[MISSION LOG] GET IN THE CAR

[onemind]

CHARACTERS: All
WHERE: Avera 9
WHEN: Day :156 - 160
SUMMARY: Welcome to the jungle muddy junk pile in space. Avera 9, pt.1
WARNINGS: None; will edit if necessary.

THERE IS AN EXPECTATION that all hosts meet on the flight deck; that much is obvious on waking - something that, strangely, all new hosts seem to have done at the same time. Pack your things, says a gut sensation. It's time to go somewhere different.

ONCE ASSEMBLED, it isn't long before Prince and Cathaway make their own appearances. They have a set of kits with them - one for each young host - and a square that unfolds into a data pad with mission details. Each kit contains some of the materials hosts will find helpful for their assignment, and the equipment is not to be traded away or sold, Prince explains. The rest, Cathaway adds, will be provided once travel is complete. And then it's time to get underway. Today that means piling into a sleek, arrow shaped ship with plenty of space to carry personnel and equipment. There are a number of bikes lashed in the cargo area, places for hosts to stow their things, and enough seating at each side of the carrier's interior for hosts to be comfortable. It's a short trip, Cathaway assures and then makes her way with Prince to the cockpit. Today, they're coming with.

Initial checks. Engines go. The landing circular landing pad under the ship turns, lowering down into the flight deck floor as it goes. The ship comes with it, descending into the cool dark depths of the Station. There's a shudder as it locks into the launch tube, as the channel overhead is sealed; there is no countdown, just a pulsing moment of anticipation-- and then rocketing, teeth rattling momentum and a bright, hot flash of joy as the ship is projected from the Station - as it sears through time and space and a hundred versions of the same universe until it comes to rest here: smacked out into real space hung above a murky brown planet, clearly visible through the massive viewscreen at the front of the ship.

It's a good thing there's not much to look at; Cathaway doesn't waste time before deftly setting a course, slicing down through upper atmosphere with hardly a shudder from the knife point shaped ship. The planet comes up rapidly and a hum passes through the carrier as it lowers - cresting down through dark clouds to be battered by rainfall and the cross cutting of wind. But it flies steady, sure, and in time they streak at ground level across muddy flatlands and massive stone slabs - skim across inert bodies of water in the slow process of expanding from the constant sluggish rainfall.

The ship eventually comes to rest in the middle of what must be a massive valley; it sets down with hardly a shiver, then something clangs loud and the ramp at the rear descends. Cathaway unhooks her harness and rises from the pilot's seat.

"Here we are. Be well and do well; try not to kill anyone." Yourselves included, being the unspoken addendum. "Make sure to return here at the specified time. We can't extend our time table to account for stragglers."

There is a pause before Prince adds, with an edge of silent reluctance, “If you find yourselves in a situation you cannot handle, call and we will come.”

And then you're free to go wherever you like. Welcome to Avera 9.


(click to zoom; blue is water; yellow is lowlands/flood plains/etc; green is higher, drier terrain; brown is for ridges/high ground)

---

((OOC Notes: You'll notice that this log only covers the first few days of the mission; this is to allow for player character decision making to effect the back half of the mission. That said, feel free to make your own logs and posts on the IC community as you see fit - just be aware that dating past day :160 may get a little wonky depending on how events proceed!

If you have any mission specific questions, direct them to the OOC post here. For exploration and salvage discovery, we've decided to give players a largely free rein for what items can be found. However, if you want specific mod-generated items for your characters to stumble across during their salvaging, feel free to use THIS thread to request that!))

NAVIGATION • SETTING • FAQ • MOD CONTACT • GLOSSARY

( CODE BY WHAMBAM )

Comments

[adamance]

arrival confusion | first come first serve

[Lexa is uncomfortable. From the moment she awakens with the feeling that it's time for them to come to getting onto the ship and the ride over, every part of her radiates with discomfort. In her time in the Station since she's arrived, she's been very careful not to interact with any of the advanced technology. She's avoided guns, she's followed her instincts, and she's kept her head down. Seeking further understanding of everything around her would be wise, but the mixture of emotions combined with her discomfort had kept her from it.

That remains here, only now she knows it weakens her. Everything they're offered to set out with when they step off the ship is a loss to her outside of the matter of the clothing. She doesn't know what a flashlight is (though she has seen overhead lights by this time, of course she has), the taser, the mask (though she follows the others' leads and pulls it on, even if it reminds her uncomfortably of some of the Mountain Men's attire), and the money. Her people don't use currency. They only use trade, and they work in tandem to supply goods to one another. If someone needs meat smoked, then they offer half of the animal up in return for the service.

After sorting through the unfamiliar items, she stands up and tries to look proud, but she knows that her unease is radiating off of her. That's one of the many problems with this bond she has with these people. She can't hide the emotions that she can readily keep off her face thanks to years of training.

Swallowing hard, she decides to declare a single fact:] I'll need some assistance upon setting out. A partner to begin with. My people don't have any of these supplies.

[Above all else, she hopes her meaning is clear.]

green! green!

[There is a mission at hand. Salvaging supplies is actually something her people are very good at after about a hundred years. Though she has her doubts about what she might find in the wooded, wet area, she can't resist its temptations. If her people were to set up a base (even an eventually abandoned one), she would do it in the woods, to be secure, and to be comfortable. Surely, her people can't be the only ones like that.

Still, she admits to herself that her steps out onto the wet ground are ones she takes because she's glad to be free of the Station. Entering an area that feels familiar helps calm her, giving her an illusion of comfort that she hasn't had since she had been brought out of Polis, forced to abandon her people once and for all. The Station is sterile and lifeless (even in the Garden, which seems artificial and out of place), though the feeling of life always throbs inside of it. It isn't the same, not like this world, where everything is ... better.

As much as she appreciates the sense of freedom, Lexa's steps are careful and aware. She assumes there are threats here the same as there will be anywhere else. She does her best to be as silent in her movement through the trees as possible, and she's aware if, and when, someone might follow her, pausing and turning. Unlike her time in the garden in the Station, she doesn't extend a weapon immediately, only looking at who approaches with a sharp expression.]

Have you come to help?

[circumspector]

I. catch a riiiiide

[ She files off with all the others, stepping into the light of a planet -- and that's something in and of itself, so there's a moment, her eyes up, the ground crunching under the boots she still wasn't used to wearing, she's not borrowing a memory of the sun on someone else's skin, it's in her eyes now. A natural reaction when she puts her hand up to block it out, watching it filter between her fingers as she separates them to stripe it against her skin.

This is real, this is happening, that's the sun and the sky and she's actually looking at it, not through cameras, not through her brood's mind. A suck in of breath that tastes like damp and earth against the back of her tongue, not just filtered conditioning.

It doesn't matter if this turns out to be awful -- for that one second, looking up at the clouds of all simplistic things, she grins, big and wide, bubbling up in laughter before she turns back, sharp dig on her heels to extend her legs. Pumping, moving blood like it's an interesting new hobby, shifting in the attempt to juggle the weight of her carried kit slung over her shoulder, towards where people have been gearing up and getting ready to move out.

Comes to the bikes, and where they're accounted for, she comes up to someone who seems to look like they know where they're going -- ] Are you going to Minte Spaceport, or Tari Town? Can I catch a lift with you?

[ Because she thinks from what she read in the overview, that's where she might be most useful. Or at least where they had technology she could access. ]

II. MINTE SPACEPORT

[ It doesn't take her very long once she's there to find what she's looking for. Follows people to see where they were going, where they traded, and what their center was for it. A little more poking has her turning the corner to the sort of set up she was hoping they would have, a series of terminals that seemed to be where most business was done.

There's a smile like she's seeing an old friend when she finds them, a hub of software and information. In amidst billboards that flash with gritty signs, advertising cheaps girls, cheaper booze and an all night bar one second, and another advert for the best parts this side of the planet in the next. As she steps up to a free terminally ( and mercifully, not so many people waiting to use them ), she's starting to glow even as she's stepping forward. Hidden most of it under the clothes but the markings exposed on her fingers turn white and her eyes are blue, blue, blue. Bright and burning.

A sphere of light comes up between her fingers that she presses into the machines screen and her eyes snap shut. Executing Phaseshift. A second, one euphorically nauseating second, where she goes from wanting to having. So maybe, this isn't just for the mission, maybe this is utterly and completely selfish too.

It's the opening a floodgate, pouring, pouring, pouring words and numbers and symbols, as she tries to build something hastily between her and anyone else that might have the misfortune of being too close. Works only so far, because she's here yes -- feet flat on the dusty road, in a tucked in the corner of a street that smells like piss and vomit. Booze and blood. But her mind is wide open, and bleeding into the wires, and all she tastes when she breathes in is the raw crackle of electricity, it hums with brightly lit life. Knows that there isn't a polite way to find what she wants, rather, she doesn't ease into it, she throws herself headfirst straight in the raw scream of code and their subsequent security systems. A fight that lasts microseconds before she's torn down any barrier and it pours directly into her. Like this, it's not one or two pieces of information at a time, she hears it all in a roar of live wires and recorded voices. Chattering, pleading, laughing, sparkling with light, tumbling over and over until she gets it all under her control. Out and out by ripple waves in a veritable infinity where she knows it all, feels it all through every bit of her body, until she's stretched as far as she can, and directed whatever she can't quite hold to flow back towards her. Then she begins to yank apart the threads for the information she wants. All done in the time it takes her to let go of the breath she was holding, and it is unbelievably powerful, to hold the chaotic infinity of life deep within her mind, mold and twisted around her thoughts. She's not on the ground, she was never on the ground, her body is, but she's -- ( a living creature of six wings and covered with eyes all around ) everywhere.

Done it all in the time it takes her to let go of her breath, but it's habit, she can manage it. Just if the last few days have been an education, it's how much other people weren't in the habit of managing their mind's movements. But they'll forgive her for this, she hopes, whatever the headache it might be. Needs to talk with them, to send out the information she's pulling down. Nothing for it, and who knows how Cathaway and Prince make their messages so clean. Tries to do it quick instead, garbled mess but the impression for anyone that stops to listen to it is: come here, I have something for you. and the location of the booth she's claimed as her own. Though it's more feeling and images, than anything definite. ]

[ And for anyone that does come find her, she's got that one hand still on the screen, little bits of light trickling back and forth from her fingers and into her skin, into those pulsing white lines. Beckons with her free hand, as subtle as can be, she's doing her best not to meet anyone's eyes. Not like this, anyway. It draws too much attention she's trying to avoid. Granted, she remembers Ares reaction to this already. So it's old lines, beaten to death at this point long before Jack ever forced her to say them: ] Don't worry, I won't hurt you. [ Waits to let them decide, before she continues. ] Please pass me your datapad, this won't take a second, promise.

[ ooc: the information she is giving is this, she will be giving this to anyone who stops by. I'd love to thread, but it is a-okay to handwave this information if that would be easier for you. Also, I am happy for these threads to go anywhere weird you feel like outside of this! ]

III. SNOOPING ( CLOSED TO STEVE & NATE )

[ It bothers her when she starts running the numbers through her calculations the fifth time. They're selling everything off the Constant, but for what? Most people and taking what they can and hauling out as quickly as possible. What on earth could they be getting that isn't listed, that's worth more than everything they're selling off? It's a pretty sizable amount.

It's curiosity, and it might kill cats, but she's not a cat, and it might be useful, whatever it is. ( This is not because she likes to know everything she can, and that she can't find it out is... irritating, this is suspicious. )

So she gets closer, trying to catch sight of what it is. When she can't, and there doesn't seem to be a way externally to jump across mentally to the ship's onboard systems to read their inventory from a more remote ( safe ) location, she gets up the information she'd pulled down onto her datapad and begins formulating a plan. She doesn't want to steal anything, she doesn't want to get into a fight, she knows the mission parameters. She just wants to find out. The third time through, she thinks she's got a plan, but the guards -- the crew is out, they seem to go out most mornings, and they leave only a few people behind.

It's when she's going over it a third time trying to work out how to get rid of them, that she catches sight of Steve, and quickly waves him over where she's doing her best to not be too suspicious, sitting by some shipping crates. Datapad in lap and her feet swinging free from the ground ( always too short ). ] Hey, c'mere.

IV. WILDCARD

[ Got another idea, want to drag Angel to be a glow stick for crawling through caves,wanna encourage her to steal some credits? feel free to throw it at me, combine stuff, etc, etc. If unsure just contact me here or @themajesty on plurk!! ]

[decommission]

[ Tiny flecks of water from his jacket, boots caked in mud again even though he's been careful to clean and dry them every night. A couple of days into the cold, wet weather and he's almost missing the claustrophobic, windowless Station. Just a little bit. It rains like this back home, sometimes, but more often there's a stretch of humidity just before the sky turns, a shift in the air that signals an oncoming storm. Pouring rain and lightning, it burns itself out quickly, leaves behind the smell of wet pavement in the summer.

He misses the sun.

A glance over his shoulder, eyebrows raised in question at Angel when she calls him over. He keeps his pace, hands shoved into his pockets for warmth. ]

Need something? [ Stops in front of her, the same question in his eyes. ]

[circumspector]

[ She'd stayed mostly to the towns so far, here there's a safety with a network she can tap into, still has herself joined too. Externally surveillance whenever she needs it, really. ]

Sort of. I noticed something of a discrepancy. [ She wriggles a little bit back on the crate she'd perched on, giving him space to draw in a little bit closer. Pulling up the screen of the datapad to show him what she'd found out. ] Do you think it's a bit odd, that on a planet that's about to get smashed to bits, that people would sell a lot of valuable cargo?

[ Holds up their numbers. Which is... a bit more than inventory, granted, she has all their transactions, enough to show that they were selling everything, but not buying anything to make up for it. ]

[decommission]

[ He frowns, shifting closer when she makes room. With the datapad in front of him he squints, eyes moving back and forth as he reads along the inventory list. That frown of his deepens just a bit more, arms crossing over his chest. ]

Everything and the kitchen sink - [ Even their ground transport. His voice trails off, glancing up to meet her gaze. Raises an eyebrow. ] How'd you find this?

[circumspector]

[ She nods, eyes on his face. The lack of confidence is gone right now, she has something, she's gathering data, all quiet hum of something she's doing in the background, though it's not at the forefront of her mind. ]

I can show you later, properly but... technology, like this, and on the ship? [ she taps the screen of the datapad. ] Just imagine it's like a huge... book, and I can read it all really quickly. [ there's a bit of abashed look as she goes on, all edges of teenager doing things she shouldn't. ] I sort of uh... broke into where they store their information. Well, everyone's information, the whole town's records. It's... all talking to me right now actually. [ She tilts her head up, at a screen that's flashing advertisements. ] For here at least. I can't go much further than this port, unfortunately. But if it's connected to their network, I've found it.

[ When she looks up at him, her eyes are blue and burning and her fingers that hover over her datapad screen without touching it, seem to draw up piece by piece of information. For his benefit at least she slows it down, even as she instantly moves through it. Those blue markings are glowing as bright as her eyes, where they curl and pulse light. shifting on the edges of the screen. But the point is, she sees all, knows all, and yet -- ] Which is what makes this so odd. I've tracked all of their outgoing listings, they're selling any number of valuable items, but I can't find anything for what they're buying in return, and there's an awful lot of space on that thing. It has to be something big though, right?

[ Her head ducks, and lowers her voice particularly. ] Though I doubt it's legal.

[ Given the state of this port town, that was the safest bet: that whatever it was, was something that they didn't want known particularly, and it's what makes her so curious. This town is the better end of Pandora maybe, but that only made it bad in comparison to literally anywhere else. She could hear it, two buildings away, through a microphone she could hear a child screaming for their parent, and a woman soliciting something to some gentleman in a club. The flickers of life she sorts through and dismisses, but forms her opinions as she does so. What on earth did they have then? ]

[decommission]

[ Steve's jaw goes slack, then tightens. He takes in the explanation, held at attention by her gaze for that moment that they meet. It takes a conscious effort to tear his eyes away so that he can look at the screen, not quite taking in the information presented, but rather the force collecting it. Crude walls block accidental projections this time. What passes through them is a mild pulse of concern, and curiosity.

His body relaxes in increments: leaning his back against the crate, shoulders loosening even as his arms remain folded across his chest, lips parting again. ]

You thinking someone oughta look into this? [ More statement than question. It was made clear to them that they go looking for trouble - and he's not looking to take part in any major theft, but he doesn't have any major qualms with investigating.

He lifts his gaze, scanning the port around them. ] You know how many guys they got looking after their ship?

[decommission]

i. MINTE SPACEPORT ( open to all! )

[ There's a lot to look at after days of being cooped up in the Station. He's as wide-eyed as a tourist once he exits the ship docks (and just as likely to end up with an ache in his neck), only catching himself once he's walking through the streets. Doesn't need someone pegging him for an easy mark five minutes after landing.

After sorting out his room, Steve can be found wandering through the markets. For a place that's about to get pelted by asteroids, there's still a lot of bustle to it. ]

Hey, watch your step! [ He calls out to whoever is passing by from the other direction - there's a mound of something green and mucky on the path and they're a step away from getting it all over their boots.

Later, he can be found at the bar in Minte's Parlor, shoved in a small corner with a tall glass (of water) and eyeing his datapad. He's read all the info at least twice already, but it gives him a good excuse to listen to folks talk.

He'll lift his gaze when someone else from the Nest passes by, tipping his head in greeting. If they look a bit lost, he might ask:]

You get your room settled yet?

ii. IRON OUTPOSTS ( closed to hux and kylo ren )

[ They came here to salvage, so it's about time he gets to it. Some places are crossed off his list so far, at least to start. He's not looking to pick a fight with any locals over ground, or to steal anything that's already been claimed.

The Iron Outposts are close, largely abandoned - and hey, he gets to ride one of those space bikes. That's where he is, looking over one of the vehicles when he calls over to the nearest Nest-mate in the vicinity. Hux. ]

I'm gonna take one of these to the Outposts, check out what's been left behind. [ He cocks his head at the bike. ] You wanna come along?

[ There's a space of a moment enough for the other man to answer, just as Steve's attention is automatically pulled over Hux's shoulder at someone else nearby. ] You should come too, could use the extra hands.

[ Though the connection between them isn't so sharp and raw as it had been before, it's no less strong. Both eyebrows raise at Kylo Ren. ]

iii. WILDCARD

( Gimme whatever! Also, feel free to assume that they've already exchanged names on the Station even if we haven't threaded yet. )

[circumspector]

[ She is learning to limit, to just drown him by way of the connection. One day, if it's important, but for now, it took her years to manage something she was born too, on top of everything else - from how she's been the last few days, it would be too much.

Still, that's only some, there's a teeming feeling of raw power and life that comes from her, where she's dug into the network, a world just there, that she's dressed herself better in than she does her own clothes. ]

I think so. That and we are meant to be scavenging, right? We might be able to find something important for our crew. [ answer his question, the words are carefully picked to be in the best light, not entirely false, she does want the best for the nest, and if there is something good that isn't being passed openly? Then it's their job to find out, right?

Back to business. And her explanations happen to fold, as she speaks the relevant information comes up on the screen. The sped up recordings of the area that shows movements, a map of the area, presented neatly. ] From my surveillance, there is only three crew, and they leave in the mornings, come back in the evenings. Otherwise it's those two guards. [ Her head jerks briefly, a video on the screen pops up, as well as where she indicates to them where they are stationed not too far away. ] They change ever seven hours, and they walk a huge round. We just need to keep them distracted, so that we can get onboard.

[ and here's where she's called him over. ] Ever done that before?

[decommission]

[ He keeps his eyes on the screen, processing. She's clearly put some thought into this already. ]

Not the breaking and entering part - [ Not judgement, just a fact. But he's a city kid that lived in crumbling tenements all his life. Even though he doesn't run from fights, he knows how to keep out of sight and stay unnoticed when he needs to.

Or the opposite. He lifts his gaze to meet hers again, arms unfolding. ] I can keep 'em busy while you take a look - unless you got something else in mind.

[ He's figuring she's got a plan to get through whatever security system the ship itself has to keep out would-be thieves - or curious folk like themselves. ]

[circumspector]

[ She's not sure she wants to be alone in an unknown place if somehow the worst happened. The more calculated answer is that these things were often best done in teams. What she settles for more easily, given what he already knew of her - ] Most people I know would just uhm, shoot them. [ shakes her head briefly. ] But I don't think getting cut off too far from each other is a good idea either for me to go alone, and I don't really have the experience. I wouldn't want to leave you dealing with two guards either.

[ Gets stuck looking over it again. She could make a distraction, but it wouldn't be anything subtle, and she didn't want the crew returning and hauling out suddenly because they were worried about their cargo was getting stolen. Her thumb tap, tap, taps against the edge of the data pad, the cameras scanning the area over again for her. Trying to think of something --

-- Which is about when she spots Nate on the cameras. Who knows what he is doing here, looking to trade like everyone else too, perhaps, but either way, he's here and they need assistance. ] Hang on, maybe he can help. [ Ducking her head around the corner of the crate to catch sight of him. Well, they can't think of anything, as is. Maybe he can? Takes her a second, and she's trying to get better at this, can't manage to string out anything, not when she's balancing it against the chatter of technology, says it with the impression of her location, and a presence to keep still. ] ( Nathaniel. )

[ Hopefully he looks for that, a hand lifting to beckon him over to where she and Steve are not suspiciously huddled. They clearly aren't planning anything at all. ]

[whowhatnow]

[The reason he's here? He's bored. Which is the reason he's anywhere around 80% of the time. There was a new place to check out, to observe, and he's definitely not going to miss his chance to see what people are doing here. The weather is terrible, but he's got his hoodie up, and is therefore mostly spared from getting wet.]

[He's about to turn around, maybe chat up a local, when he hears the voice in his head as clear as day.]

Huh?

[He says, out loud, like he's heard it, when he really hasn't heard it at all. And it becomes all the more apparent that it's just a thought when he suddenly sees the mental image of the location, seeing it without really seeing, and he twists his head towards the place. Oh.]

[He waves back, before digging his hands into his coat pockets and wandering over, a grin slowly blossoming over his face as he approaches.]

Hey Steve. Angel. [He nods to both of them.] So...what shenanigans are you two up to? I know people scheming when I see it, y'know.

[He's already in even though he hasn't even heard the plan. Whatever it is, he hopes it's good. It'd better be good.]

[circumspector]

[ There probably is a better way to get together a team like this, but since this is the way it seems to be going... Glancing briefly to Steve, she shrugs the once. Have to try, who knows.

She pulls up the Datapad screen for him to see the ship, the one directly across from where they're hiding so to speak, keeps in close to them both. That being said, no one is hearing over surveillance what she doesn't want them to hear. Just can't keep stop them from physically overhearing. So her voice is low, as she brings the images up. That and it keeps the fall of rain off the screen save for one or two drops that splash. ]

We're trying to work out how to get into this ship. They're hiding something...

[ and quick as she can, she runs over what she had with Steve, that there is something going on, the numbers they were sending out weren't matching what they were taking in. That the crew was out, would be for a few hours yet so now is the perfect time except for... ]

We can't work out how to distract the guards, is where we're stuck. I don't suppose you've got any ideas on how to do it?

lalalala short tag

[decommission]

[ Steve's less worried about anyone giving them a second glance - so far, at least. He keeps his gaze lowered until Nathaniel shows up, shoving his hands in his pockets. Lets Angel catch him up without interruption, then adds: ]

We're just looking. [ Not taking anything. He seems pretty adamant about that. ]

[vocalis]

I. The Trench

[ The empty ghost city running along The Trench caught Aoba's attention on the infobank immediately. Zooming in on the pixelated map of it, he could almost mistake it for the north quarter of the Old Resident District. Not that it's a great part of town, (off limits, actually) but it's a reminder of home nonetheless. The north quarter would've been worth exploring back home for salvageable goods if it were more accessible, (and had less criminals lurking inside, but Aoba's already accepted that would be no different here). Maybe this place would be good for finding things too.

It hadn't occurred to him it was likely already cleaned out of all valuables, but by the time Aoba is thinking about this he's already committed. Dedicated an entire day to making the trip. Warm weather gear on, hood up over his bright hair, flashlight out, boots and pants muddy up to the knees from having hiked all the way from the Minte Spaceport. It's a long trip, but he's no stranger to long commutes on foot. Still, he's not so used to the rain and he misses his warmer ugly jacket and matching boots left behind on the Station. He knew he'd need to travel light, like when he used to run errands for Haga-san.

It's been a few hours of ducking through dilapidated doorways and dodging roofs leaking with rainwater, and so far Aoba has... zilch to show for the effort. Just a couple of bent spoons and a near run-in with a bandit camping in one of the drier areas. He's currently found a dry area of his own in a crumbling stone house with a spindly tree attempting to grow out of the fireplace. There on the mantle, he can see something glinting where the rainwater is still coming through, but before he can investigate a noise almost makes him drop his flashlight. ]

Who's-?

[ No, better not to draw any attention to himself verbally in case it's more bandits. So instead he reaches out of the symbiote, gently prodding any mind that may be near enough to feel it. ]

( Who's there? )


III. Hot Spring Episode

[ It's been a long trip through The Trench. Even for as much as he walked every day back home, Aoba's exhausted. Too tired and achy to make it back to the Spaceport without taking at least some time to rest, take his medication, and get over this headache first. Using the datapad he maps a trail back to port that's a little longer, but not for the sake of making the trip harder on himself. The Hot Line isn't too much farther out of his way, and though the description of the area sounds treacherous, Aoba has a hunch it might be worth exploring the outskirts for one thing.

Hot springs. Well, what he finds isn't exactly like a spring, but there are pools of runoff from the more volatile waters. Unlike the boiling pools these steam pleasantly, invitingly, and even have tiny iridescent fish circling in them. It's not the cleanest or purest water, but the thought of a hot bath under the setting light is too tempting to pass up. Besides, there's no one else around to see him strip off his gear and lower himself in, right? He'll make it a quick dip.

Only five minutes in the water, and Aoba is fighting off sleep. A prod from his own head helps; the migraine he had earlier isn't going away or letting him fully relax. So he reluctantly pulls himself halfway out of the water to reach his pack and dig for the bottle of Station-synthesized pills somewhere inside it, grumbling- ]

Where did I put that medicine...?

[ Anyone passing through the area is gunna get an eyeful of Aobutts alright alright alright. ]


III. Crack the Code (closed to Angel + Adara brood)

[ He couldn't quite make it back to port before nightfall, but by again using the maps on the datapad Aoba finds Tari Town is closer anyway. A simple search of the establishments tells him of an inn with a reasonable price range, so rather than continue back in the dark, Aoba decides to set up in Tari for the night.

The inn room is small, lonely without Ren or his brood nearby, (are they nearby? Probably keeping busy too, though he can't really tell with one of them still being so shut out). It has a pod that's more comfortable than the one he woke up on in the Station, and a charging surface to keep his datapad running through the night. He needs it to keep running because he's currently trying to open a datacache found in a small figurine in The Trench. At first he thought it was just a bronze turtle, some useless house decoration, but then the shell popped off in his hands to reveal some kind of circuitboard with tiny memory sticks inside.

It takes some charging to get it's wireless function back up and working, and after a few attempts he manages to get it to connect to the pad. He even breaks past the encryption with minimal effort, but once the data starts opening up he sees... none of it is translating. It might as well be files upon files of moon runes to Aoba. Whatever language this is filling his screen, the translation program is refusing to work with it. He's tired and he's hit a wall, but he's also too curious to give up after all this. Rather than stare at walls of code he doesn't understand, he should ask for help... ugh, where's Noiz when he could actually be useful for once?

Who else could help? Definitely not Ares, that kid knows so little about tech he'd probably break the program just looking at it with his sour face. He hadn't asked Romy if she knew much about computers or code, or Michelle. Parker still wouldn't give him time of day, so that left- ]

( Angel? Can you hear me? )

[ He's never used the symbiote to call out just one member of his brood before. He's tired and still a bit achey in the head, and hopefully isn't accidentally invading someone else's headspace, (or all of them, or everyone but Angel). It hurts a bit more to stretch the connection so far, searching her out, but he's got to know- ]

( How familiar are you with code? I'm having some translation problems with a datacache I found inside a turtle. )

[ Yep, tired. But it's true, it was in a turtle. Maybe it's time to stop posting rather than keep working... nah. ]

[whowhatnow]

[Well, it's pretty clear: this plan is good. Even better, this plan sounds like a completely fun time. Snooping around? Checking to see what loot someone's hid inside a ship? Distracting guards? His eyes widen as Angel explains, and by the time she finishes, he looks like a kid who's wandered into the candy factory on accident.]

Do I have any ideas? [He's like 0.1 second from throwing his head back in a laugh, but then manages to stop himself from doing so. They're supposed to be all secretive here! He should be quiet! Right.]

Oh, goodness, guys, I'm a shapeshifter. Like, I can look like anybody. Of course, we have to come up with a plan, but I could do, like, an old woman who needs some help, or something like that to distract them. The sky's the limit with me.

[circumspector]

[ It startles her somewhat, she'd been -- wandering, just looking at the streets as they went by, seeing what else can be bought for salvage, and the hum of technology that on the ship is more like coming back, like a particular kind of homesickness she hadn't realised she'd had until she slipped back into the drift of code.

In a way, this is somewhat easier than it should be. There's still that startled little breath when people appear so suddenly in front of her without her willing them too. Granted she worries still, she doesn't want to drown the others of her brood and the nest in the loud chatter as she filters information coming in and out.

So it takes her a second, trying to will her mind to listen, make sense of, pull it apart from ( two rooms away, there was a husband and wife screaming in a fight, in another, an elderly woman counted her credits trying to work out if she had enough to get a shuttle off ) everything else she listening too.

Then she can't help but giggle. Though she tries to keep it out of her voice? mind? It's not like she'd ever truly said anything. ] ( I guess you could say that I am. I can definitely have a look at it for you. )

[circumspector]

[ There's a perfectly blank look for the idea that they're not stealing. Of course, hadn't crossed her mind at all. Granted, it's maybe not likely to just explode into guns, either, so it might not be worth taking.

But oh if she doesn't have a hundred burning questions for the fact Nate's a shapeshifter. Blinks at him in surprise, ready to ask them until he carries on and right -- mission first, curiosity later. ]

Well, if you can, I mean... then yes? Whatever might send them off on a chase and give you enough time to circle back?

[ She pulls up the outer view again. Granted she can't see inside and who knows what modification's they've made. Looks over it again, and if he can shapeshifter... well size didn't matter so much for him, did it? ] I can't be sure from just looking at schematics, but there's a ventilation shaft for maintenance on the rear end of the ship. You might be able to crawl in there, and we can meet you inside? [ Pauses. Riskier idea. ] Or you could look like another guard and walk on openly, I suppose.

[ She looks up from the datapad, light still in her eyes, watching their reactions. ] If that sounds like it works?

[decommission]

[ Shapeshifting. Can't get much better than that. If there's any reason for the guards to get suspicious about the stranger they bumped into - well, the person they'll remember taking up their time won't actually exist.

He glances between them, thinking over the options. ]

Probably better that no one sees Nathaniel walking on, looking like a guard or not. [ If they can manage it. The Constant's crew isn't around, but there are other folks that might get word back to them that a guard was seen boarding their ship while they were out. Considering the general shadiness of the port, that might not go over well with the locals - and lead to more questions. ]

[vocalis]

[ There's a small sense of relief when Angel responds. Not necessarily at her offer to help, just at her reply. At least he did that much right. Though the connection is... staticky? There's a lot of noise coming from her end of it, anyway. Before Aoba can think to say thank you, he flusters a bit, embarrassed as he realizes he should have checked on before reaching out- ]

( Oh sorry, were you busy? It sounds kind of loud where you are. )

[ Maybe she's at the port. Was it really bustling there at night? There's all sorts of stray sounds Aoba can glean just behind her thoughts, from voices to music, though they aren't very clear. Whatever it is, he's probably interrupting something. ]

( If it's too much trouble I can show it to you tomorrow. I'm staying in Tari Town tonight. Did you find a place? )

[ He can at least make sure she's alright, so the intrusion isn't a total waste. What even is proper symbiote etiquette anyway? ]

ii. lets noodle

[exhuxperation]

[ They came here to salvage and while the idea is tiresome and too reminiscent of Jakku, he's going to do the work nonetheless. It'll be a welcome relief, in a way, to focus on something that didn't have to deal with the non-stop buzzing in his head, the whispers of emotion outside of himself. The shared links are still deeply uncomfortable for him, though he knows if he's to be here for any length of time, he'll have to adjust. Right?

(He doesn't want to be here, even if he was promised power and a chance to live).

Steven finds him inspecting the speeder bikes as well, curiously noting that they resemble landspeeders. A sign that no matter how far removed one is from their own galaxy, he can find echoes of it. That's not entirely reassuring. ]

I suppose we'll end up there in any case– I'll come. [ May as well. It will be easier with more than one. And safer, though they're never really alone, are they? At that, his attention turns to whomever Steve is addressing now, though his expression goes dark when he sees who it is. Oh no. No no. Say no, Kylo Ren. ]

[narcissithstic]

[It's not about the mission. It isn't about proving himself to Cathaway either (her favor is already in hand, more secure than anything he's ever known and equally as satisfying) though he does carry every intention of proving her faith in him correct. It's about the fact that he-- Steve's own broodmate-- is chosen second to General Hux. Former General at that.

Maskless, forced into wearing the donated suits (his robes are still torn clean open, left behind but not at all forgotten, thank you, Prince) Ren's needling stare is unmistakable: more raw determination and seething, fixated will rather than any amount of actual thought.

Because if he was actually paying any real attention, he'd know this is the sort of work he wants no part of.]

Gladly.

[He's staring at Hux as he says it. suck it, loser]

[circumspector]

( It's nothing important that needs my immediate attention, don't worry. )

[ And she does her best to turn the noise down, like background radio. A petty bit of bickering in her own mind that perhaps, she doesn't need to reach her mind out this way. But then, she could gouge her own eyes, it would feel about the same. So she just focuses away, more on him, where he is. She's not so far -- because the truth is she hasn't. Forgotten she has to again, like the way she keeps cat napping in odd places. One of these days someone's going to trip over her in the corridor before she remembers that eating, sleeping and hydrating was something she had to worry about again. ]

( I haven't found somewhere yet, I forgot. I can be there soon, though. I was heading to Tari Town anyway. Did you want me to grab anything before I come to you? )

[ She doesn't ask where he is, there is just a pull that pulls her steps unerringly, guides her through the streets, and she isn't interested in fighting it. The Nest has no fight from her, easier to accept this new state as the price of freedom. ]

[onemind]

[Whatever the plan is, they better hammer out the finer points sooner rather than later. There's a hum signaling the approach of some small hovercraft; likely it's the two guards making their lazy rotation around the open air hangar.

No-- definitely is. The two hoverbikes come out from the aft of some derelict looking freighter, pace practically crawling and close enough that the two guards might be having some kind of conversation while they automatically steer around smaller parked craft and some bulk crates and shipping containers. It's clear from both their trajectory and habits that this isn't exactly the most exciting job on Avera 9.]

[decommission]

[ Steve's wary gaze settles on one, then the other. Uh. Somehow the word 'Gladly' and everything that's vibrating between these two guys don't seem to line up all that well. One corner of his mouth twists downward, a lopsided frown - but he nods. ]

Alright. [ Hux he doesn't know all that well (not a terrible thing here, given how easily unguarded thoughts can pass between everyone). Kylo Ren - technically, Steve doesn't know him much better either, although the thread connecting them would demand otherwise. Demands that he offer some amount of trust and faith in this person that Steve inherently feels is less than stable.

This time, he doesn't try to buck against the symbiote's influence.

He lifts a small duffel from the ground beside one of the bikes: a meager amount of basic supplies for a day's effort. ] Either of you need to grab anything?

[ There's some toolkits for their use, they probably only need one. And - he raises an eyebrow at the bikes. ] Someone's gonna have to partner up.

[ Taking three of the nine bikes wouldn't be right. ]