( world #2 - struxta event log )

[acatamods]

I ▫ main IV ▫ premise       XI ▫ applications XIV ▫ activity II ▫ logs V ▫ rules VII ▫ bestiary   IX ▫ canon updates XII ▫ taken XV ▫ drop/hiatus III ▫ ooc VI ▫ faq VIII ▫ setting   X ▫ mods XIII ▫ reserves XVI ▫ players a storm approaches. above ground. It is early when you wake up to a message on your watches. Those underground will not receive this message, due to the complications with service. It is a simple line of text, with no further explanation given. You’re not sure how it even came through, or how they found a way to connect to the watches. Either way, a message comes across the screen. All newcomers to Struxta are instructed to remain in their rooms until further notice. It’s the middle of the day, on the 17th day in Struxta, that the notification rings out. Not through your bracelets, which might be your first assumption, but through what had previously been an unused announcement system. It doesn’t take much though to realize the announcement is for you - why would thousands of minds all connected to a singular consciousness need any kind of mass announcement system? No, they are talking to you. Whoever they are. The announcement echoes through every building, street, hallway, and room in what feels to be the entire city - perhaps the entire world, and everyone above ground can hear it. It’s inescapable, really, the mechanical voice that calmly but firmly surrounds you. All newcomers to Struxta are instructed to remain in their rooms until further notice. Please return to your room if you haven’t already. For those of you who are in your room, if you choose to venture out the Hostel itself will seem eerily normal. It is not until you get to the door that you see the figure - an imposing, large, mechanical figure armed with two devices. It takes up nearly the entire door, only moving aside if there is another Circle member being brought inside. Then it will return to its post. You will notice that if you approach the figure, it will not acknowledge you except to repeat the announcement. Please return to your room. They are impossible to sneak past, but more creative means could provide you with a way to get through. However, if they do catch up to anyone attempting to leave the premise, all they will need to do is touch a Circle member, and an electric shock strong enough to make any and everyone pass out will be administered. If you do manage to make it past the Enforcers, the streets will feel oddly calm - like nothing has happened at all, despite the echo of the announcement around you. Do not waste time here, once you are free - the Enforcers will be chasing down any members who have gotten free, as made obvious if you choose to stay in any kind of public (and most private) spaces for more than an hour or so. Where will you go? below ground. Whether it is a tip from another Circle member, or by coincidence alone, you might be able to find yourself underground. There seems to be more openings, now - all centered around the area of the Races. Doors and passageways with BG’s beckoning members in, taking them down below where even the sound of the announcement can’t be heard. They will offer safety for anyone who was not originally part of the Tunnel Exploration, while also explaining what their fellow Circle members are preparing for. About the Storm, about their history - any of the previous questions asked here will be explained to anyone who makes the trek underground. It will take a day to get all the things in order to transport everyone to The Storm, and this will be a chance for all Circle members to regroup once they make it inside the tunnels. They press you not to wander too far, and to instead simply wait with them in the industrial tunnels below the city, a never-ending interlocking maze of wires, pipes, and metal. It’s dark, dusty, and definitely not comfortable. But one thing it is, they explain in their glitchy half-sentences and partial thoughts, safe. The Mass Consciousness has apparently deemed you a threat, and are systematically working on a solution to the problem. There’s no telling what they might do. wildcard. This is your world to explore. Something has tipped the Mass Consciousness off to a possible issue, a possible threat. What you do with this new status is up to you. Outside of the Hostel, the natives will completely ignore your existence, like you have been entirely erased from their reality. The only ones who seem to notice you are the Enforcers, and the BGs. For those who have decided to investigate, and hopefully put an end to, The Storm, the log will be posted tomorrow (July 28th 11:59 PM EST). ICly and OOCly you will have one more day to prepare. Please be on the lookout for that log, as the description will include what you will find and what you can assume! We will also continue to take questions over at the OOC Post through the course of the event.

Comments

[lumberlady]

There's a-

[The word is still so unfamiliar to her that it sticks in her throat, and she struggles a minute to remember it, hands gesturing uselessly until,]

"Robot" at the door... and he won't let anyone leave.

["He"? She... guesses?]

[lumberlady]

No, it's fine-

[She hadn't wanted to make him feel the need to apologize, he was the one hurt, here. When he clutches his side and half starts to enter the room in case he needs support, but he manages, so-]

It's the "robots" who are doing this.

[She pronounces the word... like she really isn't used to saying it, and considering her species and the simple, homespun way she's dressed... she probably isn't.]

Are you hurt? I can take you somewhere if you are...

[She can't do much in the way of first aid, but she'd heard there are people here who could heal, plus there was that lady doctor...]

[unpatriarchal]

You can call me Lotor.

[ with a slight smile, showing (the tiniest hint) of fanged teeth as he does so. and, indeed, he seems to be holding up fairly well. healing would be wasted. ]

Titles and the like seem to be a wasted, here . . . it's a pleasure to meet you, Firo, though I wish it were under better circumstances.

[efface]

I'd appreciate it.

[ she checks back around the room one last time - just to make sure she isn't forgetting anything - before she turns fully to hughes. she's visibly tense, her hands tight at her sides in an attempt to hide that from him still. she feels raw and vulnerable and angry with herself for feeling that way. ]

He briefed me, yes. And I've got everything I need.

[ her eyes longer on where he holds out his hand to her, still unsure of what this will be like, how it will feel, but above it all she does trust him. trusts him, and roy's plan, and that there's nothing - despite her second of hesitation - to worry about.

and once that second passes, she takes the offered hand. ]

I'm ready when you are, General.

[foundafamily]

[Titles..? Firo makes a note to ask about that later.]

You and me both.

So, Lotor... What was worth getting electrocuted for?

[Aka, he's trying to subtly ask if this guy was looking to escape too.]

action

[insubordination]

[ great. only shiro. but shiro being on the outside is better than no one at all, and at least it's shiro, who is competent. ]

All trapped inside, still, but we have a plan to get out.

[ sort of. ]

It's only going to work for a set amount of people. I'm not entirely sure how far Maes' powers can stretch, or how much energy he has. But it's better than nothing.

[insubordination]

I would never do such a thing.

[ who do you think he is alphonse your dumb idiot brother ]

But yes, he can. We have a decent skillset at our disposal for getting out of here as quickly as possible. We'll make it out just fine.

[insubordination]

[ . . . lord. ]

How about we stick with a small teenager and work our way up from there?

[sonofgold]

I believe you, but all the same, we don't know what may set them off.

I'll trust in all of us, then. We'll be able to do it together.

action

[lonered]

Yeah, I talked to him too. It's a good plan, as long as it lasts. Try to get who you can out, and anyone you can't, I'm confident we can fight our way out together.

[If they can do some coordinating -- which Keith is confident he can manage among his friends at the very least.]

These robots aren't all that different from the Galra sentries. Except I don't think these guys are actively trying to kill us. Yet.

[punshots]

fiiiiiiiine
whatever you need me to do to help, i'm happy to do it!
i got your back, dude

[ He honest, when was the last time Roy was called dude. ]

[dadandgone]

Let's go then.

[Maes tries not to look too relieved, though it probably shows in his eyes. He's glad that there isn't more of an argument, that Hawkeye really does trust that he (and Roy) know what they're doing. For the most part anyway. He does nod though and accepts her hand. He'd already staked out a spot with some preliminary teleporting earlier and so it's not hard at all to picture that location in his head and POP.

He knows he doesn't have to close his eyes, but he finds it helps, so when he opens them again they are now standing in on a rooftop a couple of miles from the hostel. It was a building he had passed a few times on his way to the library and didn't seem to get as much use as some of the others. He thought, as a sniper, Riza might appreciate the vantage point. If it proved unsafe he could get them moving again soon, but at least this would buy some breathing room.]

Not too bad I hope. Roy only told me to get you out of the hostel, I wasn't sure where you might want to go after that.

[insubordination]

[ the feeling of teleportation is still not something roy is used to, and it causes uncomfortable memories, each time. the closest feeling he can think of, to being suddenly pulled somewhere else, is when he travelled through the Gate . . . though this is obviously a lot less painful and traumatic, given maes is the one doing it, and not the fuhrer and his demonic son (?).

but once they land on the other side, roy blinks his vision into focus, and sees . . . enforcers. and, in a heartbeat, roy immediately raises his left hand, to snap his fingers, out of instinct -- but the only thing that happens is a slight spark, from the material of the gloves . . . and the enforcers, by now, have taken notice.

cue a stunned roy for roughly three (3) seconds before he grabs maes by the arm, pulling him backwards. ]

Run -- run, we need to run! This way!

[ WHY DOES THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN TO HIM ]

[insubordination]

Escaping, thusfar, seems to be what sets them off the most.

[ such irritation, honestly. ]

But we'll make it work. We've been through worse.

action

[insubordination]

[ who knows, honestly. it's hard to peg down their intentions when they're not strictly human. ]

We're outnumbered.

[ a reminder, as he crosses his arms over his chest. ]

And we have no idea how many of these creatures are truly sympathetic to us, or our cause. Most of them seem to lack any amount of free will; we can't be sure they won't turn on us the moment we begin to fight.

[insubordination]

[ what the fuck is a dude he's from like 1900 ]

Much appreciated.

[ teenagers are weird. ]

So long as you keep yourself safe in the process.

[lonered]

That's true. We might be heading into worse outside the hostel. But so far, they haven't done anything to hurt us. Even the force they're using so far seems non-lethal.

[Not pleasant. But non-lethal.]

Whatever is going on... it's worth the risk to get out of here. I like our chances better out there than locked in here entirely under their control.

[And Shiro is out there, and Keith hasn't been able to get him on the communicator, so he is dead set on making his way out for his own reasons on top of the more practical and rational reasons.]

[unpatriarchal]

I have little interest in being kept here against my will.

[ mildly enough, as he rubs at his side. ]

My experience in being held captive normally suggests they don't intend on playing nice for very long . . . why, do you enjoy our housing?

[ let's bust out of here firo ok ]

[unpatriarchal]

Ah... no, thank you.

[ he is not being carried around by a horse person, thank you. HE HAS PRIDE. but: ]

I am hurt, but it is nothing to worry over, or waste energy on. I simply want to leave here, and I have to find the people [ person ] I care about in this building to ensure they [ she ] made it out safely, as well.

[ what a long week this has been. ]

So while I will refuse the healing, I will accept some company, if you would be so willing. They clearly seem to like you.

[ given the androids didn't electrocute her for leaving her room, though granted, lotor was actually trying to ditch this place. ]

[lumberlady]

[They like her... ? Konoha is obviously confused by that, but he said he would take company, so she creeps inside (as sneakily as a half ton centaur can) and shuts the door gently behind her.]

If you don't try to leave the building, they don't really... bother you...

[But even as she says it, she knows it's... not good.]

You don't think... we should wait here? They're really strong.

[She hasn't tested whether the shocks the robots delivered would be as effective on her much larger body, but... she wasn't exactly raring to.]

[foundafamily]

[He's so with you, buddy; he just came from prison and isn't excited about being locked up again.]

It's not my taste either.

[He half-smiles.]

Actually, I was thinking I should've slipped out while you were distracting them... but since the ship's sailed on that, what do you say to teaming up?

[sonofgold]

We have... and we've come out the other side of it.

Let me know if there's anything I can do to help.

#hijinks

[dadandgone]

[Maes's brain takes a second to catch up. He'd been trying to get to a point where teleporting would become more second nature. But, he'd only had the ability for a few weeks now. It's not enough time. So, instead of doing the sensible thing and teleporting them out of there, Maes follows behind Roy and starts running.

The enforcers are quick to move once they have noticed. Maes doesn't look back because he knows that will slow them down, but they're robots right? Odds are they'll catch them eventually. How can they be faster than -- oh right.]

Hang on!

[This time Maes doesn't have the luxury of pausing to concentrate. He just tightens his grip on Roy and teleports them again in mid-step. The funny thing about this is that apparently their momentum transfers over. Maes has teleported them to a hallway at least, so they aren't about to run straight into a wall.

On the downside, they are back in the hostel and running towards a different set of enforcers.]

Oh come on!

[efface]

[ she isn't one to argue normally (she either does what roy tells her or not at all, there's no real room to argue) but especially not today. not after realizing her own issues with it, with being here, and how clear the association is. roy had been worried about it, enough to physically come to her room to check on her. she's not going to bother hughes with it too.

so instead riza simply takes his hand and nods.

the sensation is nothing she's ever felt before. a sudden feeling of something to the point riza can't keep her own eyes open, and then it's over. before she could even get a handle on what is happening, there is another feeling under her feet. another kind of ground. when she opens her eyes again, it's to a rooftop, and immediately her knees bend to catch her - like she'd been falling, when she definitely was not. but once that feeling of being somewhere that, in that time, should have been impossible, riza takes stock of where they are. of the location, the view. hughes had picked it out for a sniper's eyes, she could tell, and riza is immediately grateful. ]

This will work perfectly. Thank you, sir. [ and then riza is stepping away from the spot they landed on to start moving around, checking the different vantage points, the different views, before turning back to him. ] Are you going back inside?

[dadandgone]

[Would Roy be happy that he deposited Riza so close to the hostel? Probably not. But he always had the excuse that his power only let him go so far and, well, you didn't bench your best shot when shit was going down. He had no idea what was about to unfold and if they needed cover, well, Maes wanted to know where he could count on Riza being.]

Yes. I have to get Alphonse next or at least see if he needs help. Then it's a matter of taking care of Roy.

[And whether that means helping him get others out or getting Roy himself out is up in the air at this point. But if Riza can't be by his side right now, then he'll take that spot. He holds up his wrist, tapping the watch they'd been given upon arriving at the temple.]

If you need to change locations quickly for some reason, let me know. I don't know if those Enforcers are eventually going to be moving out past the hostel or not.