A cry for help

[thespaceopera]

[a distress call has been tracked across the void, finally leading back to the source. a hulking crippled ship, teeming with hostile alien life, now lies before you.

what do you do? do you dive in or hang back? are you here to learn, play, build, or observe?

however you choose to proceed, your audience is out there somewhere, watching.]


ooc: here is a good ol' themed mingle to get you all started! and don't feel limited by the prompts and what they describe--they're just there as idea-starters, so feel free to go anywhere and do anything.

have fun!

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Comments

[ino]

[ And here's Ino, right up in front trying to check this place out. She's not exactly thrilled about the idea, but of the people in the fleet she's probably one of the more experienced warriors -- as far as she knows anyways -- so it would be best for people like her to clear the area out before anybody else decides they want to take a look.

It's going pretty well, as you can tell by the shrieks of disgust as she stomps an alien bug head in. ]

-- Gross! Why does it have to be bugs?!

[gunslinger]

[ There's an important rule to enforce no matter what universe one finds themselves in, and that's to never keep a beautiful girl waiting! He really does need little spurning after Ino sends her text, despite the utter confusion presented by these people from Paradisa who claim to know him (three so far). But this is a chance to explore, perhaps find intel about what's happening, and also learn more about them. Whoever 'they' are.

Originally remaining on his own ship to help provide lessons in firearm safety, he's happy to break from that after letting the captain know that he'd be checking things out. With two security augments, it shouldn't be an issue, and he doesn't plan to be away for long.

There's no shielding his anxious excitement as Jr. hurries to the entry hall, but there isn't even much opportunity to say hello or see who else she's with. He sees enemies before he sees friends, the skittering creatures reminding him grossly of gnosis or mutation experiments gone wrong. He doesn't hesitate when one gets in his path, centering a phaser gun dead center and firing until it bursts.

He had opted for two smaller side-arms over the larger Security augment options, if only because he knows how to enhance his own weaponry, and it turns out just fine. There might be some extra Ether centered through the gun's barrel, but that's just how he rolls. ]

That's gotta burn! I'll send you some flowers.

[ Winking to a messy corpse after dramatically spinning his gun, that is how 666 woos. Oh right, wasn't he here to meet people? ]

[save_the_souls]

[Allen was standing off to the side- or rather, preparing to fend off this new creature, when Jr. rolls on in with his shooting. Wow. Looks like he actually did come. And more than that, it looks like he's the same as ever- which makes him laugh to himself as Jr finishes it off with that cheesy line.]

If I didn't know better, I'd say you timed that entrance.

[He'll approach. He's got some guns he grabbed from Hawke's armory attached to his belt, as well as a dagger and what looks to be a claymore at his back. Since hey, gotta test out all the way to kill these buggers. For science.]

Hello Jr.

[ino]

[ She's just laughing. Theatrical and cheesy and ever, Jr.! She kicks the bug she was assaulting one more time for good measure, sliding it across the ground, before making her way over ]

You made it!

[gunslinger]

[ It's not like he hasn't aimed for perfect timing before, so he looks a little sheepish at Allen's suggestion. The ease with which they approach him, even smiling through the gore, makes it difficult not to grin back. But then the grin falls short (hah!), and he reaches back to rub awkwardly behind his neck. All at once, the bravado dissipates into a boy scuffing his boot against the floor (and alien goop). ]

Uh— Well yeah! Clearly you made the right call.

[ Which Ino seemed to very much know when contacting him. Glancing between the both of them, he clears his throat and holds out his hand, first to Ino and then Allen. At least his tattoo is nothing new to them! He knows they've already met, but humor him you rude children! ]

Nice to...meet you...again...?

[save_the_souls]

[He watches the bravado disappear and...well, he could understand why this would be very strange for Jr. He had to keep reminding himself of that.]

[But since he's a gentlemen, he'll take that hand to shake when it's offered to him, giving a polite smile. He doesn't think twice about the tattoo because, well, still less weird than his hand (that's currently got a glove on it).]

Yes. It's nice to meet you again.

[He lets go of his hand, and pulls back.]

And thank you for coming. I know it's a little odd, but...well, I have to admit you're a better shot than I am.

[ino]

[ Have a firm handshake back ]

You, too.

[ She'll let go and jerk a thumb back towards the open mouth of the ship ]

I'm willing to bet there's a lot more of those things crawling around in there, so we can use the help.

[gunslinger]

[ Allen's appearance sure is special, but given to the teammates he's used to working with, Jr. is forced to come to his own conclusions regarding any of it. Allen had already mentioned his hair color changing, so Jr. naturally assumes he's a Vatican's mutant (birds of a feather!) or a cyborg. He doubts the latter simply because...Vatican...

Then again, what's up with Tim?

Resting his weight on one foot, Jr. tips to the side to peer beyond Ino and Allen and into the depths of the ship. Hmmmmmm... Should he stay out here and guard? Hell no, that's not why he was invited! He's moving to continue in before even responding. ]

What are these things, anyway? Gnosis aren't naturally tangible like this. Is there any kinda database?

[save_the_souls]

[Jr that is the rudest assumptions ever. If he knew, he'd be very torn about which one to be more offended about. But whatever, he's not going to bring it up right now.]

[Instead, he follows Jr. along as he talks. At least the rest of his party is crazy short. It'll be easy to see over them even if he's in back]

Not one of much value, right now. [Per usual.] The best we can figure is they're...giant space bugs. They started attacking when we came aboard.

[dancingmd]

[And who should pop out from deeper in the ship but Action Mom! She appears rather harried, with her hair in a messy bun and what looks suspiciously like bug guts all over her uniform.]

How many more of them are there?

[ino]

Not sure. They're pretty good at hiding.

[ It sounds like that fact is frustrating to her. Mostly because there's something off about them that's making it difficult for her to sense these stupid things ... ]

Everything okay?

[dancingmd]

I was trying to find the source of the distress signal, but I didn't get too far in before more of them tried to swarm me. I'm alright though.

[ino]

If you wanna try again, I can keep them off you. There's gotta be some kind of command station ... thing, in there, right?

[dancingmd]

There must be. I would really appreciate the help... do you want a gun or anything? We have some more in the armory back on the ship.

[ino]

Nah, I'm good. [ She pats the pouch on her leg ] I've got plenty of weapons in here, and I can punch through a concrete wall with my bare hands, so I think the gun might be overkill.

[ Said so nonchalantly ... ]

[dancingmd]

[Beverly probably should react more to that, and she does blink one or two times, but really, what is punching through concrete when she just saw Allen grow talons and fling webs?]

Alright. Let's go. I want to get in an out as quickly as possible.

[ino]

[ She knew she could count on you to find that utterly normal, Bev!

She nods, heading back towards the entrance ]

Any ideas about where they would probably put the place we're looking for? Front, center ... ?

[everydayhero]

[that shriek is what gets hiro's attention; he rushes to find her, sidestepping one or two bugs himself on the way. he's done pretty good at avoiding them, what with being tiny and naturally sneaky. but he's still here, in the danger.

[he has the staff he and riku have been training with, and the knives cass made him get, though.]

Ino?!

[ino]

-- !

[ His voice gets her to immediately stop being grossed out and go into protective mode ]

Hiro, be careful!

[everydayhero]

I'm fine!

[look at me, all weaponed up and... running along a wall to avoid that there bug and get to you]

Are you okay?

[ino]

[ She huffs ]

Of course I'm okay.

[ She wipes her hands off on the back of her skirt ]

They're just -- bugs. It's gross.

[everydayhero]

They're pretty cool... They look like those shrimp that can move like bullets.

[imitating their pincers, jab-jab]

[ino]

[ She raises an eyebrow, pulling out another knife. Because that one he walked around is now coming towards them!

She is just ninja enough to have a conversation while fighting at the same time. ]

What? That's not a real thing.

[ She's even looking at him dubiously as she flicks the knife at one of its joints, making it fall to the ground ]

[everydayhero]

Yeah it is! They see like a billion more colors than we do because their eyes are super complex, too. They kill their prey by blasting it apart with movement so fast it makes the water boil. People stopped keeping them in aquariums because they could break the glass.

[CAN YOU TELL HE THINKS MANTIS SHRIMP ARE FUCKING INCREDIBLE]

[ino]

[ She squints at the bug squirming around on the ground ... ]

Pretty sure these aren't quite on that level.

[ She frowns, looking back at him ]

Besides, they would have to be in water, right?