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Entry tags:
❪ test drive #7 ❫
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YOUR STORY BEGINS  The Storm came. You remember darkness, but you don't remember much after that. You don't know how long you slept, but the dreams were short. You remember the expanse of stars and galaxies in your direct view. Every world and solar system ever known to man was present in your dreams in careful, pristine detail. You also witnessed the Storm, which has devoured a fair portion of these galaxies. Your Earth and similar planets were assimilated by the Storm. Somehow, you knew it would be the last you'd see of your world. That was when she told you what happened. You knew that you'd be living somewhere new. The details weren't clear, but you knew it was a part of a deal with the entity known as Darma - once, you might have been able to speak to her, but now you are only met with silence. When you awake, you will find yourself in Thesa Station. Your body is still cold, you're hungry, and the halls seem frighteningly bare somehow. EMPTY HALLS ![](https://i.imgur.com/G8jldQW.png") Despite the absence of Darma and the rest of the Natha Orbiters, the station is still managing to sustain itself. Those that dig within the station’s log will find that it’s currently in some sort of Energy Saving Mode. While Thesa isn’t at risk of failing any time soon, people will notice that the ship will appear more dim and desolate. Malfunctions will be common, and while none seem to be life-threatening (yet), they are notably inconvenient. Fortunately, it seems the Orbiters were prepared for the worst, and in a potential response to these concerning turn of events, they've prepared some help.
The virtual assistant takes a wide variety of shapes, from adorable animals to metal paper clips with googly eyes. Regardless of what form they take, their mission is clear: to help in any way they can. It’s unfortunate, however, that they just haven’t been calibrated properly. Hence, they will appear at the strangest times— in the middle of dinner or an important conversation— sometimes they won’t even offer anything useful. Apparently they were designed after a program that existed once, but who really knows.... However, while they may seem like nothing but trouble at first, there are many occasions in which they can actually help. They are equipped with a whole wealth of information on how to keep the station operational. They can offer tutorials and step-by-step instructions on how to fix various aspects of the station and beyond. Their knowledge is extensive, and if they believe the refugee they're assigned to needs a different kind of help (a lesson in smiling or how to have adequate small talk being some of the many topics they're equipped to teach), well ... they're not against supplying it. Expect some invasive teaching. The virtual assistants are also all synced together. Meaning, if there’s a big enough problem, they can ping one another and assign refugees to help with certain parts of the ship. The only problem is that prioritizing may not be their strong suit. What seems like a simple issue could be exacerbated into a huge ordeal. What someone thinks is a fire in the main hatch could actually be a plumbing issue near the Mess Hall. They also seem to assign people arbitrarily. One can only hope all the refugees get along. SEND HELP  While no specific parts of the station are necessarily offline, a lot of the tasks the station would normally complete on its own will need to be handled manually. Fortunately, the main functions of the station are more than accounted for, however everything else will be up to the refugees. As there is no telling when the Natha Orbiters will return, perhaps it’d be wise to take this opportunity to learn to be a little more self-sufficient on Thesa Station. 1. There are some areas the Station can’t automatically clean without exiting its current emergency protocols. Each of these areas will be marked off on the map provided by Thesa's very own virtual assistant, Yppilc. According to Yppilc, one of the key places that would benefit from a good wash down is the airlock. As a fair amount of foreign matter travels through these doors, special suits will be provided for those cleaning the area. The suits will have a built-in communications system and will also include its own oxygen tank. A helpful feature to have, just in case someone may be swept out into space. Which happens more often than one would think! Cleaning too close to the controls can trigger the doors to open… they’re sensitive. The oxygen tank isn’t equipped to last very long, so you can only help comes soon. GIFTS FROM THESA  The Natha have bequeathed their will unto the refugees, the burden of watching over their dear planet not given without a token of trust. Everyone, those newly awakened and those already settled, will receive periodic urging from Yppilc to visit the VR facilities. These messages will grow more frequent, more frantic, the longer they go ignored - for the sake of sleep, it’s best to indulge the request. Load into the simulation, and the scene is mired by the confusion of battle. You and another stand on a low hanging precipice, overlooking a failing front line. The location and conditions of the fight vary, drawn from the memories and fears of the participants themselves. Olympia and Wyver, locked in a caustic war - and your new home is succumbing. Or your homeland, entrenched in conflict from the past, or from a dreaded future. While the scene laid out before you is chaotic, one thing stands clear; your allies are fighting a losing battle. Comrades fall, innocents flee, and the wounded cry out for help. The program has determined what could best spur you and your comrade to intervene, though the more stubborn refugees may need additional goading from their partners. Your next action determines more than the outcome of the fight before you. Choose wisely - this message is conveyed mentally in a garbled voice that sounds familiar and ethereal all at once. Jump into action and fight. Save an ally - perhaps even your partner in this simulation - from certain death. Or help those who cannot help themselves. Act, and you will find yourself imbued with a new power. Use it, and the scene will soon come to a close. Despite returning to the reality of Thesa Station, you’ll find this newfound power still within your grasp. A gift from Darma, to aid in the battles to come. OOC Note: Feel free to give your character any one power that would be classified as a ‘major spell’ on the ACP rewards table. These powers can fall under any category (Unaffiliated, Natha, Olympia, or Wyver), and must be reported by existing characters and new applicants here under the most appropriate header no later than September 8th 11:59PM EST. Please include a brief description of the power you’ve chosen. You will receive a response within 48 hours if there are any modifications required. SOCIAL-LINKED(in) By some miracle, there are still some quieter parts of the hall. This may be an appropriate time to check out your smartphone. Aside from the expected "Omage" app, there seems to be a new one called Social-Linked. There, you may find a profile waiting to be posted. The app allows for the user to fill it in, but there is also an auto-function! upon pressing it, it will generate a shockingly-honest answer based on the Natha's observation of your history. Roman will be your only friend in this app, with his very own profile: PROBLEMS IN STASIS  1. The ship’s malfunctions have reached the stasis chamber, a long feared outcome finally dawning on sleeping friends and families. Yppilc will be quick to notify all refugees aboard that the pods will need close monitoring. Whether you’re visiting to keep an eye on things, or simply there to see the face of someone dear, be careful. Bumping a control panel, or drawing a hand along the glass could trigger an emergency ejection. Lights blink and a mechanism hisses, and then the pod is gone. With the pod thrust into space, you’ll be left with nothing but a small screen displaying the chamber’s position. There are ways to retrieve it— such as climbing into a suit from the airlock or following Yppilc’s instructions. Regardless of approach, it’s imperative that you stay calm. One error, and you could eject another pod or cut off the view screen entirely. 2. The newly awakened won’t find a moment of respite. The errors that pervade over the rest of the station have altered the contingencies for resuscitation in a majority of the pods. Some may awaken with gaps in their memory, or an old injury yet unhealed. Some may be afflicted with new ailments, such as loss of a sense or severe nausea. Anything could happen, with the computer systems processing so inconsistently. Interfacing with Thesa in any way, from entering the VR simulator to accessing the medical facilities, can cause the same range of side effects, so even established refugees should take caution. FINAL OOC NOTES
As always, feel free to wildcard prompts within Thesa Station!
These threads may be carried over as game canon if players choose. Players are encouraged to submit TDM threads as application samples, but they are not required. Please direct any OOC questions to the questions thread below. Players may submit an AC-length thread HERE from this TDM for 2 Natha REP. The due date for submission is September 16 11:59 PM EST. For this application cycle, there will be a cap of 60 and no reserves. Applications will be open on September 2 12:01 AM EST and end on September 4 11:59 PM EST. Thank you! |
no subject
Yeah, they needed a host for the apocalypse special on Nightline and I signed up on the spot. Gotta invest heavy on the charm or nobody's quitting their panic to tune in.
[She's not wrong to question him though. He casts a regretful glance to the pods at their sides.]
You're right Annie, it's not ideal, but right now you are in a safe zone. You'll have time to get your sea legs and wrap your head around everything.
no subject
You've got the charm. [She can admit it. He's certainly got a witty answer for everything.] What's everything, exactly? Earth's really gone? What's left of my friends and family are somewhere in there? [She says it with a nod toward the pods.] Do we wake 'em up or do they just sort of come to on their own?
no subject
How nice of you to say!
[Usually he gets, "Shut up, Richie." But for now he'll take this rare compliment, got to relish the roses when they're thrown your way.]
They might. [He tucks his hands in his pockets.] And I can't say for sure. Usually they group people from the same place together, so it might be this all they rescued.
[His lips tighten into a thin line. Hard to say where her buddies end and another set begins, but regardless, there'll be more missing than saved.]
I'm sorry.
no subject
Her expression goes blank in the moment before she shakes her head.] Don't be. It's not your fault.
[He gets a look.] Unless it is.
no subject
Do I look like a harbinger of doom to you?
no subject
Still. She hopes it's evident that it's stress teasing.]
Do you want honesty or politeness?
no subject
Why don't we leave it at charming? I liked that one.
I'm Rich, by the way.
no subject
That wasn't a lie. You are charming and, I'll add, incredibly helpful. [He'd succeeded for a moment in keeping her mind off all the amazingly ridiculous things that could have gone wrong. And had, right before she'd arrived.]
So, that makes the pleasure mine, Rich. [And still, she's being honest.] Thank you. For a minute there, I thought I might have a breakdown. It's been a long time since I've panicked like that.
no subject
Just that it makes it all the more poignant when she gets sincere, and he has to scoff through a grin to slough it off.]
Oh, enough. You don't have to lay it on. [He wipes needlessly at the corner of his mouth. Fidgeting is still in his DNA. Dimmed drastically from the hyperactivity of his boyhood, but it manifested when he didn't watch himself or pick a focus for that restlessness.] No one would blame you if you did flip your lid, by the way. It's not an easy thing, waking up to the likes of this. If you need a moment I can—
[He gives a whistle as he jams his thumb over his shoulder.]
no subject
[She brushes herself off for good measure, the clothes not really conducive to long walks (or even short ones) at first glance, but she's done more with less. Her expression falters slightly.] Unless you're busy. Some other person to welcome to. Wherever exactly this is?
no subject
No, I'm free. And we're supposed to help the new kids anyway, civic duty and all that. [He makes a broad gesture to the high ceiling, the metallic and grim spread that stretches for ages beyond the pods.] For starters, this is Thesa, welcome. It's a spaceship designed to look like a moon. Don't want to freak out the natives down below, you know.
no subject
[This guy is a kick. But he's quickly taking the focus off her panic and also her pain, which she's grateful for, and that makes him a good guy.]
So. They're down there and we're just. What, waking up in rounds? [Annie gives him a long look up and down, clearly curious. ] How long have you been awake, Charming?
no subject
[He shrugs.] I got here when it was, hmm...last winter. Think it's close to nine months for me.
no subject
The reminder of what she's just come from is enough to keep half a smile plastered on her face as she nods along to what he's saying. At the same time, she hopes her questions appear casual. ]
Is there any way to ensure that someone doesn't end up back here? You've done it for nine months, what's your secret?
no subject
No clue. I've outlasted far more capable and younger folks, and it's not like I've done a special amount of sucking up or community service. It's luck of the draw I'm afraid.
[Her fright doesn't escape him. And the pods, expansive and moodily lit, can't be helping alleviate her fears. Richie motions to her to come forward.] Maybe we should do a little exploring. Get you some better bearings of the place. This shit never fails to give me the willies.
no subject
[She says it as if she's not in her early-mid thirties and nods as he makes his offer, looking around with one last hopeful glance before it fades into something almost tragic. The person she's looking for isn't here; it confirms what she's known and she visibly bucks up.]
Understandable. Alive but not awake isn't really all there. [She looks down at her hands, then touches her hairline where she feels a hint of pain, but there's nothing there. She knew there wouldn't be and Rich gets a smile. Clearly, she's over whatever it was.] Where does the tour go from here?
no subject
Richie only gives a humorless snort.]
You aren't wrong, let me tell you.
[And it's all the more tragic for it. Shame though, whatever stuck her with such a grim mantra must have been bad.
That's her business, none of his. Getting Annie Walker walking, that's the matter at hand.]
Depends. You feeling hungry? Or do you want to take a look at the expanse of space?
no subject
Taking in the surroundings one more time, she tries to decide if she's more hungry or more curious about space and though she'd left lunch behind at home, she has to admit that the lure of space is more intriguing than filling her stomach. She watches his face for a moment for a clue, then takes a deep breath.]
Starving. But space is more important than food.
[Space Camp had been a thing and this was the ultimate realization of that.]
no subject
I can't decided if your priorities are backwards, but all right. Observation Deck it is.
[He summons her forth, setting the pace at medium slow just in case she gets woozy again. The walk shouldn't take too long.] You get used to it quick enough, I think. Particularly once the bullshit starts up again. What was it you did for a living?
[It's a good gauge for how well she's going to adapt to the dragons and time slips. She's pretty regular in Richie's mind.
So she's fucked, probably. Let's hope she's at least met a wizard.]
no subject
[She's not sure what space and food have to do with what she did for a living, but she takes the question in stride as she glances around the hallway they're moving down.] Hmm? Oh, I was an acquisitions specialist for the Smithsonian. [L i a r.] A, uh. Museum. What about you? Astronaut?
[Deflection is good. No wizards and no homicidal clowns, either.]
no subject
[He shoots her a pleased look. My god, a place he knows! Good signs, more fellow Americans! Bad in that she won't be primed to tackle the nonsense. All his own prior experience with the supernatural taught him it was out to murder him. Many months passed before he stopped flinching at every flick of the wand or ghostly apparition. Much improved he was.]
I know the Smithsonian! Never been, but I'm based in L.A. And no astronaut, no. I'm a DJ. Effectively useless in the new world order, I'm afraid.
no subject
[How can being in space wear off? That just seems like it'd go on forever, literally. He's the expert and she's not going to argue the point because he's got a point, actually, something she's found in life. Still. Space.]
Hey, no. [She holds up a finger to make her own point.] Music makes the world go 'round. As long as you have something, I wouldn't call you useless. [She tilts her head, which reminds her that there's a headache lurking.] Do we have that here? Good music.
[Emphasis on 'good'.]