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!

info post→ here

Comments

[realhumanbeing]

But--

[He hesitates, but this man is large, and moves as though he knows what he's doing. Reluctantly Steven obeys, though his shield is still out-- if the bugs attack and the man doesn't move, he'll launch forward.

Fortunately, the bugs don't seem to realize they're being lured into a trap: they follow Bucky stupidly, clicking and attacking threateningly.]

[redactions]

[ It's as much wanting the advantage of quicker manoeuvrability as it is not wanting to expose a kid to more violence. Never mind the trail of bodies behind Steven, or the kids he met in '43 and '44 running errands for the Resistance. You're never too young to die for your country — or just die, really. ]

[ He makes quick work of the two and wipes the knife clean before returning to where Steven is. ]

That was a close call. What're you doin' out here by yourself?

[realhumanbeing]

Exploring. Trying to see what's going on. I don't mean to kill them, but they keep attacking.

[He switches the shield over to his other arm and offers his hand.]

I'm Steven! Thanks for helping me.

[redactions]

No problem.

[ His name is Steven, he has a shield, why didn't the universe make him blond too while they were at it? There's a pause, which Bucky covers by making it an intake of breath before shaking Steven's hand firmly. ]

Nice name. I'm Jim. You lookin' for anything specific around here?

[realhumanbeing]

Just looking. I wanted to see if anybody who sent the signal was still around. They might be locked in a room waiting for rescue!

[redactions]

[ More like locked in here and waiting for an ambush. He frowns. ]

It came from real deep inside the ship, there'll be a hell lot more of those bugs out there.

[realhumanbeing]

[Oh my god don't curse he's 12 Jim.]

Then it's good you found me!

[He grins up at him-- but then, more seriously:]

Are you hurt?

[redactions]

[ are you for real ]

Me? No, I'm fine, I heal up, don't worry. You?

[realhumanbeing]

Oh, me too! I mean, I kinda got bit a bit, but I can heal! Are you magic too?

[Cheerfully, without a moment of hesitation, Steven sticks two fingers in his mouth. Getting them nice and wet, he begins rubbing spit on any open wounds he sees.]

[redactions]

[ And he thought the future was weird enough. He blinks in surprise before he realises he's staring, and turns his attention elsewhere. ]

No, just human and heal quick. [ a beat ] What kinda magic?

[realhumanbeing]

Uhh-- Gem magic!

[And hey, that magic is working! Before their eyes, Steven's bites and cuts are shrinking. He watches with satisfaction.]

I'm half alien, on my mom's side. They-- we're-- called Gems! And we're magic. Everybody's got different kinds, but my mom's was really good at healing. That's why I have a shield instead of a spear or an axe or whatever.

[redactions]

[ That's mighty quick, and he files it away for later. ]

That's real useful, Steven. I carry a shield too, but I didn't come here with mine.

[realhumanbeing]

Hey, now there's three of us! This other guy has a shield too, but he doesn't have his either.

[He says it somewhat distractedly, though, as he's begun to lead the way deeper into the ship. Faintly:]

Shield buddies!

[redactions]

[ Echoing Steven with some amusement, as he stays on Steven's left, ] Shield buddies.

Who's the third?

[realhumanbeing]

The commander. He trains me sometimes. He's really nice!

[redactions]

[ ...? ]

[ !!!!!!!! ]

Really?

[ Is that safe?? But Steven's doing fine, so there mustn't be anything particularly homicidal there. ]

[realhumanbeing]

Yeah! We did stretches and push-ups and sit-ups and junk like that, so we could both get buff and junk.

[He glances behind him with a somewhat curious smile.]

Why, did . . . was he not nice to you?

[redactions]

It's payin' off, if y'ask me.

[ He squeezes Steven's shoulder gently, then signals him to stop as he moves forward and looks through the doorway to a new room. There's nothing there, thankfully. ]

Nah, it was nothin' like that. We just compared notes.

[realhumanbeing]

[SO BUFF. Steven beams to himself, pleased by the compliment-- but he can't focus on that now. There's the mission! He glances in the room as Jim does, eyes wide, and then keeps going as it proves empty.]

Notes on what?

[redactions]

[ Precious. Bucky ruffles his hair. ]

Our worlds, mostly. Seems like the ones here ain't so different if you put 'em all together.

[realhumanbeing]

Oh, yeah.

[He doesn't understand, not truly, but he thinks he does.]

There's a lot of different people from different times . . . but a ton of similarities too! Some people are from the same year, or the same place, but it's all . . . weird. Somebody should do research, maybe.

[redactions]

Why not make that our project? [ he asks, peering around a corner. ] What kinda worlds the Atroma likes taking us from.

[realhumanbeing]

Okay! Hey, we can make an announcement together! Maybe a few days after all this mess settles down, though. And if we find any people who need help, after they settle in.

[A pack of worker bugs skitters past them, ignoring them, and Steven grimaces.]

[redactions]

[ He tenses as they pass, hand on the hilt of his knife, but the bugs do nothing. ]

Might as well ask about getting a buddy system. These things are nasty and there's more of 'em as we keep going in.

[realhumanbeing]

Yeah, it's really good that we found each other!

[This is a lot easier. And it's far easier to be brave when he's got someone at his back. Steven hoists up his shield and turns the corner.]