elnyan | ❪ test drive #4 ❫

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test drive

❪ test drive #4 ❫

YOUR STORY BEGINS

The Storm came. You only remember darkness, but you don't remember much after that.

All you know, perhaps, is that it was cold. You don't know for how long you slept, but the dreams were short, at least. You remember the expanse of stars and the universe that came in view. Every world and solar system ever known was displayed in your dreams in careful, pristine detail. You have also witnessed The Storm, which has devoured a fair portion of these galaxies. It was a dark, thick smog — ominous in appearance and ever foreboding.

Your Earth and similar planets were immersed in The Storm. Somehow, you knew it would be the last you'd see of it. That was when she told you what happened, and how you could help. You knew that you'd be living somewhere new, even though you never asked for it. The details here weren't clear, but you knew you'd made a deal with Darma.

Not long after, you'll wake at Thesa Station — your body is still cold.

It all felt like a dream, but somehow, you knew it wasn't — now, will you keep that promise you made to Darma?

PROMPT: THE STORM

CW: death
You were awake on Thesa Station. But at some point you, like many other new arrivals before you, wandered into the Observation Deck. Ordinarily, this is where images of The Storm are replayed to remind Refugees of the fate they have escaped.

The Natha Orbiters' technology has evolved. They are aware of your gaps in memory. You may have doubts of The Storm even existing, or of your world's destruction. Though they do not wish reliving those last moments on anyone, they have created an experience that will do just that. Before entering the Observation Deck, you are warned that what follows will not be for the weak of heart. As soon as you step in, you will find that the walls around you begin to transform and expand.

Welcome to the Planet Cespi, in the Circinus Galaxy. Unfortunately, we were not able to save this world from The Storm's Consumption. These are its last memories.

You are surrounded by blue, grassy hills as far as the eye can see and a pleasant breeze. The atmosphere is thick with a sickly sweet smell. Before you lays the scene of a quiet village, with its residents going about their everyday lives. You aren't alone, either, with an equally confused stranger (or perhaps you know each other?) surveying the scene.

Then the world grows completely silent for a full minute. You and your partner are unable to make a sound, verbal or otherwise. Without warning, a deafening roar fills your ears and forces you to double over in pain. The villagers run out of their homes in a panic, finding themselves in just as much pain and confusion as you do. Where there was no sound before, now there is too much for a normal human body to process.

Look up. An expanding mass of energy is swallowing everything you can see. It consumes the earth, the atmosphere, the depths of space — and it is getting closer.

Your only hope is to outrun it, if you can. The people in the village certainly try to, racing past you. Their fear is very real. Their bodies are very real. You may be able to run from it for a time, only able to catch glimpses of this dark and sinister force swallowing everything and everyone. The earth rumbles and separates beneath you. Electricity surges through the sky, and then through your very body.

You fought hard, but it is impossible to outrun the Storm forever. You too will be consumed. Your death is quick, but not painless. What were you thinking, before you took your last breath?

You awaken back in the Observation Deck, next to your new friend.

PROMPT: TRAINING MODULES

While it’s all nice and well to familiarize oneself with Thesa Station, it is most advised that new arrivals venture out a bit. Not physically. No one is quite prepared for that yet. However, there will be several virtual reality training programs set for those who dare to be adventurous. For those who aren’t and don’t dare, well — good luck, all the same. Once seated and appropriately strapped in, the system will automatically whir to life.

1. When you enter the Natha's newest program, at first nothing loads. You might think this is an error as you look around in apparent total darkness, only able to see your own virtual body if you look down, but soon enough a voice comes to life as if speakers have turned on somewhere.

Long ago, the lands of El Nysa were dominated by the ancestors of the dragons who now live among the people, tamed. It was pretty dangerous! How about a little history lesson?

And then the simulation comes to life—

a. The lush lands that blossom to life around you all at once are real enough to make you forget you're in a simulation — at least for a moment. Those refugees who have been to the planet in reality before will find themselves in territory as unfamiliar as those who are brand new, as this simulation takes place far back in history. Instead of sprawling cities and civilizations, the most you'll find is scattered villages, many of them no more than nomadic campsites at best. You've been outfitted to blend in with the natives and these simulated people won't react to you as a newcomer, but as a member of their village. Are you a doctor, or perhaps a warrior? Maybe you're even in charge! But they want your help, and they want it quickly: a dragon is coming.

The dragon is larger than the mount-sized breeds that exist on El Nysa today — much larger. It's a good six stories in height, bestial, and angry. Maybe it's then that you notice the lands that surround you are littered with scars of scorched earth, some of them several yards across, and there's a reason these people don't live in one place for very long. But don't linger too long on the makeshift grave markers sticking out of the burnt countryside — the dragon is coming.

b. If you're looking for something a little less violent, perhaps another area of the historic simulation will be up your alley. This one finds you on a cliffside, waiting among other villagers for an event the people are talking about in hushed whispers, some of which you can identify as prayer. When the white dragon raises its head up from the depths of the ravine, towering impossibly high over you and the others on the cliffside, it's no wonder most of the natives fall to their knees in awe and wonder. This dragon doesn't attack, only looks at the people on land with an ancient and strange wisdom.

Then it speaks. Not in words, but the low rumbling sound that starts in its throat and becomes a full trumpeting bellow to the sky seems to have meaning, and somehow, you can understand its cry as it entreats the people to praise and worship. The natives around you are already starting to give offerings with their prayers, food and carvings and — blood? Is that someone's arm being offered up?

That's different.

2. Let us now travel forward in time, shall we?

a. The Olympian settlement around you is quiet — until the screaming starts.

Guerilla fighters from Wyver flood the streets, knocking civilians aside and breaking down doors and windows when they find their way barred. They move methodically, advancing toward the nicer parts of town where the politicians reside and leaving terror in their wake.

They're here for the politicians, people say. They're here to punish the people who made the decision to advance into Wyver in the first place. Blood for blood, as the saying goes. Where they'll be taking them once they have them is anyone's guess. A soldier emerges from a building, dragging someone in elegant clothing out by the hair. Looks like they've found one.

Will you rescue them? Make a run for it yourself, lest you be mistaken for one of their targets? Or maybe they've already caught you and some other unfortunate Refugee who's been dropped into this simulation, and the two of you need to figure out a way to escape.

b. CW: branding
You find yourself in the midst of a bustling crowd gathered at the Temple of Thesa. Robed acolytes stoke fires on either side of the altar at the front of the temple, where miserable-looking people who seem to be from a village in Wyver await, bound in ropes.

The priest, at the front of the crowd, picks up a metal brand from the altar and gestures for another acolyte to bring a prisoner forward. The crowd watches with interest as the prisoner is forced to kneel in front of the altar, their arm laid out flat on the marble surface.

Another cry — "For the glory of Olympia!" — and the crest of the city is burned into the prisoner's arm.

The crowd cheers, deafening the cries of pain. The priest ushers forward another prisoner, and then another. Is that a familiar face you see in the lineup, thrust into this bit of history by the simulation's whims? You have to do something. Or are you unlucky enough to find yourself bound? ...Well, hopefully someone else in the crowd has more scruples than this priest.

3. And now, the present.

After all those enlightening scenes, the simulation finally brings you to a more quiet area of Olympia. You are deposited out somewhere in The Outlook, a place the very first group of refugees had to trudge through before they found their homes. You've arrived in the early evening — but sunlight is waning, and soon you'll be under a sky full of stars. Luckily, their old campsites aren't too overgrown.

The intention here is to get you familiar with some of the local flora and fauna. What sorts of plants will you encounter? Do you find yourself under a Verillum Tree, suddenly compelled to be painfully honest and truthful in conversation with a complete stranger? Find yourself behaving erratically in the presence of Whistleweed? Or perhaps you'll have to break the spell of being trapped in a Vena Amoris' vines... with a kiss.

PROMPT: STASIS UNIT

You have found the massive section of Thesa known as the Stasis Unit. There’s no special access required to enter 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: 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

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! An AC-length thread may be submitted for 2 NATHA ORBITER REPUTATION POINTS after acceptance here. Please submit by February 18th.

We will no longer be providing overflow posts. In an event where the post hits CAPTCHA, players are advised to move threads to an overflow post on their character journals or create their own catch-all post. These threads remain eligible for REP.

There will be an application cap of 60, and no reserves. Please read here for more information.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The Storm

[Death was always that idea that plagued some people. Not him. Brock Rumlow would die when he died and after it all came about, it wouldn't matter because he wouldn't be around to give a shit anymore. It allowed him to live on the edge for much of his life. It also allowed him to endure a significant amount of pain when the need called for it, and in HYDRA, there was always a certain amount of pain associated with the membership. It tested their resolve, forced them to face fears, unearthed all the little details of themselves so they would know exactly what they were capable of.

There was a lesson in pain. It was how he built much of his resolve.

So when he realized his world was gone - everything he had worked for - and he had survived through some odd system of rebuilding damaged minds, bodies and wills, he had been skeptical. Until the simulation which was so real and brought back all the little details that seemed to lurk at the corner of his psyche until that moment. Skepticism turned into surprise which then turned into the usual fight for survival of running from The Storm.

The first simulation, he had run like everyone else. And failed. He had been engulfed in pain like everyone else, like the other person who was making the run with him. It had been pain like dying, but he had fallen to his knees after trembling and shocked by the crystal clear clarity.]

Again.

[He hadn't left after the first time. No, he relived the simulation, the pain, the lesson to be learned in losing that fight. He had been engulfed, torn apart and smashed back together. Find the order in the pain. The second time, he almost threw up, unable to control his muscles for a good five minutes. He went back for a third reliving of The Storm, but this time, he never started to flee. What was the point? He threw himself into that abyss, searching for the lesson to be learned here, fighting through his own physical, mental and emotional cracks until he was wrecked on the floor. A fourth time and maybe, just maybe, his heart skipped one too many beats, but he staggered to his feet, his hair a wild mess, his chest heaving and his eyes wild. He had bitten his lower lip so hard it bled freely. Was this what the asset had felt like? Was this what losing everything felt like? He had been so young the first time.

This was his world. Everything had been taken from him, and there was only this engulfing pain. What was the lesson? His brain raced along the often disjointed ideas that more often than not wouldn't make sense to anyone.

He wiped his blooded lip and chin on his sleeve, shaking his head and then rolling his shoulders.]

Order in pain. Order in pain. Order in pain.

[He paced, back and forth, back and forth. He was clearly considering if he should make another run of it, experience that pain that had been the whole start to whatever this venture was.]

Stasis Unit

[They had told him that this place was here, that there were others like them. He was the kind of man who liked to see the grim reality of the situation for himself, to understand the full scope of what he was getting himself into. He was not faint of heart; he had seen and done some horrible shit in his lifetime so he figured that seeing a bunch of unknown pod people wouldn't be much of a big deal. Mass graves were a big deal; healing people shouldn't be.

It was as he expected, just rows and rows of faces in various degrees of damage. The technology was more interesting at first. He walked up and down each row, looking for faces he recognized and what sort of species of aliens existed outside the realm of his own possibility. There were plenty of interesting things to see, but it was the silence that reminded him of so many places he had been before.

Cities where entire populations had been wiped out. Not even the flies buzzed or the birds sang. It was the silence that would drive madness and loneliness.

He was actually walked by him twice before coming back to make certain. Rollins. The guy was as ugly as he recalled, but it was a familiar face in a sea of nameless oddities. There was damage, and it was plainly not just physical. Loyalty had been a hooking point that had kept him going a long time in his career where he did sometimes wonder what the hell he was doing with himself.

Rollins had been his rock sometimes. More like a rock fist to the side of his head.

It seemed a shame his second-in-command was stuck like this while he walked free. Loyalty was just a reality he understood well. He had made his pact; he was going to work for this place but that didn't mean he had to be alone.

So, he sat down each day in the evening, leaning against Rollins' silent pod and read the messages on the network as if the asshole being put back together could actually hear him. Whatever, Rollins hated it when he just shot his mouth off; it was one of the reasons that he did it, especially here. He knew it would bug Jack.]

Ah yeah, so here's a good one for ya: King of Explodo-Kills: Fucken roll call. No fucken extras either. Sounds like MacGinty, doesn't it? I bet if that asshole was here, he'd still somehow be in marital trouble. Am I right?

[He chuckled and continued to scroll.] Of course I'm right. Your silence tells all, Jackie.

Omage
Connecting to server... Looking for someone you can chat with... You’re now chatting with Mr. Rogers... Say hi! Who wants to be my damn neighbor? No need to push; there's room in the tickle trunk for all of you.

Wildcard

[Hit me! I can also be reached at

apomorphine

[Outside of the occasional chat, Venom does his best to leave other visitors alone. He has his own pods to attend to, keeping his allies' area clean and full of fresh flowers. Always bringing the closest matches to Easter lilies and a variety of roses and sunflowers for Millia and Lord Zato, respectively.

But a peculiar conversation catches his attention as he spots someone reading from the issued handheld. He can't tell if the other's just joking or taunting the sleeping individuals.]

I'm sure they can't hear you, unless that's your intention.

[He had seen many people come and go after checking on certain pods, but the place was usually quiet. He'd had a few comments for how he acted here, but when had he let anyone but his commanding officers actually tell him what to do? Besides, aside from making a plan on what he was going to do, there was no much aside from bugging one of the few people he had identified here.

He didn't even look up from scrolling through the days posts, looking for more juicy introductions that he could use. There was so much fodder here if one knew where to look.]

What does it matter if they can hear us? They're here, so we may as well be loyal to the idea that some day they might even join us. [He flicked his eyes over.] Besides, it's not like they can smell flowers and yet... there you are.

[A cross between a gasp and a huff escapes Venom's lips. The man's not wrong, but his respects are different! He knows Lord Zato would appreciate it.]

That is why I place them, for the day they awaken. They will be welcomed properly into their new home.

[It took much of his self-restraint not to roll his eyes because that was so pathetic. Instead, he resorted to shaking his head slowly and then returned to his communicator.]

You assume they will awaken. You know what else would welcome them? A lap dance, so why don't you just rub yourself all over those tubes and show them how you really feel, chump?

Brock Rumlow | MCU

Stasis Unit

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pick your poison

y u give me such good things?! stasis unit for the feelz

i'm evil ;)

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Stasis Unit

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the storm.

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the storm

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Stasis Unit

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Omage

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