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

[namisan]

Sam, this is not negotiable!

[DO YOU REALISE HOW LITTLE TIME WE HAVE LEFT
DO YOU

Nevertheless it's still gonna take a little over five to get to him once she corrects for the GPS, so call it five and a half, don't lose your feral child until then. Or ever, if you can manage it--

Here she comes, banking in low. And possibly swearing to herself once she sees him because what is it with her crew and wayward children? Honestly just leave them behind, god.

(She'd never.)]

[collegedropout]

[It's a little negotiable...

He does end up piling in with the now exhausted child held bridal-style; he's quick to place her in what would've been his seat and buckle her securely for safety, standing between Nami and the child's chair as he puts his hands on the seats to balance. He smiles mildly at her, breathless.]

Hey, captain.

1/3

[namisan]

[JUST THIS FACE, WINCHESTER.]

[namisan]

[But switching so fast to this one for the bitty.]

Hey there, kid. Hold on, okay? We're almost out of here--

[namisan]

[Okay that's enough small talk she's gunning it, so all giant moose people trying to brace themselves might have issues. Sorry, Sam, but she's terrified they don't have enough time left as it is, so we are full throttle heading out of here. Given the starlit sky has become less starlit and more kind of encroaching and very visible death you can't really blame her.]

[collegedropout]

[WOOP, THERE HE GOES, FLYING TO THE BACK OF THE SHUTTLE.]

-- I'm good! I'm alright!

[He would give her the thumbs up that she didn't just accidentally murder him via blunt force, but... you know. There's comets and debris and a giant meteor and -- shit, do they have enough time? He's admittedly sweating a little under the collar as he finds a seat to grip onto and holds on tight. Ummm. Duck left? Don't crash? Is there any decent advice one can give when they're outrunning complete devastation???]

Holy shit--

[THERE'S A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING. THAT INCLUDES ESCAPING GIANT ROCKS.]

[namisan]

[A few broken bones would be better than being completely obliterated, she thinks, though she does flinch a little at the thump-thump-crunch back there. The shuttle shakes more and more on exit of atmosphere, and for a few brief seconds she wonders if maybe there's enough force involved to tear them apart.

But they clear the atmosphere without more than a couple of frightening wrenching sounds, still intact, and it's another twenty seconds still more at maximum speed away before the world lights up beneath them. Nami doesn't look. She doesn't know how this works, how much damage it'll do, and she won't slow until she clears the first safely orbiting ships above.

She just doesn't want to see what's happening below, all things considered.]

[collegedropout]

[Sam does look, however (a bit bruised from the trip, but still in one piece). Because he's used to this sort of thing - not necessarily a planet going out, but the loss of life, a helplessness while the worst happens. He stands in silent observation, because it only seems fair to the planet -- but he's also content for them not to look. He puts a hand on each of the two bowed heads up front; the child is crying into her knees, arms wrapped. It must really be terrifying for the kid, to be sure.

It's an ugly, ugly sight.]

Don't look, girls.

[Not yet. It's better to wait until it all settles.]

[namisan]

[She does look, in the end. It's a quick one, drawn by morbid dread and maybe the hope that it's not the complete destruction everyone said it would be--

--she looks away really, really fast. Diverts to the child instead, wrapping arms around her and keeping her from seeing even if she tries, fast descending into numbness. She can't afford to fall apart yet, not while they're drifting and still have a kid on board.

Eventually--] Sam. [It's a hoarse and far away voice. Here. Take the girl and keep her close.

Nami'll take them back toward the space station now, at a more sedate speed. Quiet and slow, staring bleakly into the dark.]