Week 7

[airlockedmods]

[Well that weekend sucked. The Champions are down a dad and a bean and shrinking their numbers smaller and smaller, less and less.

There's no sign of life in the spaceport aside from PAL's omnipresent voice and SIS, the helpful asSIStant who has some control over certain heres and theres in the spaceport. She (and PAL) are available at all times and can appear anywhere if called. There is, however, a new floor to explore. Just hop in the elevator and pchoo.]


Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday

(( Don't forget to check in, check your memory regains! and put in for item regains))

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[motherfucking_ghost]

[Shame he never lived long enough to meet future cubes, the cubes of the future.

Church is pretty sure, for a few blinding seconds, that Xander has quite literally knocked his lights out. Obviously that's what the blinding flash and immediate darkness is, right? He's pretty sure that's what it is.

Maybe if it had been someone else, he might not have let go. As it is--Xander him muscle, big mclargehuge, stronk, and also desperate. Once they've teleported, Church staggers back--he's still got fingers of one hand wrapped loosely to the chain, but that sure is a facepounding he just got. With some metal oomph behind it.]

[kingshaming]

[The flash blinds Xander as well, but he's too focused on the fight to even notice they are somewhere else. Instead once the hold goes loose he jerks to his feet, the chain yanking free from Church's lax hold. He coughs and gasps in deep breaths, holding his bleeding throat and putting space between them quickly]

[motherfucking_ghost]

[Church tastes blood himself, not sure if it's his nose or his mouth or from where, and--

...and...

...and his sight still hasn't come back, or else it's very dark in here.]

Did--did you punch me out of my own body?! [But ghosts don't bleed! And neither do AI.]

[kingshaming]

Don't be an idiot.

[His voice is raspy, but it could be worse. He rubs his eyes then looks around, hoping his good Nohrian nightvision will catch up after the bright flash]

[airlockedmods]

[It might take him a minute to adjust but his Nohrian nightvision will do him some good here. The location they've found themselves in is large but the architecture of it is eerily familiar.]

[motherfucking_ghost]

Right, having AI abilities here would be way too fucking--fucking christ, what did you hit me with, a god damn magical bowling ball?

[His whole face hurts, but apparently that's not keeping him from talking so far. A little slurred.]

[kingshaming]

It was the 'sabotage' I was given. It sends the user somewhere else in the port... randomly. I think... gods I think we're in a unused section of it.

[Church can hear Xander walking briskly right at him, and suddenly grabbing his hand, putting it on his wounded throat. And grabbing his collar with his other hand and pulling him forward until they are face to face. Xander has been icy as the Overseer. He's been annoyed. He's been commanding. He's been awkward or even kind.

But his tone now is growling and heated. Unlike it's ever been in this damnable game they've shared]

Blind or not, do you feel that? I am telling you right now we will never speak of this again. I will wear high collars as needed, and no one else is ever to know. Do you understand me?

[motherfucking_ghost]

[This close, he can make out the outline of Xander. The hint of expression. The furious expression. Is there starlight here to see by?

He wants to spit something rude out, but no. There's blood and silk on his tongue. Church no longer has any advantage, and he's well aware Xander could destroy him if he so desired.]

I...I understand. But--

Why? Why not tell everyone? [His voice is smaller than he wishes it was.] I just--I just tried to-- Why wouldn't you shout it to the heavens and let everyone know what I did?

[kingshaming]

Because... I don't want to destroy what little companionship our group has left. And it would just make you a target. Because... despite it all, I don't want you dead, Church.


[He practically slumps, and lets Church go by just dropping his hands in defeat.]

Plus, I... understand it. And for now, we are the only one the other can depend on, until we find our way back. So I have chosen to trust you.

[motherfucking_ghost]

...I'm...

[He swallows an apology. Man, they don't make Hallmark cards for 'sorry I tried to murder you in cold blood', huh?]

I did something impulsive. I--shit. I can't fucking keep it together, Xander, I can't, and whatever you did, it's--it makes you a danger, but god, that's not--that can't be the way I try fixing anything, I'm sorry.

...At least there's an infirmary. When we get back. [If.] I'll clean you up. Jesus, it's the least I can do.

Just. Let's. [His hand is still on Xander's neck, and he suddenly removes it--only to grab onto Xander's arm instead. It's dark, he doesn't want to lose someone that apparently has decided to trust him for now.] We gotta figure out where the fuck your sabotage thing took us. Can you use it again, or was that like a one-time thing?

[kingshaming]

[He shakes his head, but makes no further comment on what happened]

We can use it again, but the directions did warn that we could end up in a void or something worse. Plus, this might be our only chance to investigate without PAL or Price hanging over us. I suggest we save it for a last resort.

[ Let's explore!]

[airlockedmods]

[There is starlight, from the ceiling. As their eyes adjust the layout gets more clear, showing heavy metal walls that have lines of large hatches going along them, about the size of a short-journey vehicle.]

[kingshaming]

[Time to explore! Xander heads towards the hatches]

Are these... where ships can port?

[airlockedmods]

[It sure looks like it. Unfortunately they look to be locked tight.]

[motherfucking_ghost]

[More like fortunately let's not accidentally open some airlocks or something??] Yeah. Little ones, like, personal vehicles or ones built for just a short trip, looks like. [He looks up at the stars.] Docking bay. If this is the top, then if we find any elevators, they'd just lead straight down.

[Church reluctantly mosies on further--is it just hatches all the way down?]

[airlockedmods]

[Pretty much. There's also a larger, sealed off door down the way- to them this should all seem very familiar. If it weren't for the lack of podiums and an Overseer's platform, this would look just like the courtroom.]

[kingshaming]

The courtroom... That door seems to be our only option.

[Let's go poke it]

[airlockedmods]

[There's a switchboard by the door with lit-up buttons-

But there seems to be something happening on the other side of the docking bay, past several of the thick metal support beams. There's a figure standing down that way with their back to them in front of a glowing, hovering projected screen.

How's your stealth, boys?]

[motherfucking_ghost]

[Church taps Xander on the shoulder, nods at the FIGURE and SCREEN and WE ARE NOT ALONE! And then holds up a fist. ...He's a military guy, he knows some fucking jargon. Stay. Trust him. He's...

...Okay they're not hugely different in size, but there's less danger if just one of them goes, and Church has fucked up enough today.

He approaches, slow, quiet, around beams. Trying to get a look at the screen. And maybe the person(?) in front of it.

Nat 20, bitches, show your cards.]

[kingshaming]

[Xander stays as told, ready to charge if Church is caught, but otherwise staying put. Two less feet is two less things to make noise, after all]

[airlockedmods]

[The person in front of the screen is standing very straight and tall despite their smaller stature and, based on their silhouette, wearing a flared skirt of some kind. Church and Xander won't be able to see their face but it's hard to mistake that long silver-blue hair.]

Wizard, this is Barbarian. Can you hear me?

[motherfucking_ghost]

[It's a near damn thing, Church nearly calls out to her, because SIS, what are you doing here? He straightens and opens his mouth--

--thinks better, keeps low, shuts his god damn trap. He's gonna chill here for a little bit and listen in.]

[airlockedmods]

[It's only a few seconds before the screen comes to life. There's not much visible, unfortunately; the room on the other end is dark, and you can only make out what appears to be a person's silhouette. They seem to have long hair that flows down their back, but their voice is deep.]

Barbarian? This is Wizard. I read you. What's happening?

[motherfucking_ghost]

[You fucking dorks and your fucking D&D classes and your fucking darkness. Church pulls a little further back to make sure he's not potentially seen by Wizard Jesus, but he's still here. Listening. Watching. Waiting to strike--wait...]

[airlockedmods]

Losing Ardyn has caused many fractures in the group but they are trying. The new motive is also very worrying. I am not sure how much you have been able to see for yourself.

...How are the others? Bard was not doing well the last I was aware.