the veil is thin . . .

[thespaceopera]

[ On the night of the 16th, the feeling of tension and horrid anticipation comes to a head. Everything stops when the sun goes down-- even the ever-present music in the hoppingest part of the city center. One by one, everyone turns their eyes to the skies. The young and old alike pour out of their houses, some in bare feet, and they point to the velvety blanket of stars.

It takes a second to find it, especially if one is unaccustomed to the starscape. But even a casual observer can see it.

A brightly-shining star, larger than the others, and growing larger.

An announcement cuts across all communication channels that encourages people to evacuate to the space station, but it’s clear that these are just people and they’ll need some help. Supplies, equipment, organization, there’s something for everyone to do.

Civilization is disrupted by a panicked stampede of people vying for limited seats aboard spacefaring craft. Within hours, there will be crushed glass, looting, and chaos.

The clock is ticking. Will you help? Or would you rather watch the dying gasps of a Singing Planet from a safe distance? ]

[OOC: Please see this post for plot details. Phase two has begun! Feel free to use this post as a reaction post, mingle, etc. or make your own!]

Comments

[pork_bowl]

I don't think there's a good time to step in right now, Vash... it's just how people are going to be. You did a good thing, though. They'd have trampled each other for that one seat or even compromised the shuttle... it's awful.

_{[He offers Vash the water and protein bar he has.]}

It's hard to think just a little while ago this was a flourishing community.... Victor and I went shopping here. I... we got an ornament handmade here... pretty soon it'll be the only one...

Hey... do you need to sleep?

[goldenglasses]

You think so? [He looks as if that thought hadn't even crossed his mind. Trying to downplay what he had done. Although he knew that is exactly what might have happened if he didn't stop the fight as it began.] I guess I didn't think of that. I just don't really like to see people fighting is all.

[He takes the offered water and protein bar with a small sigh as Yuri tells him about the ornament.] Yeah. It's amazing how things can change so quickly. You better hang onto that ornament and take good care of it. There will be no replacing it now.

[He shakes his head at the idea of taking a longer break to sleep.] No, not right now. I'm fine to keep going.

[pork_bowl]

Oh... well.... _{[Vash hadn't thought of that? Surely he had... he was being nice since Yuri was terrible at this stuff. He had never had to evacuate people before. He's never had to do any of this before. He is reminded of the memory of Vash's that he saw. Those ships going to a planet... had Vash been in this situation beyond that? Why were they coming to that new planet? What happened to their last one...?]}

Yeah... I wish we were able to save those things too... it's scary to think that everything they ever knew, their homes and their possessions... it'll be like they were never here at all. Pretty soon they'll just be memories. _{[Just like all of them, just like right now. Someday he will go home and all of this that they have here... it will just be in his mind if that.]}

Can I help you at all, Vash? You must be exhausted. How long have you gone without a break?

[goldenglasses]

Memories are powerful and important. People are strong. These buildings around us may be gone in a bit, but where there is life there is hope. I have absolutely no doubt when this is all over their home will be even better than before.

[He speaks with full conviction in what he says. He really believes with how so many people are coming together to help each other that the people of this world will be alright in the end.

And then he goes right back to his lies in his next statement.]

And I'm taking a break right now! So pretty much no time at all! I'm still ready to keep going!