❪ 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]

[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...!

[panzersoldat]

[ It's going to be even harder when the mission is accomplished and all of this vanishes to a simulation room as they finally wake properly. When those cute little kits go and become cute little pixels. But he doesn't know that and it is getting harder. Reinhardt is really really tempted to shove the next kitten into his shirt for safe keeping. ]

We're almost done. Just one more and we'll be out of here. One more. Okay. One...no...don't chew on me. [ Yes...He totally wants to keep this one that's gnawing on his fingers as he tries to get blood from it. ] Careful, this one is feisty.

[inaurare]

Oh no-- no-no, little one, don't do that...

[gently disengaging the creature as soon as the task is done, making sure no fingers come with it as he takes the bundle back, puts the kit back and-- he was working from one side, wasn't he, and this was the middle one? Understandably the other two have huddled back together for warmth... hopefully they haven't climbed over each other and switched places.]

Here, this should be the last one. I fear I may have to take myself to a pet shop, later...

[panzersoldat]

[ He releases that kitten back, but it's so hard. Even harder when the next one comes. He has to use all his limited self-control. The last blood sample is taken and he hands the last kitten back. It's super cuddly where the last had been a little wild. ]

I know the feeling. Even if they aren't one of these, I might need some prime time at the Dragon Cafe. Though that will be a heck of a trip down south. But those little dragons are worth it!

[ He'll power through and hand over the last of the purritos. ] All right. All done, let's go.

[inaurare]

[he chuckles quietly, returning the last one and coming back to hand Reinhardt his fur-]

Quickly now, before we change our minds...

[for himself, he's only half-joking - he really could turn around and grab one. But that's not what will be best for it. That would just be selfish.]

[panzersoldat]

[ He takes that fur and quickly wraps it around himself. He then puts a hand on Linneus' back to help him turn away from the pile of kittens and back towards the freezing cold cave mouth. Well, less cold. They have the poo. They have the blood. Mission accomplished.

So it's time to wake up in the real world. The station. But at least he'll have then far enough away that they won't see those adorable little cats dissolve into data.]