❪ test drive: #2 ❫ THE OVERFLOW

[natha]

ORIGINAL POST

THE PROLOGUE     Many people in stasis seem to be medically sound enough to wake up, brother. Are the preparations ready to go? Yes, I've long prepared myself for this. Watching them everyday has been truly rewarding. ... Right. Yeah. Okay, let's get them ready to wake up. We should keep their minds active to ease the transition into consciousness. A simple VR program should do the trick, I think. I will boot one immediately. There! All systems are green. Their consciousnesses are linked. However, their minds appear to be too active... They may be over-stimulated, brother. Huh? How can that be...? Can we pull them out safely? Not from my end, no. This may be too large for us to fix alone. Do you think...? Yes, I think so... It will have to be done organically. Can you send out a message to our refugees? Of course, brother. I will send one swiftly. We must be sure to fix this before Darma returns. There is urgency in the Orbiters' request. Refugees currently in El Nysa are asked via mass message to please return to Thesa Station virtual reality area immediately. Zasere tells them that the next set of Refugees are scheduled to wake, but there's been an issue. On Thesa, refugees will find that the people in stasis are still apparently trapped in slumber. Most of them are complete strangers, but there's a chance you may recognize a familiar face or two. Normally, these people would wake up from their pods without issue, but due to a malfunction caused by the unforeseen force during The Descent, they have to go through extra measures to make this possible. Those in slumber require extra stimulation, something to keep their minds active. What better than a simulation of an area of El Nysa? Keeping their minds active requires an extremely involved simulation. Those subjected to the VR (prospective characters) will find themselves completely immersed in their new environment, believing themselves to be native Olympians. To wake up from the simulation, characters must work together to accomplish a certain objective(s) in the icy tundra. Characters in-game will be aware that this is a simulation, but this is good practice for properly interacting with El Nysa natives, isn't it? An AC-length log thread on this TDM may be submitted for Two (2) Natha REP points HERE. Please read the OOC note at the bottom of this post for the terms. PROMPT: WINTER CAME     The wind in the icy wasteland is bitter and frigid. You are wrapped up in a winter coat, but even still, the cold bites at your skin and leaves you yearning for a warm fire. Perhaps you're a merchant from the city, here to make a delivery, or you're a royal guard, sent to patrol the area. Who are you? The sky is the limit. One thing is certain — you won't snap out of your new identity until you finish a task. 1. Due to the vast diversity of the creatures on El Nysa and the fact that new ones are constantly being discovered, an important objective is to carefully chronicle different species. Unfortunately, to research these new species, they happen to need more than just a visual. More than just fleeting glances in over a snowy hill. Researchers are constantly looking for ways to secure... You guessed it! Blood and stool samples. The supplies for the former will be given. Supplies are offered in a small box; one per person. In this box is a small dart that will automatically procure a small touch of blood, and easily shaken off so the creature will be able to securely escape. As for the latter— well, they'll give you a plastic bag if that counts. Look, sometimes to get a job done, you have to get your hands dirty. Specifically, they seek samples from a newly recorded rare beast known as a Klep. Kleps spend much of their time hidden in caves, so hitting them with the darts will be tricky. They are also nocturnal, but you may be able to lure them out of the cave with fish as bait. When struck with a dart, you must grab the dart and escape immediately, as they will charge you, and killing such an endangered species is illegal. As for stool samples, well... Once you find a pile, you will have plenty of sample to work with. 2. It's cold, to say the least. Too cold to continue forward. Whatever you were doing, you must stop and seek shelter. Looks like your goal is clear, at least. Get warm. Not finding a way to sustain heat, whether it be seeking shelter, building a fire, cuddling up, or all of the above, will likely end in serious consequences. 3. You are stuck in a dilemma. On one hand, you are set to work for Olympia. One the other, you're not completely sure what is really expected of you, or who the man who gave you this mission truly is. You and your partner are meant to protect precious trade cargo for them. You were told that these were essential supplies for one of the outer colonies. They assured you it was mostly food. In loading the cargo onto the supplied wagon with your partner, however, you noticed something inherently off about it. The weight and even the sounds of some of the contents inside definitely don't sound like food. Moreover, some boxes are more obviously more concealed— draped in black sheets and reinforced on all sides. You've also caught wind of rumors that you are potentially being utilized to supply advanced weapons and other contraband to Wyver terrorists in the colonies. But what do you do? Refuse to make the delivery, and people in the colony will surely starve. Try to remove the weapons and only deliver the food, and you will be killed on sight for being too suspicious. Make the delivery as-is, and not only will Olympians die at the hands of terrorists in the future, but you will betray your country. Decide quickly... 4. There are many dangers associated with traveling in such an isolated, harsh environment. You must help each other to survive. Perhaps someone has fallen on thin ice, and requires a rescue. Maybe someone is on the brink of starvation, and you must share what provisions you have. When you come to, you will awaken in Thesa Station. All will be explained to you by Zasere or Sael via telepathic link. Your world is no more. The Storm has consumed it. We offer proof in the Observation Deck if you desire it, but it won't be an easy thing to stomach. We offer you a new life, in our planet of El Nysa. We just ask for your help in maintaining the vitality of El Nysa. What can we offer you in exchange for your help? PROMPT: STASIS UNIT     You have found the massive section of Thesa known as the Stasis Unit. There’s no special access required to access this part of Thesa Station, but refugees are warned that it may not be for the faint of heart. Here, in large pods that nearly cover every square inch of the space, are all of the people the Orbiters have managed to rescue. Your loved ones, your greatest enemy, your next door neighbor— you might find them here. These people are in a state of deep cryosleep. Due to the damaging effects of The Storm, their bodies are not yet ready to be awoken. PROMPT: GET REKT     The Orbiters have noticed that some of the refugees really miss their video games. The technology in El Nysa could be much worse, but it definitely leaves much to be desired. Which is why, after expressing relief that everyone awoke safely, the Orbiters have decided to provide a little fun in the form of video game competitions. Anything from old-timey arcade machines to state-of-the-art computers, consoles, and VR headsets (though you may be a little tired of VR right now...) is available, and yes, they have your favorite games! Enjoy PAC-MAN, Starcraft 2, or perhaps Dance Dance Revolution! Teach a friend how to play. Get unnecessarily angry and competitive. Most importantly, have fun. Keep fourthwalling to a minimum, please. Recommended playing: QWOP PROMPT: OMAGE     Upon receiving your mobile phone, you will be asked to set a username. Voila, you can now access the network! You can choose to send a message to the entire network, specific usernames, or you can try out the Orbiters’ service, Omage, which connects you to a random user. They thought this might be a good way for their new guests to make friends with each other... Connecting to server... Looking for someone you can chat with... You’re now chatting with [username]... Say hi! PROMPT: WILDCARD     You are welcome to write any scenarios in Thesa Station! Characters have been granted temporary access to the Observation Room, and are encouraged to study it carefully. FINAL OOC NOTE     Please give toplevel priority to prospective characters! Current characters wishing to thread these scenarios with other current characters are encouraged to create separate logs. However, threads between 2 current characters are not eligible for Natha Orbiter REP. 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! A TDM thread of AC length may be submitted HERE for 2 NATHA ORBITER REPUTATION POINTS. Current players may submit their thread at any time, and prospective players may submit a thread after acceptance. Please note that threads must contain at least five (5) log comments from your character. A toplevel counts as a comment. Network threads are not eligible. QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● world ● map ● reputation ● npcs taken ● reserves ● application calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

[inaurare]

Just Reinhardt, then.

[gloved hands rise to stifle a tinkling trickle of laughter at the thought of himself on the man's shoulders]

I don't doubt that you could do it. But I'm not sure it would make the most graceful journey for either of us...

[amused at the suggestion, though, shaking his head still as he makes an effort to silence himself. Better tread more carefully, and with fewer sudden noises, lest they scare away their quarry.]

[panzersoldat]

[ Reinhardt lets out a hardy guffaw at that. He knows he's not graceful in the least. Anything but, really. Having this slip if a young man on his shoulders wouldn't really bother him in the least. But he's not going to press Linneus to do such a thing. If the youth thinks he can do it, then who is Reinhardt to disbelieve him. ]

I think we need to get closer to the caves. [ But the young man does have the right idea. Quiet for the hunt. But Reinhardt doesn't really do quiet well. He's too much of a loud and boisterous knight.
He's not used to sneaking about. Of course if they find any dung, a cat would surely be somewhere near. ]

[inaurare]

To the caves, then?

[and they can see what they find there. Of course trying to be quiet and actually being quiet are two separate things - need mind the terrain; Linneus isn't even used to the clothing, the extra layers, the heavy boots; the added weight. He remembers to lift his feet up enough to combat the snow, at least, but he feels extra conscious of every rustle of clothing, every shift of the snow underfoot and there's a little gasp as one foot sinks unexpectedly - he was sure he had it planted! And if he's scaring off their quarry, he's not helping Reinhardt's side of the mission, is he?]

[panzersoldat]

[ It's not like the giant mountain of a man was being any more quiet. While he's used to this, to the weight of the furs and the depth of the snow, but the fact of the matter was that stealth wasn't really something a man is size was capable of. He just hopes that the sound won't travel too far. Not because of the cats but because of the danger of avalanche.

But the caves are pretty close. It might take a bit of climbing to get to them, but he can see a little path through the snow where an animal has been moving around to and from the caves. ] I think we're getting close.

The least-stealthy duo in the history of stealth, these two...!

[inaurare]

[the cats would certainly flee at the first sign of an avalanche...

Linneus is careful about setting his footsteps; keeping an eye on the snow - are there any footprints? Any sign that either of them might be able to track...? - and he stops to look around, raising a hand to shield his eyes against the glare. The faint outline of the cave entrance he can just about make out in the distance, through the snow]

Is there anything we can follow? Or do you think the snow might have covered their tracks already...?

[panzersoldat]

[ He looks beside him his small companion. ] I think there might be. I'm not the best at tracking, but I'm willing to bet the cats use that cave up there as a home. So at least you can fill your bag.

[ He looks at the trail the animal must have made through the snow. ] We should follow this up. It' might be easier than to climb up a sheer cliff. Don't worry if you fall though, because I will catch you.

[ Reinhardt starts picking their way along that trail the cats had made up to the caves. ]

[inaurare]

Hopefully it shan't come to that.

[Lowering his hands as he turns around to look at Reinhardt, giving him a smile]

But I trust you.

[lingering a second before they start moving again; a pause to scrutinise the tracks as he passes them]

...do you think these are Klep footprints?

[panzersoldat]

[ He stops to look at the little prints in the snow. They sort of look like paw prints of some sort. They seems a bit large, but no one has ever seen a Klep before in his knowledge. He's been here in the North nearly all his life and he's never actually seen one, so... ] They might be. It looks like the Klep uses this trail often.

[ He will press ahead of Linneus again, this time to also protect him in case there are Klep. If they are aggressive, he wants it to be him that's attacked and not the small male behind him. ] It looks like a family. I see big feet and little feet here. So we might be in luck for lots of samples for you. [ And maybe a Klep kitten too, if he can find and take one. ]

[inaurare]

[a little chuckle at that]

A family?

[how much can be learned from a couple of generations' blood or stool samples, Linneus isn't sure. There is the possibility of bringing one back, if they can find a kit small enough but... he can't help but hesitate over that. Even if that's part of the work they were sent out here to do, and a kit would be a far greater prize than what they were originally sent out for... were they to take one, Linneus isn't sure he would be able to hand it over to the scientists, for their tests.

But he is getting ahead of himself, and there are other things to be done, first.

Accepting the change in formation, he falls in behind Reinhardt for their advance on the cave. The chill still stings his eyes and nose and cheeks, but the cold in his body is quite forgotten, now they have been moving a bit]

[panzersoldat]

[ He nods a little. ] Yes. It looks like a few big ones and some little ones. [ Honestly, while he doesn't want to break a family unit up, it would be great for research. But at the same time, he is also thinking like Linneus is. Which is that he doesn't want some small animal tortured for science.

However, he wouldn't mind keeping an adorable kitten as a pet. But that means finding said kittens.

He works his way up, pausing as he went, to make sure the smaller man is still behind him and didn't need his help. But eventually, they'll reach the first of the cave system. ] Be careful. We don't know if they're in there or not.

[inaurare]

[he nods, carefully patting himself down. Of course there are no extra weapons - their no-kill instructions were specific. And besides, Linneus wouldn't want to. It's just he feels, suddenly, he ought to be better on his guard, even with Reinhardt ahead of him.

The cave... is probably not warmer, it's just out of the blizzard a little; enough that Linneus breathes a little sigh as they step in, muffled by his glove.

Softly, peering around the other man-]

Anything...?

[panzersoldat]

[ The cave is just slightly warmer because it is out of the wind. Reinhardt knows that if the snow gets any heavier, they might have to stay here for a bit. He doesn't want to do that. He doesn't know if his small companion could withstand a night in the freezing cold.

He looks around. He wishes he had brought something to light things better. But he thinks he sees more tracks on the ground and further in, there are indeed little piles of droppings. ]

We have poop. Which means we have cats. They might be deeper in, or they might be out. But if they are out, they'll smell us in here and go somewhere else. So let's hope there's something deeper.

[ Even if he has to start bending because the cave roof keeps sloping downwards. ]

[inaurare]

[at least with this they can return with at least one objective fulfilled and in absence of any immediate threat, Linneus is happy to bob down and get scooping. They were even kind enough to equip him with labels and a few pairs of gloves for the task... though he has to take off his warm ones and tuck them under his arm to don the disposables]

Will you keep an eye out?

[it's not a slow task by any means but he can't defend himself while he focuses on it. Bagging, stripping off the gloves to label in a delicate hand, putting it all away and putting his fur gloves back on. It's surprising how quick the cold is to seep into his fingers. Flexing them as he gets back up; a smile. This is good, this is what they were asked to do]

Shall we proceed, then?

[Further in? There may be other samples to take...]

[panzersoldat]

I will. [ Reinhardt places himself between the mouth of the cave and the smaller man. If something comes in, it'll attack him first, and he can watch down the cave into the darkness for anything coming from that direction.

He remains that way until the young man is finished and putting his gloves back on. ] We can. But first, a moment of your time. [ He'll step forward and cup his huge hands around Linneus'. He rubs them vigorously and leans down to blow hot breath on the gloved hands, trying to warm them. ] All right now? Warm again?

[ Once he's certain those hands are indeed warm again, he'll turn and start down again, keeping his eye out for more poo or even a sight of white fur. He thinks he hears something ahead, but it's hard to tell in the dark. ]

[inaurare]

[he dips his head to stifle a chuckle in the fur of his collar as the man warms his hands. He would laugh, but they're trying to be quiet here, and in the echoing cave his laugh would probably ring too much. He lets Reinhardt proceed, though, nodding as he withdraws.]

Much better, thank you.

[he pats himself down, makes sure he's not leaving anything behind before he follows along, carefully moving through the cave behind the man.

A sound catches his ear as well - he can't tell if it's the whistling of the wind, or something more, but he reaches out to catch Reinhardt ahead of a bend in the cave, tugging firmly on his furs. Mouthing clearly, once he has the man's attention-]

Slow.

[panzersoldat]

Good. I am glad. [ He would hate for this young man to freeze because of this mission of theirs. A mission that, at the moment, was only half completed.

He was about to press further ahead when he feels that little grasp on his furred cloak. He turns and barely makes out the movement of Linneus' lips. He nods. He'll go slower, not just so he doesn't knock his head, but so if there really is anything ahead, he doesn't surprise it too greatly.]

[inaurare]

[he keeps one hand snagged in the man's coat. Not that he will be able to pull him back even if it comes to that, but it's reassuring, just... keeping him close by and leaning his slight weight against the man to peer around him as they get to a corner.

As much as he can peer around him, at least - unfortunately Reinhardt is quite the obstacle.]

[panzersoldat]

[ Linneus is so light against him that he can barely feel the younger man. The only reason why he knows the youth is there is because he feels a slight bit warmer from how close the smaller is.

He shifts a little more so that the smaller can see what he sees. He had been right about a family. The adults aren't around, but there are three tiny white kittens squirming around. ]

Linnues. Look. They're adorable.

[inaurare]

[a low gasp, which he stifles in a gloved hand]

They are...!

[an abortive move to step closer, but he holds himself in check - physically so, the hold of his other hand tightening on Reinhardt's furs. The parents - one or both - surely can't be far away. He cannot let his good sense be overwhelmed here.]

What do we do?

[take one? Take them all? Try to get some blood and leave it at that - can they, with the equipment they have?]

[panzersoldat]

[ He considers it again. Just going and taking the kits. Surely,
the three of them would be well received...Or end up being three very pampered house pets. But they look so small and weak and he's sure that the parents will have to come back soon. They need to be out before they do, because he knows animals fight their hardest when protecting their young. ]

I have the dart and the things to take blood. I think if I take a little from each kit, that will be enough. I would love to take them, but do you think it's right? I think instead, if you help me hold them. So that I can take blood without hurting them too much, that will be enough. It's our mission after all. And you and I don't ever have to tell them about this family, ja?

[inaurare]

[a little nod]

I think they will be best served staying with their parents.

[he doesn't like the thought of leaving even one of them in the hands of scientists. To be "examined". And if provided with three... it's possible they'd be kept to no such requirements the two of them were issued, with regard to not killing.

It will be their secret. And as much as he would love to cuddle one close, even for a moment, that is out of the question, too. Hopefully they can be careful enough that the parents won't sense any outsider meddling?

And he can perhaps look into finding himself a pet, once they return]

We should do this quickly as we can, then.

[panzersoldat]

Then this is what we will do. I will need you to take this fur. Hopefully, it won't have my scent too heavily upon it. And you can go ahead of me and wrap one of the kits up in it, so that they feel safe while I give them each a little stick.

[ Despite the cold of the cave, Reinhardt is indeed taking off his next layer of fur to hand to Linneus. It's toasty warm from being against his huge frame. Then he pulls out the vials and the little needle they need for the sample taking. ]

All right. I'll keep an eye out behind me. If the parents come, they will have to get through me first.

[inaurare]

Very well,

[another of those small nods and he moves around the man, stepping carefully as he moves toward the little nest the Keep have made. If it's possible, he'll keep to the outside and reach in, handling one of the little creatures solely in the fur and gently wrapping it up to bring over to Reinhardt.]

They're so small. Be gentle...

[his little bundle feels like it's more Reinhardt's fur than anything...]

((...totally making purritos))

[panzersoldat]

[ He's handed the most adorable little purrito. He almost changes his mind about keeping them. Reinhardt loves lions. Most all of his gear when he had been a knight had been emblazoned with lions. He had been Lionhardted. He lived for and loved the symbolism and the nobility of such beasts. And the Klep weren't really lions, but close enough. And this one was super cute, mewling in the furs. ]

Of course. I would never dream of hurting them. Just a little stick and some blood.

[ He's as careful as he is collecting from the tiny kitten before handing it back for the next. Surely, working together like this, they'll be finished in no time, unless he gets distracted by tiny wrapped bundles of cute. ]

[inaurare]

[...it gets harder.

The first time was okay, he was able to gather the little creature up all business-like without lingering too long, but he has to take a little more time putting the first back down with its sisters or brothers. The only thing that keeps him from reaching out for just a little stroke is that he will have to take his gloves off to do so and they are trying to be quick.

The little bundle is put carefully down, unwrapped, the tiny creature carefully returned and the next scooped up, squeaking in his hold as he wraps it and brings it over]

My heart can't take much more of this, it truly can't...!