Strange New World

[scalpelofmarmora]

Who: Ulaz and you!
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Nariba Relia
When: various


Exploring - "Shopping"
[Ulaz had found some of the stores that Nariba Relia and was currently wandering through them. He was rather curiously studying some of the fruit that was there. He didn't really seem to have much interest in eating as far as someone else could tell. Almost like he was expecting it to do something strange]

Exploring - Amusement Park
[Guess what Ulaz had found... the amusement park. Even not really knowing what it was supposed to be it was still rather creepy. So he was currently standing by the front gate watching it do its thing]

Hunting... okay maybe not
[He'd decided he wanted to check out the local wildlife, check to see if there was anything worth hunting. He'd heard about others doing it in other systems and it would be a good way to get fresh meat.

Except he didn't get too far outside of the city and into the desert when he spotted some of the local "fauna" off in the distance. At first glance he had thought it was five hooved creatures traveling together in a tight pack, but when they turned more to face him, he realized they were actually conjoined in a odd mass.

Oh what fresh hell is this?

Also no hunting for him]

Broadcast
[There was something very disturbing about this planet. Everything seemed too... perfect. In that fact, it was strange. He explored through several abandoned residences, finding doors unlocked and appliances working, but no residents. The stores seemed to be fully stocked, though everything in the entire store smelled oddly like citrus. Out curiosity, he had knocked over a display of fruit in one of the stores only to watch bots move in sometime later to clean it up... and the display was back up the next morning.

Odd... very odd]

What theories are there about the planet? It seems to me like the city is stuck in a time loop of some sort. Curious though that it does not effect the entire city. Greenery in the city is dying and several building are not being cared for the way most of the city is. It doesn't explain about the residents though and what is going on beyond the city.

If you have not been out there, I don't suggest going to look.

Comments

[scalpelofmarmora]

Sounds like as good a plan as any.

[Considering he'd never judged anything to the level how creepy it was before and then used that for when to search it.

Ulaz walked over to the ticket counters, looking the nearest one over first before examining it to try and find a map. He didn't even hesitate to wander back to one of the doors that employees would have used to enter the booth and opened it. It was unlocked of course]

There's not much in this one.

[If they weren't investigating a theme park running by itself, this might have looked comical with him inside the booth]

[universal_charm]

_{[ Not like there was much to hesitate over. No one had found anybody yet, and he sincerely doubted there were any people. It seemed unlikely, too, that the place they would choose to hole up if there were any would be at the amusement park rather than in a house. Kirk moved to another and popped it open, stepping fully in and kneeling to look at the small cubbies and drawers beneath the main desk. ]}

I suppose it could be possible they didn't use things like paper. Maybe it was a digital map? There doesn't seem to be a lot of material for paper in the surrounding area, so it would make sense to craft something that doesn't need it...

_{[ If this place was truly crafted for the use of people. ]}

Maybe look for something like a data chip or cube or a wearable device? If we don't find anything then we can head further in and just make sure we leave markers for our path.

[scalpelofmarmora]

That is entirely possible. [He says this as he steps back out, going over to another one to see if he can find something] Something computerized makes more sense for the fact that it is not a waste and there don't seem to be many papers blowing around here.

[Seeing nothing in that ticket taker's booth, Ulaz stepped back out and headed a few steps in to see if there was a board or something that would display a map. Well... there was something that looked promising]

There might be something over there with information.

[Come check it out with him]

[universal_charm]

_{[ Kirk pushed up and came over to where he could hear Ulaz's voice, poking his head around the larger being's body. ]}

What did you find?

[scalpelofmarmora]

Looks like a sign over there. Might be a start for where we should look.

[He waits until Kirk reached him before heading over in that direction. Yes, indeed-y there was a sign. It was kind of hidden now, but it was still there]

It looks like a map.

[universal_charm]

Well, it's a start, for sure.

_{[ He walks over to the map itself, peering up at it. ]}

Well, seems like a pretty standard layout for a theme park at least. Areas, a general pathway through. There should be guide posts along the parkways so we shouldn't have trouble finding our ways back. Guess the real question now is... left or right?

[scalpelofmarmora]

Is it standard?

[He actually doesn't know. He's aware of places like this existing, but when you are a medical officer on the universe's largest and most dangerous fleet while actually being a double agent, you didn't exactly have to the time to go to the amusement park... or desire at his age]

Left or right... I think left would be the better option to go with first.

[Looked slightly less worrying than right in his opinion]

[universal_charm]

Hmm, more or less. Seems like we have gift shops and such here up front - good for that last bit of cash when leaving the park. Some of the bigger riders are tucked into the back and sides, and kids stuff more towards the center.

_{[ He motioned to the display. ]}

One way or the other we work around. So left it is.

_{[ He moved past Ulaz on instinct to take point, not quite relaxed, but fairly confident as he strode down the path of the amusement park. ]}

I'm waiting for the lonely wrapper tumbleweed to drift on by...

[scalpelofmarmora]

[As Kirk was describing it, Ulaz studied the map in question. Yes, it did seem like exactly what he was describing was the case here. Locations designated as "shopping" were mostly gathered near the exit, bigger rides that took more space were in the outlying areas and the rides designated for children were closer to them. It would seem there was a system to this.

Ulaz quickly fell into the step next to Kirk, adjusting his pace so that he didn't pass him. The joys of being taller than everyone else]

What is a "tumbleweed"?

[universal_charm]

_{[ Kirk blinked at the question and then laughed. ]}

Well, on Earth, it is a bunch of branches an bramble that have formed a ball and then wind tosses them about, so they roll. They're usually found in desert regions, and culturally have come to signify wastelands and emptiness. But tumbleweed can just mean any circular object, usually made of trash, that rolls across too.

[scalpelofmarmora]

[Random Earth reference, but after the explanation Ulaz gave a slight nod in understanding]

So it blowing across our path would mean that it is empty here.

[See he's beginning to understand this]

[universal_charm]

Yes, that would be a sign. Well, in a movie it would mean that. In real life not so much. But it's a symbol of emptiness, yes.

_{[ He turned a corner and slowed a bit as he took in the sight of the little games and shops, the rise of larger rides behind them and beyond them. ]}

[scalpelofmarmora]

Less predictable in real life as well.

[Yeah, can't just will a random... tumbleweed to come across their path on what was an alien planet for both of them.

Ulaz paused beside him as they entered the park, looking at everything that lay before them. It was impressive and definitely more than eerie as the games and rides still lit up like they were just waiting for someone]

I can safely say I haven't seen anything like this in quite some time.

[universal_charm]

Do you have things like this, on your home world?

_{[ Kirk glanced at Ulaz for a brief second before turning to inspect one of the gaming booths, looking up towards the nets where the prizes might be kept. Which was somehow even creepier and sadder, tiny glass eyes staring down at him through pristine faux fur. He would have called it pleading if they had been alive. Thank god they weren't. ]}

[scalpelofmarmora]

My home world? No, not anymore. Most of my kind serve in the military or they know their purpose may be to serve the Empire. Which is a shame.

On other world? I have seen things like this one. Only there were people at them. And they were so sad.

[Ulaz came over to look at the booth that Kirk had chosen to examine. He leaned down to look as well]

Seems weird that they are trapped in there, just watching everything over and over again.

[Yes, he knows they aren't real]

[universal_charm]

Sad? At a theme park?

_{[ He shivered the longer he stared at the stuffed animals and leaned back away from them. ]}

I would say it's sad, if they were alive. I suppose it's still sad... creepy too. If this was a horror movie, they'd come alive right about now.

_{[ Another shuddered and he turned to move on. ]}

[scalpelofmarmora]

[ooc: derp, meant to say the other parks weren't so sad]

If they were alive, there might be a reason to break that open. Since they are not, there is no point since they will be replaced unless someone wanted one.

And now I think we should look somewhere else.

[Not because he believed they could come to life, but that thought had seemed to have slightly unnerved Kirk]

This section doesn't seem to have much of anything useful.

[universal_charm]

No, probably not. But it does hint at this being a place for families. Most of these games are aimed at either couples or young children wanting to win a prize.

_{[ He angled to take them towards the ride, the quiet sounds of themed music meshing around them, haunting in its way. ]}

[scalpelofmarmora]

[Ulaz glanced back at the games as they walked away, not because he wanted to play. It was almost as if he was using that glance back to make his own judgment about the games]

I suppose so. It also looks like some of the rides may be for ones who are quite small. Unless that's there race, I would assume age.

[universal_charm]

The housing and other items in the town are made to fit an average adult human from the looks of it, so I'm going to guess children.

_{[ He continued to look around as they walked, uncomfortable with how loud his own steps sounded. ]}

They must have meant to stay here awhile. Otherwise why bother with the expense of building a theme park?

[scalpelofmarmora]

[Ulaz, even for his height, is surprisingly quiet. He seems to know the way to move to make as little sound as possible. Still, even in that setting, he's making more noticeable noise than he'd like]

I do agree with that. This wasn't a stop over. They were hear to stay. There's too much in this area alone that wouldn't make sense to have only be temporary.

Of course that still also doesn't explain why it keeps running by itself. [He added as he watched the roller coaster in the distance make a drop that no one was enjoying]

[universal_charm]

_{[ Kirk walked up to a swing ride, looking as freshly painted as the day it was installed, all bright colors and sparkling bits. No doubt a cheerful attraction, but now it screamed sadness and a hint of the creepy as the swings swung idly, abandoned. He jumped the gates and went to one of the swings fashioned large enough for an adult, shifting and lifting himself up into it, dangling. ]}

I have a theory on that, actually. I don't really have anything to back it up, per say, but it's a hunch.

_{[ He kicked his heels a bit, moving back and forth ever so slightly. ]}

I think this whole place is trapped in some sort of time loop.

[scalpelofmarmora]

[Ulaz followed Kirk over the fence, raising his eyebrow as he watched Kirk get onto one of the swings. Such an odd way to continue the conversation]

I have been thinking that as well. There's little other explanations for how buildings repair themselves and food replaces itself every day. There do also seem to be areas that are unaffected. They clearly show signs of age.

[universal_charm]

_{[ Odd, perhaps, but at least the park was being put to a fraction of its use now. It felt a little less sad, maybe. ]}

And, anything we take out of the area of influence? It doesn't come back. Food, clothing - it remains damaged, eaten, whatever happens to it. So, yeah, time loop seems to fit the bill. Now the question is, if that's true - how did it happen? It takes a lot of power to create a time loop. So what caused it? And what, if anything, can we do about it?

[scalpelofmarmora]

Perhaps part of the question can be answered by what's outside the city. I have done some investigating outside the city limits. Have to seen the creatures that are there?

[Because to him, that offered some clues to answering the questions]