but feeling utterly hollow.

storm front

At regular intervals, the energy storms above descend onto the land, bringing not rain but violent clashes of negative energy and thunder so loud that nothing can be heard above it. The passing of the storms leaves some strange effects. The ground is warped and rotted by their touch, even solid stone degrading to a spongy surface. The air is tepid and oddly charged. Prolonged contact with air or ground will not supply energy, however — it drains it from organic and synthetic life alike.

Those who remember their last trip to the Hub, or simply explore in the right direction, may come across the cave complexes with their glowing surfaces and streams. The light is dimmer now, a sickly green, but drinking from the streams will still restore the energy lost, for a time. This time, however, the lethargy that inevitably follows is much more severe, and the drinkers are left with a raw, empty feeling leeching in from the wasteland around.

Those who are exposed to the storms, either by finding themselves in very close proximity or even closely observing them for too long as they approach, may lose their sight, or hearing, even much of the ability to feel touch — whatever sense they used in observation. What lingers in its place is a numbness. A hunger. And as time passes, the time between storms decreases; what seemed like hours between the storms becomes scarcely one, and their intensity grows.

wild life

Sentient beings are not the only ones affected by the storms; these creatures, attracted to sound and able to track by scent, and these panthers, which once looked normal but have been twisted by the storms into more monstrous forms, are numerous enough that travelers must be constantly alert for their presence. Though natural predators, the threat the creatures represent is not itself natural. They are also more aggressive. Some strange instinct drives them, not a need for food. While the panthers themselves can be caught and their meat cooked, it has little taste, offering nutrition but not satisfaction.

old familiar places

Although it's difficult to track the passage of time without day-night cycles, after what seems like more than a week of the travelers' unexpected trip, the storms abruptly come rushing in at the group of travelers, as if they're herding the group to move faster toward their destination and the Ingress energy that awaits them. The true nature of that destination becomes clear when debris appears on the horizon; the energy comes from the wreckage of the Moira, the interstellar ship that crashed here months ago.

Despite the trauma of impact, large sections of the ship remain surprisingly intact, though few of them are properly vertically oriented. If travelers are able to make their way inside the damaged sections of the ship, they'll find familiar territory, if they are one of those who traveled on the Moira, as well as shelter—something that's increasingly necessary as the storms seem to center over the ship, leaving little hope for survival outside. Useful items may be scavenged from the ship if they are willing to explore, but no personal items of any kind remain.

Strangely, the deeper travelers go into the crashed ship, the less familiar their surroundings will seem, regardless of their orientation. The inward-leading paths into the ship become generic metal, and as with the travel on the surface of the planet, they may find themselves back where they started. And no matter how far they go or how hard they try, they will find themselves unable to make it to the Ingress chamber itself...for now.

Comments

76 | ota

[mylawn]

i. hit the road

[76 would be lying if he said he didn’t expect this on some level. Maybe not this, exactly, but he and Ana have been prepared with bug-out bags since they arrived on Thisavrou, waiting for the other shoe to drop and preparing for the worst. This is that other shoe, and for once he’s honestly not quite sure where to go from here.

All there is to be done, however, is press onward, and if 76 knows how to do anything, it’s handle himself in a situation like this. He takes it upon himself to walk the periphery of the caravan, toting that giant gun and generally keeping an eye out for anything that might impede the journey. The state of the Midway Hub is mostly how he remembers it, except somehow more terrible, and he’s most easily found doing the following: 

>> Carrying heavy things. Really heavy things. Maybe for you? He might not even ask you if you’re having trouble before he lifts it, because there’s not any time to waste and you’re slowing us down, come on. This guy is weirdly strong? 
>> Patrolling with a gun that’s basically half the size of his own body. See: lifting heavy things.
>> Taking watch shifts at stupid hours when any normal person should be asleep.
>> Running off to fight monsters, probably. Saving you from one?]

ii. camping interlude

[There’s no telling how long they’re going to be stuck here—or if there’s even a way out, so eventually he ends up camped out when the group needs to rest. He alternates between standing watch with his bigass gun, then busying himself with inventory and preparations. He only has so many supplies, and he’s acutely aware that there’s only so much he can do to make it last. Still, he’s not about to turn away anyone that might need something, if he can spare it. You just have to approach DadFort, first.

> Approach DadFort y/n?]

iii. old familiar places

[This is, of course, a sight 76 thought he’d never see again. Despite his mixed feelings about the ship itself, it’s likely their best shot to get off the Midway Hub, and with the increased presence of the storms (something that 76 is not at all keen to expose himself to), it seems they have little choice but to take refuge in the wreckage of the ship.

Some parts are easier to navigate than others, and of course 76 is taking it upon himself to explore as much as he can, in the event there are still supplies—or, even better, the functioning Ingress.]

You shouldn’t go in there by yourself.

[Doesn’t matter who you are, really—apparently this guy knows better than you. The buddy system is always advisable.]

wildcard

[I’ll do whatever the heck you want. Hit me up on plurk at whitticus]

i (am so glad you asked for some flattering fieldtrip and this is it)

[brokeassgoing]

[76 doesn't ask for much; not when everything's gone to shit, not when they're kind of doomed, and trying.

What he doesn't ask for especially is Badou stumbling up to take a wizz at the asscrack of dawn, right in the middle of the soldier's patrol. Blinking blearily at the other man, all is calm for about two seconds]

ARE YOU SHITTING MEEEEEEE! YOU AIN'T THE PHANTOM OF THE PISSPRA!

[mylawn]

[Yeah, 76 definitely didn't ask for this, but to his credit, he doesn't seem terribly phased. Badou is clearly half-asleep, so he'll take a few well-placed steps backward and wait for the kid to realize what he's doing and who is standing right next to him.

Which he does, of course. 76 is prepared for it, but he still winces at the volume. It's too early for this.]

Calm down.

[76 is Extremely Military. He's used to close quarters and communal everything. This is not the end of the world.]

[brokeassgoing]

DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO! ESPECIALLY WHILE I'M PISSING.

[this is the worst thing in the world, possibly worse than the twisted mutant panthers eating eachothers butts

he has the decency to stop screaming...mostly]

Why're you all the way out here!?

[mylawn]

[He’s just gonna. Let Badou do his thing. Wait it out. Turn slightly so that he’s not staring at the pee-scene. Hopefully that will help Badou stop yelling, if he takes some of the scrutiny away. Maybe. He hopes.

When he does stop yelling, 76 turns back to him, hefting his gun as if to emphasize what he’s doing.]

Patrolling.

[brokeassgoing]

[if it makes any of us feel better, it's all pretty much dried up or crawled back inside him since 76 having laid eyes on It

he clears his throat]

You're sure doing a bang up job, aintcha? Caught me with my pants down.

[mylawn]

It wasn’t intentional.

[Clearly. 76 would never willingly subject himself to this.]

You awake yet?

iii

[deal_me_in]

*Sigh* I've suggested that already, but I know he won't listen.

[The Ghost's angles seem to sag a bit with that sigh before perking up again as it twitches back and forth, mimicking a headshake.

Pausing at the opening he'd looked to be about to leap down, Cayde turns his head, glancing over his shoulder in the Soldier's direction.]

That Numbers? Well, wouldn't be my first ship spelunking. This rig what I think it is? Ghost's been following that Ingress reading out here.

[mylawn]

[Even though by this point 76 has mostly deemed Cayde and Ghost competent, able to take care of themselves, he still thinks this is a situation where they all need to proceed with caution. He's not ordinarily one for the buddy system himself, but given the state of the Moira and the amount of time it's been here, crashed, it seems he's having second thoughts about doing some spelunking on his own. Even now, he's peering into the opening like he's debating whether or not it's an advisable course of action.]

It's the Moira, all right. This is what got us here in the first place.

[He's not really holding out hope for anything in there actually functioning, but they might find supplies, or an intact shuttle. Something that might not be a way out, but will at least buy them some time.]

There's an Ingress on it, if that's what you're reading. Not sure whether it's functioning or not.

[deal_me_in]

[Anything beats sitting out in storm country. Cayde's already not too crazy about what they bring. So far he's managed not to misstep, although if 76 is watching close enough, he might catch something a bit off about the way the Exo moves. Actually he's not even directly looking at the man, or hadn't been until 76 had continued speaking.]

Well, something's throwing off a signature in there, more so than the ruined Ingresses we saw back out where we were first dropped off. I'd say it's something worth looking into if nothing else.

[mylawn]

[76 is observant, yes, but at the moment he’s a bit preoccupied with the gaping maw of Moira wreckage in front of them to pay too much attention to Cayde. A missed step and a fall won’t kill him, thanks to his enhancements, but of course he wants to find the safest way in that he possibly can. If Ghost says there’s something down there, at this point it’s worth checking out.

Considering the alternative is starving to death on the Midway Hub, he’ll take the chance.]

If we can get to it, we’ve got people in our party who might be able to fix it.

[The implication is clear—this is probably their best shot to get off this place, all things considered.]

[deal_me_in]

Not like we have many other options.

[That there was still something possibly functioning within the ruined ship is either great fortune or some awful trap, and Cayde's not willing to disregard either potential. He nods at 76.]

Let's see what we can find.

[mylawn]

Just watch your step.

[Not that 76 thinks there will be anything down there, but he severely doubts the structural integrity of the ship.]

Wasn’t exactly a smooth landing.

spelunking

[tinkerhell]

[In spite of the fact that Sombra was hunting for supplies, Reaper has made another decision. It wasn't that he was out for ways to get back home -- he wasn't, really. Sure, he had security and familiarity left back on Earth, but if he stopped and thought about it long enough, neither of those things were really worth all the other bullshit he had to deal with. It seemed easier to stay. Make his own way here, without the baggage left from home.

He hadn't voiced as much, for several reasons. But after his brief conversation with Jack, he'd realized there was one last thing he could do before closing the chapter of his revenge on him, and that was to stop him and Ana from getting back themselves.

But he's been walking for hours. It isn't that he's physically tired, but his patience is at its limits. His memory isn't necessarily photographic -- but he's certain he's exhausted every which angle possible to get to the Ingress, and he's going in circles. His frustration echoes in the form of heavy bootsteps, until he finally stops and tries to re-examine his method.

That's when he spots Jack coming around the opposite corner, nearly colliding into him. He doesn't bother tensing -- or even really reacting, other than looking around him for Ana's rifle.

Knowing that he'd somehow managed to transcend death had jaded him on a lot of things. Killing Jack. His own potential murder looming over his head. None of it felt concrete anymore.]

Where's your shadow, Morrison?

[mylawn]

[Exploring the wreckage of the Moira is only a temporary distraction from various other things currently weighing heavily on his mind--Ana's current condition is the most immediate, but his conversation with Reyes lingers, flaring up when he isn't adequately busying himself with things like exploration or supplies or organizing his bag. Jack supposes he could seek him out, find where he's got to on the Midway Hub, but perhaps some part of Reaper's threat was effective. Either way, Jack has some thinking to do, and he's not sure he'll ever properly sort through it.

So it must be incredibly bad lucky that has him running smack into Reaper. His gun is up, a reflex response to encountering Reaper, though he already knows his heart isn't in it. Seeing Reyes now, after what just happened between them, only makes him tired.

Still, that doesn't mean he's going to relent so easily. Reaper is looking for Ana, just as Jack is peering behind him for the presence of someone else, too.]

Where's yours?

[His body language is immediately defensive, not quite like he's itching for a fight, but prepared for one if that's what happens. He won't be caught off-guard again.]

[tinkerhell]

[He isn't surprised that Jack raises his gun. Hell, he'd be disappointed in him if he hadn't -- but Reaper has some satisfaction knowing that his threats were being taken seriously. Even if he hadn't killed the other man for good, maybe now he had an idea of what he'd done to him so many years ago.

In response, Reaper lifts his hand to grasp the front of the gun and proceeds to slowly apply more pressure in an attempt to force him to lower it.]

Sleeping in my old bunk.

[He supplies the information easily. After all, he had confidence that Sombra would be able to slip away, even if she was impaired. It wasn't like Jack would pursue her -- not right now, when the Ingress was so close.

He's not afraid of what he can do, because he's already proven that he can't do anything.]

Your turn.

[mylawn]

[He can't be certain if that's true or not, though he supposes in the end it doesn't matter. He'll have to be ready for Sombra to get the jump on him either way, but he also knows there's no reason to delay an ambush. It's not like the longer the conversation goes, the more comfortable he'll get or the more he'll drop his guard. His gun doesn't dip an inch, even as Reaper tries his best to press down on it. They both know he's not going to fire, but having the rifle in between them gives Jack some illusion of control.]

Not here.

[He has no plans to get any more specific than that, and the pinch of his eyebrows right at the top of his visor makes that clear. It's all moot, anyway. Jack's already grilled Sombra for everything he needs to know, and though he certainly wasn't fully successful, it will be pointless to seek her out again--not at all worth the trouble, if he can even find Reaper's old room. Jack is surprised that any of it is still intact.

Then there's a long silence, as Jack isn't sure what he wants to address or how he wants to address it--or if he even should.
Nothing's gone as planned for either of them, and he's not even certain he's looking for a fight anymore.]

Guess it's just us.

[tinkerhell]

[Yeah, he isn't surprised, but he is definitely annoyed. The camaraderie between Ana and Jack had annoyed him much longer than he let on.

He stays quiet while Jack tries to decide how to react. Truthfully, Reaper was in a similar position. Shooting him wouldn't make him feel better, nor would it grant him anything particularly useful. No satisfaction. No relief. Nothing but more anger.]

Usually is.

[No matter where they were or what was going on, it always came back to the two of them.]

Until it isn't.

[mylawn]

Look, if this is an ambush, I’d rather just get it over with.

[He’s sure Reaper feels the same, which is why he seems to be referring to unseen third parties who might swoop in unexpectedly. Ana’s not here, but Reaper likely doesn’t believe that, just as Jack doesn’t quite believe that Sombra isn’t waiting in the wings.

(The darker, more vengeful part of him curses himself for not dealing with her more thoroughly. She’ll come back to bite him in the ass because of it, he’s sure.)

The larger part of him, however, is tired, and that’s what wins out. The gun stays where it is but his shoulders sag a little, indicating a lack of readiness to fight. Maybe death will mean something now that they’re on the Midway Hub. Maybe that’s not what Reaper’s after anymore.]

Otherwise, I’m finding a way off this dump.

ii.

[squadgoals]

[>Approach DadFort
Shepard draws near the DadFort. Is 76 around? She's not 100% sure. She can't actually hear anything right now, so she's super on edge.

But hey, she comes with a gift — hunks of skinned panther meat! Sharing supplies is caring. Especially for parents a person who's been lowkey looking out for her.]

Ding dong.

[Said dryly, with no moderation in volume. Knock knock, sir.]

[mylawn]

[76 is here--he's totally here, doing what he usually does in situations like this, which is obsessively dis-and re-assembling his gun. She happens upon him with pieces strewn all around him, and for a moment it looks like he's been caught off guard.

Not for long. He's quick to compose himself, snapping the magazine back into his rifle.]

Come on in.

[Not that there's a door, or anything. Her volume is odd, certainly, but perhaps the reason for it will make itself clear--he'll let her say more than two words, first.]

|'w')

[squadgoals]

[When he turns, she catches his unmasked surprise — and is surprised, in turn. If anyone was going to be caught off-guard in this scenario, she wouldn't have expected it to be him.

But he's back to business in a half-second, flipping around just as his mouth starts moving. Damn.

There's a moment of no movement, then the crunch of boots as she slowly makes her way into the tent, and stops.

There's a ping on 76's TAB, which simply reads:]

I hope you said "come in".

[If he turns around, she gives him a nod and gestures to the proffered gift. Big cat hunting.]

[mylawn]

[Oh. Oh.

76 knows what's going on, because he's dealing with Ana's hearing loss too. He's not sure why he hasn't been affected yet, but then again he's doing his best to stay away from the storms. Observing them might provide them with valuable information, but given the nature of the Midway Hub, someone's got to keep all their senses. Might as well be him.

The TAB pings and it all makes sense--he and Ana have been communicating in similar ways, so he gets the hint. 76 starts typing in return.]

I did.

[He has some supplies, but of course if there's anything on the Midway Hub that's usable, they should make sue of it.]

I hope it's edible.

[And not, you know, poison.]

[squadgoals]

Edible, yes. Beyond that? Can't vouch for much.

[Bland. Tasteless. Boring. As exciting as the landscape minus the storm. Popping it down beside him, she casts her eyes over his breakdown with a practiced eye.]

Something on your mind?

[Post-Mediation Center visit, she'd never been so happy to have such a collection of firearms at Normandy Securities. The act of methodically disassembling, cleaning, checking, and re-assembling each weapon had given her ample time and frame of mind within which to slowly re-assemble other things.

Until shadows cut open her lock and started attacking her, but whatever. It was nice while it lasted.

That their last conversation had involved him checking up on her had not been forgotten, either.]

[mylawn]

Appreciate it either way.

[She didn’t have to spend time killing this thing and dragging it over to him. Jack has supplies but more is always good, especially when they have the pac-discs to take the load off. There’s just a matter of preserving the meat, but he can deal with that…eventually. Right now, he has company.

He reads her message and it takes him a moment to realize what she’s talking about, and 76 casts a glance at the pieces of the gun before returning the message.]

Just making sure everything’s in working order.