The Bunker of Nariba Relia | OPEN PLOT MINGLE POST

[theroadwarrior]

Who: Everyone!!
Broadcast: N/A
Action: The bunker in the surrounding desert.
When: Sometime recently, see this post for full information. Below is the excerpt of information listed there. Feel free to make a top comment and thread out the sad truth and whatnot.

[Records buried in the library, the research facility, and cues from the power plant will eventually reveal the bunker in the surrounding desert. The passageway leads several yards underground, and it doesn’t appear to have been used in a long time. Those brave enough to venture inside will find that it is not much more than a tomb. Eerily enough, the emergency lights are still on, casting a soft red glow over sheets and the once-bodies beneath them.

It has been long enough that paper journals, books, and personal belongings (like bags and such) have deteriorated to the point of being extremely fragile. Handled with care, however, they are eager to tell a story.

“The engineers should have been more careful. I’m not sure I’ll be able to recoup my losses from this… At least I have enough money to buy a ride off this planet!”

“No one could have known this would happen. Hopefully it stabilizes so we can go home soon. In the meantime, I’ve been teaching my daughter how to count. She doesn’t understand what’s going on, and I don’t know what to tell her.”

“It’s not getting better. So many people have died that we’re running out of room in the morgue. We had to move all of the food to another room so that the smell doesn’t leach out, but we all know what’s back there.”

“The replicator was supposed to repair us, too.”

“I don’t know if we can go back yet, but it doesn’t matter. Even if the city was back to the way it was, there’s no cure for us. The dead are dead, and we lay down next to them as we wait for our turn.”

There is nothing that can be done for these people except to give them the eternal rest they deserve. Ultimately, the fate of Nariba Relia is a sad one and not altogether preventable.]

Comments

[watermarks]

[Her captain is made of rubber and their musician was a skeleton and their cook was...

A friend. They were all friends. And she didn't know if Nami would appreciate her talking about them, so she can't say that, and Katara catches herself just in time.]

Well, the pirates on my world were -- not at all interested in polite conversation. [After she'd, you know, robbed them, but details.] That's a place to start.

[privateeyed]

Well, my world has pirates, just not - you know, sail the seas kind. They're mostly on the 'net, or - I guess they take over boats and shit, but I haven't heard of any of 'em doing that in years. [only because you can't watch the news, Ben] Real nasty folks. Nothin' like the cool ones in the movies.

[watermarks]

They make movies about pirates? [...] What about ninja?

[Entering a spaceship now, yes?]

[privateeyed]

They make movies about literally everything. [...] And then wait twenty years or so to remake them.

[yes absolutely, though notably, Ben does not get into the driver's seat oh no]

[watermarks]

[Well, then Katara will try to get into the driver's seat! She's not at all very good at this, she only has the basic requirements through her augment and zero prior experience... but someone had to get them down there, so she was able to do it once.]

That sounds... really boring. [Frowning a little as her hand went automatically to the button to seal the ship.] ...relying on the augment to drive this thing is so strange. I'm going to need to get someone to teach me how to do this.

[privateeyed]

It's exactly as boring as it sounds. [Ben leans over as she mentions the augment to squint at the panel, and he only twitches a little as the shuttle seals itself]

. . . do you want me to take the wheel? [...] I'm honestly so used to hopping in the passenger side I didn't think - or I could explain it.

[watermarks]

[...why is he used to hopping in the passenger side -- no wait, focus on right now.

She pauses in what she's doing and looks at him with a curious expression.] I never asked -- what's your augment?

[privateeyed]

Security. Which makes sense, given my particular set of skills.

[. . . he reaches over to point to a button] That starts it up.

[watermarks]

Right. [Okay, but back to the point:] Have you driven stuff like this before? Or... flown stuff like this, I guess?

[Because if not, you're working off augment knowledge too, right?]

[privateeyed]

Uh, I've driven before - nothing like this, I'm only familiar with ground vehicles. But that's what the thing in my head's telling me.

[. . . he makes a face] That sounds so fuckin' weird.

[watermarks]

[It does sound weird, and you're becoming a favorite because you say stuff like that.]

So in other words... Your guess is as good as mine.

[So. She pushes the start button.]

[privateeyed]

[trust Ben to keep it real 24/7]

Well, I mean - drove one the day we met, and I took one down here another time to meet up with someone with blueprints, so I've got some experience.

Just take it easy - don't jerk the wheel, don't floor the gas. Or we can switch if you want the legally blind guy to drive. [there it is, that's why he's always the passenger]

[watermarks]

[Yeeeeah, no. If he knew how to do it or was a pilot, maybe. But as it is, even though the controls are intimidating, Katara is not one to sit back and let someone else do something for her when it's a matter of being scared. Because. This is scary. But... She can do this, she's sure of it.]

I think I want to try. I mean, I've done it before too, it's just... It's weird relying on the augment like this.

[She starts it up.]

[privateeyed]

[he has no intentions of actually taking over anyway; for one, he hates driving. And two - even if the possibility is rare, he doesn't want his tech malfunctioning mid-trip. That wouldn't be pretty]

Yeah, I get it. If it helps - don't think about it too much. That'll screw you up the fastest. Just - do it, like you've been doing it for years.

[watermarks]

[For years. Heh.]

When Luceti got electricity, I was terrified.

[Starting to try to launch the ship.]

[privateeyed]

I'd be terrified too, knowing what I do about you. But I mean - flip a switch and all the lights come on? That can be horrifying even for folks used to it.

[he's attempting to joke again, in that hesitant awkward way he does]

If it makes you feel better, when I got my arm the first thing I did was accidentally punch myself in the face.

[watermarks]

[Well, the ship launches a little unevenly, but it does launch, and up they go.

Also, she's known you two weeks, and is only slightly surprised about this. What does this say?]

...how in the world do you 'accidentally' punch yourself in the face? Were you trying to punch someone else?

[privateeyed]

[o-oops, he pauses to get a grip on the seat, eyes briefly widening before he blows out a breath]

I - yeah, I was thinking about it. They have to do a lot of adjustments when you get a full prosthetic - uh, programming, things like that. [he lifts his hand in front of his face] Had my hand like this 'cause I couldn't see it without my glasses, but I was in a mood - and the moment I thought about punching something, it twitched and hit me in the face.

[he shrugs and drops his hand]

[watermarks]

[Heh.]

Ow. [...but that was kind of hilarious.] I bet getting hit with that hurts more than regular, too, huh?

[privateeyed]

It hurts like a bitch. [flatly, though that's more from him suppressing his own amusement] Gave myself a black eye that didn't go away for weeks.

[watermarks]

[She winces, navigating them out of the atmosphere now. He's right. It's easier when she doesn't think about it.

...that just feels SO wrong.]

Your doctor must have been so frustrated with you. [A quick grin, glancing at him quickly before returning her attention to the instruments.] I know I would have been.

[privateeyed]

Are you kidding? He laughed at me - after making sure I didn't bust anything. [he huffs out a noise] Given - y'know, everything - that was the least of the shit he had to deal with when it came to me.

[watermarks]

[...yes, she's shocked to hear that Ben was a difficult patient. Although he also could be referring to the severity of his injuries, which, to be fair, had been terrifyingly extensive.]

Punching yourself was the least problem you gave him? [She chances a glance over at him and gives him a wry grin.] Do me a favor then and try not to get hurt while you're here.

[privateeyed]

Hey. [it's a token protest, because he knows how it can sound. He isn't that bad, but . . . he isn't afraid of getting a few bruises, either] Don't say that like I'm a bad patient. I was plenty good.

[maybe not in the beginning, but no one handles being blown up very well]

[watermarks]

...well, as long as you don't try to sneak out the window [or sneak attack kiss me, but she VERY HIGHLY DOUBTS that will be a problem with Ben unless there's like... a major glitch that completely overrides his... everything], you'll be better than some of the patients I've had.

[Starting to approach the Iskaulit now?]