❪ 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

[panzersoldat]

[ Reinhardt is indeed still there. His heart is racing as well. As much as he had wanted to stay and help the people distribute the food, this is what needed to be done. Those innocent people would die if this wasn't stopped. But it's still difficult to keep up the act for as long as he does.

He hates being called 'old man' and he hates that they assume that because he's so old, he's not worthy enough to think of as a threat, despite his size, but that's about to change. He's already reaching behind him for a shield and for a weapon as Atsushi pops out of the box.

He tries not to be too surprised by what the small man looks like now. He can be later. Right now... He has his shield and he has a sword. Not his ideal weapon, but it will have to do. ] Today is the day that your villainy will see it's end! [ Probably not the right time to make announcements, but that's just how he does things. How a knight does things. ] Justice will be done!

[ He has to remember that he isn't supposed to break them beyond recovery. They needed live bad guys to give to the authorities back home, not dead men with split skulls. In the commotion, he sees a crossbow aimed towards Atsushi. Easily taken care of as he moves effortlessly in the way, his shield deflecting it like it's second nature. ] You take care of these guys, I'm going to charge. [ Someone was about to be in for a world full of hurt. ]

[gekkajuu]

[Villains have their monologues; heroes have their announcements. That's just the way it is. Atsushi, who's neither of those things very much, has no time to spare for words, too nervous - and also too driven. Maybe his opinions on right and wrong aren't quite the same as Reinhardt's, but Atsushi is just as determined to Do the Right Thing.

And so he tries, fighting enemies left and right. At least a few of them are scared of his appearance - silly, when Reinhardt is literally and figuratively the larger threat - which helps him along for a while... until they decide to target him first, it seems. Fortunately Reinhardt saves his ass, or whatever other body part might have suffered from an arrow. Atsushi's arms and legs can even deflect bullets when transformed; the rest of him, not so much.

He only nods in response. Proper thanks can wait until later; this is the time to get the job done, and Atsushi's brow furrows, focused as he is on that one task.] Yes! [Playing backup as much as possible, Atsushi knocks out another terrorist, and gives one of the ones he'd knocked down in his initial exit from the box a solid kick to keep him down a little longer when the guy doesn't seem inclined to give up the way he should.]

[panzersoldat]

[ The fight is quite a spirited one. Reinhardt, much to his credit, does his best to use the flat of the sword he had grabbed and the shield to bash. He is trying to make his partner in ass kicking happy by not actually killing anyone.

Besides, if they knock anyone out, then they can just tie them up, shove them in the boxes and carry them back. A nice present for the authorities. But it's really hard to not just deliver swift justice right here.

The numbers are thinning. He notes one out of the corner of his good eye. It looks like someone is trying to run away. Either to get help or to warn the rest of the traitors that someone is on to them. Reinhardt knows they can't let that guy get away but he also knows he's likely not fast enough to head the man off. ]

Hey! Kid! That guy! Stop him at all costs. No one can leave this building!

[gekkajuu]

[By this point, Atsushi just doesn't have the energy to spare for being nervous or worried: now that he's started, he's doing what he needs to do without hesitation. He can't even feel happy, just now, that Reinhardt is reigning himself in and not killing anyone - though he will be happy about it later, for sure.

One thing at a time, though. They're getting this done, first.

Looking over as Reinhardt calls him, Atsushi shifts his focus to the man who's trying to escape, honing in on him. No point in wasting time replying; instead, Atsushi braces himself, digging the claws on his feet into the floor - and with a gush of air, moving too fast for the normal human eye to see, he's standing in the exit, blocking the terrorist's way, and giving the guy the scare of a lifetime while he's at it.

Atsushi knocks the guy's lights out, then assesses the rest of the situation. With Reinhardt doing most of the work, Atsushi not far behind but maybe a little too careful from time to time, they're definitely getting there. Before long, they'll have all the terrorists rounded up.]

[panzersoldat]

[ Reinhardt was impressed by just how fast the young man is. He can't even follow the movement. Not that he's going to. He needs to focus on his own opponents. He can't be distracted by the amazing bout of speed and agility coming form Atsushi.

He wants to call out and congratulate the young man, but instead, he finishes his own battles. He piles his unconscious bodies up. Maybe they can shove everyone in the box, though they'll have to tie them up and gag them all. It's a good thing the terrorists all have clothing he can rip up for that. ] Good job there. You're a pretty formidable fighter.

[ As he starts to get their captives ready for movement, it looks like whatever their mission was is over. The scenery is starting to fade. ]

[gekkajuu]

Thank you.

[Atsushi's skills are nothing compared to Reinhardt's, of course - what skill he has only stems from his ability, anyway - but Atsushi doesn't bother pointing that out just now. They're almost done here, but...]

We should probably return in a hurry. If the local population starts to get involved, no one stands to gain from it.

[After all, no one likes seeing their neighbors locked up, even if their intentions are less than pure. Sticking around will only make the conflict even bigger by encouraging such polarization.

Whether that intention is enough, or the mission was counted as completed even before it, the scenery starts to fade, and Atsushi looks around, a little surprised. Maybe he'll never fully get used to these simulations... Even knowing full well that they're fake, it's easy to get lost in them, when the stakes are this high.]

Oh... It looks like we did it.

[panzersoldat]

[ The young man is indeed correct. They needed to hurry. Shove all those men into the box. He would carry it. And keep the poor innocent citizens from being dragged further into whatever this was.

However, it's a little disconcerting to see everything slowly melting around the edges until they are back in the station, in the simulation. Something Reinhardt hadn't known that wasn't real. He had been one of those to just wake. He had truly thought this was honestly real.

He frowns, seeing no boxes and no bodies. Frowns more, thinking of those starving and needy people. ]

Did...it? Where are the men? They need to be brought to the authroties. And where are we? How did we get here? What's going on?!

[ Reinhardt is actually taking this better than he should be. ]

[gekkajuu]

[Atsushi had heard that the new arrivals needed help waking up, and that the VR had something to do with it, but he doesn't know the exact details. He's come across people who believed the simulation to be real before, but this level of confusion upon returning to reality? That is new. Atsushi has mostly witnessed people have something of a "reality hang-over". There really is something off about the new arrivals' wake-up, isn't there?]

That was a virtual reality simulation... It wasn't real.

[No point beating around the bush on that one, but Atsushi is less sure how to continue. If Reinhardt really doesn't know, then -...]

I realize that this must be something of a shock, but you're on a space station called Thesa. It's probably not remotely close to where you came from.

[panzersoldat]

[ It doesn't help that Reinhardt has a very healthy imagination to start with. There is a question sometimes about how much he lives in reality and how much is just a story he makes up in his head of knights and dragons. So it's a likely a lot harder for him to waken when he wants nothing more than to go back to that world. To see Justice done. ]

It's not real...

[ He has to brace himself a bit on one of the walls to take that in. It's hard to believe. He runs his hand down his beard. ] No. This is not anything like where I came from. But why are we here? Why did they make us see this, do this?

[gekkajuu]

I don't know the exact details, but... these trainings are always offered, and supposedly many people like you needed a little help waking up...

[Atsushi hesitates, staring at Reinhardt. Does he really not remember what the Natha told him, either? No - maybe he wasn't told anything yet.]

I'm sorry that I have to be the one to tell you this, but you'll find out sooner or later. Your world was destroyed by the Storm - as was mine, and many others. The Natha are the people who saved us from being destroyed along with our worlds, putting us in slumber until we were ready to wake up.

That time came for me a while ago. It has come for you, now.

[panzersoldat]

[ He probably should have been told to sit down for that one. Honestly, the Natha had done him the favor by making him think he was one of the people in the simulation. Like he was a native on the world below, with no knowledge of what had really happened. It might have been a mercy to let him stay half asleep, believing himself to be what life they had created for him. But now, he's getting a very harsh wake up.

And it hurts. A lot.

His world...gone? All those people? All that he had fought for. All his friends had died for? All gone. And he had been powerless to stop to from happening. How could one man with armor and a shield stop a supernatural world ending Storm? Yet he still quietly blames himself for not doing enough.

He stumbles a bit and then forces it down. He is the anchor, the shield, he can't falter! He'll unpack all of this later, when he's alone.]

I...see. So they saved us. And now what? What do we do now? What do I do now? [ Because for a knight, there is literally nothing left to protect. ]

[gekkajuu]

[It's rough to see a grown man crumble that way, but there really is no easy way to break it to someone that their world is gone. Atsushi takes a deep breath, keeping a constant eye on Reinhardt and his emotions, for all the good it does.]

... For a start, why don't you follow me to the mess hall? We can sit down with some tea while I explain the rest.

[He won't insist if Reinhardt would rather not, though; he'll keep talking either way.]

While we're at a space station, there's a planet nearby that we can start our new life on. There are all sorts of options, so please don't be discouraged. I didn't have a lot of work experience, and I still found a decent job with little effort!

I don't think there's anything we can do but start over. There are people who want to investigate the Storm and stop it, but honestly, I don't see how we can accomplish something like that from here.

... As for your loved ones... They may have woken up before, or they may still be asleep. You can look for them in the stasis pods, but... I really think you should take some time to get used to the idea, first. It's not easy, seeing people asleep like that.

[panzersoldat]

[ Reinhardt is going to crumble more before the end of this explanation. Start over? Doing what? He only has one thing. With his world gone, he has nothing now. Less than nothing.

However, the old knight is nothing if not resilient. Even if he's reeling, he'll follow and listen. Though his heart clenches at knowing his loved ones might be asleep in some pods somewhere.] I only have one. Just Brigitte and after all I've put her though in the last six years, I think maybe she deserves to finally get some rest. Everyone else... [ Everyone who's not Torbjorn or Angela that he ever gave a damn about is dead. ] I have no one else. But I'm sure for others... And there's nothing we can do about any of this? No way to help and save them all?

[gekkajuu]

The sleeping people? The Natha will manage to wake them up sooner or later. It's just that it can be a complicated process... look - like we had to do the simulation just now.

[He stares at his tea, deep in thought. There are other complications, really - people not found in the pods; people supposedly too young to be woken up - but none of those are certain, and he doesn't want to bother Reinhardt with his own uncertainties.]

Everyone woke up in quick succession the first time... I'm just glad that there's now a second wave of people waking up.

[panzersoldat]

[ Reinhardt really hasn't touched his tea at all. But that's fine. He will eventually. Right now, he's just listening and taking stock of what the young man is saying. A first wave and himself in the second. With so many more people ]

And we all go down to a planet right? And there's people from so many worlds sleeping? Is there....enough room on that planet for all of us and not put the locals out? And how is it that this world was saved and not any of the others...

[ He wants to believe that the Orbiters are just looking out for everyone, but he has too many unanswered questions at this point.]

[gekkajuu]

I don't think the Natha managed to save everybody... There are definitely people I didn't manage to find in a pod. But there are so many pods, I hope I just didn't look hard enough.

[He doesn't believe that, even for a second. But he tries to believe it all the same.]

If there's too many of us, I'm sure they can find another planet. But so far waking everyone up seems to be a slow process.

[They're all valid questions, and there are many others like them, but Atsushi trusts the Natha well enough. Sure, their motivation isn't always clear - but they are technically another species. Some misunderstandings and miscommunication is to be expected.]

[panzersoldat]

[ Reinhardt really frowns at that. But he knows. He knows better than anyone that you can't save everyone. That's a thought that always will weigh heavy on him, because it makes him wish he had done more so that he could do just that. So he doesn't blame the Natha if they couldn't. They did what they could.

However, he doesn't know if a second or even third planet would make him happy. What if this one got full and Brigitte got sent to some other planet. He would miss her and worry about her terribly.]

Well, I guess we'll have to just trust them and do our best down on the planet. Won't be the first time I've had to restart.

[gekkajuu]

I don't think we have a choice.

[Atsushi agrees, on both counts. Some would call him naive, no doubt, but his attitude is not quite that simple. He certainly doesn't believe that anything the Natha do is automatically good, and it would be going too far to say he trusts them... but refugees like Reinhardt and himself have no choice but to make do with what they got - and Atsushi has seen no evidence to suggest that the Natha are in any way malignant. They're extremely powerful creatures. If they meant ill, Atsushi thinks the refugees' lives would have looked a lot different. (Then again, his standards are low...)

Then he realizes how defeatist he sounded, and quickly tries to improve the mood.]

B-But it really is a lovely planet! Everyone has been extremely kind, and there's all sorts of work to be done... It's beautiful as well.

[panzersoldat]

A beautiful planet with much to do. I suppose I could ask for nothing more. [ Well, he could. He could ask for so much more. But he knows he won't get it if what this young man says is true. ] I suppose I'll just have to make my way as do we all. But I get to say I have a friend. [ He means you, Atsushi. ] I hope, at least that we can remain so. I don't know what need you have for a knight, but should you ever need me or my skills, they are yours.

[gekkajuu]

[A friend? Atsushi almost asks Reinhardt who - but then the knight explains, and Atsushi's face heats up uncontrollably. Realistically, it's too much credit - apart from anything else: they barely know each other! - but... it's flattering. It's truly, incredibly flattering, and Atsushi is so honored, he's not entirely sure how to behave.]

Of course we can remain friends! And same to you, if I can ever do anything to help -...

[He has no idea how that could possibly come to happen, but... it wouldn't be right if he didn't at least offer the same as Reinhardt is offering him. Why Reinhardt wants to be friends is enough of a mystery without Atsushi at least sticking to basic politeness.]

[panzersoldat]

[ To Reinhardt, it matters not how long he has known someone. A friend is a friend, even if they had only just met.

Sehr gut! And I'm sure we'll do much to help each other out once we both get to the planet. [ As much as he is still upset by the truth of this world, he can't allow it to get him down. If he loses hope, loses motivation, he might as well go back to the pods and tuck himself back in ]