[MISSION LOG] BRAVE NEW WORLD

[onemind]

CHARACTERS: All
WHERE: The Station + Concordia
WHEN: Day :000 - ???
SUMMARY: Leaving the Station; the arrival and first days on Concordia. Concordia pt.1.
WARNINGS: Will update as necessary.

IT'S EARLY IN THE DAY and something feels strange. It’s not unlike when a new Host - not one of your brood, but close enough to feel the tug - comes awake on the Nesting Deck. But it’s just the initial tug. There’s no noise, no hum of confusion or volume. Today, it’s just there: a sensation of presence that a moment ago wasn’t. Soon after follows a prickling awareness of urgency. A small electric bolt through the mind. Cathaway doesn’t use words in the mind, but her meaning is nonetheless easily understood: come to her on the hangar; your presence is required.

On the hangar there is a sleek, low profile transport ship. Before it stand Cathaway and Prince and in their company is a stranger: a short woman with warm skin and dark hair, wearing unfamiliar colorful clothes and a quick, pleasant smile. You’ve never seen her before, but you know she’s a Host.

“This is them?” Her voice is light and sweet. Prince, occupied by a databank, glances up at her then nods once. There’s a tension in his shoulder and through his jaw - a distinct contrast to Cathaway and the stranger who lack both.

“Lovely.” Her tone is breezy and easy, delighted. “Hello, it is so nice to meet you all! My name is Carata. My partner and I have been away on duty for a few months, but it’s become clear that we need backup on our assignment. We are hoping you can help.” Carata motions to the mission equipment in neat kits at her feet. There is one for each young Host.

Prince folds his pad down into its smallest form. His expression is set and serious.

“You will be joining Carata and Nirad on the planet below to assist them with their mission. Your datapbank will provide you with information about the planet and the city where you will be stationed. This mission is covert and the planet itself has no contact with other planetary races, so you will need to do your utmost to blend in.”

Cathaway sharpens slowly beside them: a dull pencil being sharpened to a point as her attention curves back to this place, this instance. She unfolds her hands. “You’ll be provided with an earpiece that should allow you to interface with the local technology and a fake identity for your cover on world. Please mind both carefully and be sure to keep your databanks offline. It would be inconvenient if they were networked while on planet.” From the way she says it, it sounds like ‘inconvenient’ might be an understatement. “This mission shouldn’t be inherently life threatening. Your primary goal is to investigate the anti-android movement. Carata and Nirad will be able to tell you what your databanks do not.”

“You should listen to them,” Prince adds. “Rely on their experience and knowledge to help you succeed in your task. Be mindful, and treat them with the respect they have earned.”

At this Carata laughs. It’s a bright, joyful sound, her hands coming up to clasp in front of her chest, “Please, teacher, you are too serious. I am sure they will do very well. Come along then! Gather your things; we must leave as soon as possible. I do hate to leave Nirad alone for too long.”

Turning her back to the Hosts, Carata takes Cathaway’s hand for a moment Nothing is said, but there’s the distinct impression of something passing between them. They release their grip, then Carata turns to Prince. She places her hands on his shoulders and goes up to her toes to press a kiss to his cheek. He doesn’t return the gesture, but those with sharp eyes will note he does lean down slightly to make her job easier.

Gather your gear, get anything from your rooms you might not want to leave behind. In two hours, everyone attending the mission will be buckled or strapped into the transport as Carata readies the ship for takeoff. She explains, neatly and concisely, what they believe the enemy to be doing in Concordia. Then, with a turning of the deck, the ship is freed from the embrace of Station 72.

It will be a long time before you see this place again.

     I. THE WHEELS ON THE BUS
The flight to Concordia is surprisingly short. By the time Carata's finished her explanation, you've passed into a new universe. It comes with a strange wave of something akin to nausea. Outside the transport's starboard viewports lays Opia in all it's glory: a beautiful blue marble speckled with sixteen landmasses and swathed in thing clouds like spun sugar. From this distance, clusters of light burn from specific points on the continents like a map of grounded constellations. As one of the great megacities of Opia comes curling from around the edge of the planet, the transport ship begins to descend.

Atmospheric entry is smooth. The transport drops at the outskirts of Concordia on what is, hilariously, some kind of large parking garage. It has engaged the most sophisticated of its cloaking technology to do this and Carata urged everyone to disembark quickly so the ship can return to orbiting the planet before it's detected.

"It will be back," she says flippantly. "When we've finished our job."

The ship departs. It's quiet and still for a handful of minutes; Carata seems unconcerned and gives little in the way of direction or instruction. The city flashes around them - bright lights and neon masking the fading of natural light - and nearby, a roadway hums. Eventually the sound of a car pitches louder. A set of headlamps shear from the long line of cars and in moments a long, squarish transport van pulls up and parks at the top of the garage. The side door slides open to admit everyone. In the driver's seat is an android - shining metal and cheerful as it greets every host by name. Beside the android in the van's passenger seat sits a tall, dark skinned man who - much like Carata - is obviously a host.

Welcome to Concordia.

     II. HOME SWEET HOME
It's a long drive into the city. The buildings get taller, the lights get brighter, the streets get busier. There are throngs of people on the street, dogged by endless rows of neon bright advertisements. Traffic is either miserable or flowing depending on the neighborhood and trams run on tracks fifty feet or more above the roadways. Streams of people files from the pavement to the subways, countless numbers of escalators leading down.

When the bus finally stops, it's in front of a building as tall as any others. The signs here mark this section of the city as BETA BLOCK and when you get out and into the building lobby you find that the door opens for you automatically. A chime rings through the interfacing ear piece and when you enter the elevators, the only floor accessible to you is NUMBER EIGHTEEN. When you disembark, a kind voice welcomes you by home in your ear. There are a large number of rooms here in Bearing - stake your claim, everyone! Nirad and Carata already have a couple of rooms in the Southwest corner of the building, but the rest are open. Time to settle in!

     III. FEET ON THE GROUND
You're given the rest of the night to sleep (or...whatever), but by 9AM the next morning everyone is awoken by Carata's voice in their head. She's clearly not shy of using her symbiotic connection.

( Good morning! I know this is quite a lot to get used to. I believe this is your first true assignment? But I have always believed that the best way to learn something new is to jump right in. ) The words are accompanied by the sensation of someone clapping their hands together, a cheerful kind of practicality. ( You’ve been given a credit card. I encourage you to go out today and learn what you can about this place. Talk to people. Listen to the news. Be sure to remember your cover identity, and don’t hesitate to call if you find yourself in trouble. )

There is nothing pressing to the suggestion, just the sensation- light. Airy. Fun. She switches track after a moment, a thoughtful addition: ( There is also a rally in town today. It’s being run by The True Children of Opia, some minor little hate group-- ) She seems to wave off the unsavory aspects as she forges ahead, ( They aren’t affiliated with Humans + Humans 1st, but they do have very similar ideologies and it is quite probable that there is overlap in their membership. If you would rather, it is also quite likely that there will be protestors there as well, both members of Mind Life and those who are adamant about pursuing digital resurrection. Please do be careful, though, sometimes those rallies can be a little... ) An image of an oily substance catching flame, quickly and hotly.

( Whatever you chose, simply do your best to get your bearings. ) She seems to realize the unintended joke there, given the name of their current residence, and a bright happy flash of color accompanies it. What a delightful surprise. ( Prepare yourself for what is to come. Nirad and I will continue our investigation in the meantime. )

---

((OOC Notes: This is the catchall log for the first stages of the Concordia mission. You'll notice there's no set ending date, so use this log however you like - alternatively, feel free to start your own logs in the setting! Don't worry; we'll be keeping a close eye on things, so if something big starts to happen that necessitates a new long, we'll make sure to keep our bases covered and all of y'all updated. Just be aware that dating forward farther than :010 may get a little dicey.

If you have any mission specific questions, direct them to the OOC post here.))

NAVIGATION • SETTING • FAQ • MOD CONTACT • GLOSSARY

( CODE BY WHAMBAM )

Comments

NPC | Carata

[serenae]

..___ A

[It is not long after they arrive at Bearings that there is a warm, spiced scent from the centralized kitchen, and it is an open enough space that it is easy to see her puttering around the centralized island, pressing some sort of dried fruit to her tongue. She is bare-foot and has changed into something even looser and more relaxed than before, sleeves pushed up as she chops what appear to be nuts into fine pieces, ready to add into the flat cake-like food that is baking in the oven. She appears entirely collected, a small smile on her face as she slides piles out of her way with the flat of her blade before beginning on the next small pile- chop, chop, chop- a steady regular rhythm.

She is not, precisely, busy, and when someone enters her space she will raise her eyes up to look at you, smile widening slightly.]

How are you finding it?

..___ B

[Somewhat later in the afternoon, long after the early hours when she had ushered the hosts out into the brave new world of Concordia, Carata can be found folded neatly over a bright white desk in the living area. Her fingers flick absently across the table, over a stream of information only she can see, and she tips her head, humming slightly in interest. After a moment, however, she tips her head up, as if she's heard something, and smiles, straightening her back and stretching her arms in front of her before standing smoothly.

When she turns and finds someone there the smile doesn't fade. Instead she takes a step forward, lacing her fingers together in front of her neatly.]

Would you like to come see something?

b

[decommission]

[ The city is noisy and full of movement, more alive than Avera and almost the opposite of the sterile halls of the Station. It's all that bustle that has him pausing to stare for a second, instead of opening his mouth. When she turns he briefly appears caught, a deer caught in headlights as she approaches. ]

Uh - yeah, alright?

[ Sounds better when you don't add a question to the end. Too late. ]

[serenae]

[She studies him for a short second, her mind brushing across his like fingers skirting lightly over something delicate, smile still set neatly on her features.

She knew of them all, but she had not had much time to get to know them. It would be pleasant to get the chance.]

Good, then follow me. We don't have long.

[Despite her words, and fit to the airy tone she delivered them in, she doesn't seem in a terrible rush as she starts towards the elevator, stopping just beside the door to slip on a pair of simple lightweight shoes. Her mind is quiet, compared to Nirad, but it is not the oppressive stifling feeling of Prince's. Rather it seems she is simply untroubled, her thoughts as soft as leaves in the breeze.]

You are- [There's a pause as she gets the second shoe on, slightest furrow in her brow] (No, don't tell me-) Steven? Steve, that's right, isn't it?

[She turns back to him, walking backwards into the elevator as it opens just behind her. She is not much taller than him, and possibly just as narrow, although it is hard to tell under the layers she wears.]

[decommission]

[ The mental touch is met with faint surprise and bristling acknowledgment before it fades again. It's distracting - he struggles to carry two parts of a conversation at the same time.

Walking and chewing gum.

With a polite nod he follows, meeting her gaze again when they stop by the elevator (his eyes dart back and forth, like reading text). ]

Right. [ The beginnings of a frown, his footsteps heavy as he makes his way inside after her. ] Where're we going?

[serenae]

[It is not so surprising to find him less than open to the touch of her mind. She has met others like him before, so she takes no offense. Not that she intends to withhold herself from touching, looking, going where she needs to. He would understand with time.]

To the roof- [And as she says it the doors slide closed behind him and the elevator begins to move. There is no readout on the wall, but in their peripheral, aided by the tech resting against the curve of their ear, numbers click higher and higher. More than that, she doesn't seem inclined to say.]

Do you like Opia Steve?

[Her voice is genuinely interested, and her eyes are focused keenly on Steve. It is quite possible she finds nothing more interesting in the whole world at this moment.]

[decommission]

[ No he won't, that's so rude??????

Every time he's reminded on the device hooked at his ear, he starts to scratch at it absently. Like now. His stomach does a little jump the moment they start to rise. The elevators he's used to are usually more creaky. ]

It's... a lot. [ He glances up at nothing in particular, letting the hand rubbing at his ear travel down to the back of his neck. ] Almost reminds me of home though, I guess.

[ A little bit. Like the Expo come to life, invading the whole city with its promise of the future, here and now. He tilts his head to look over at her. ] What about you?

[ Anything like where she's from? ]

[serenae]

I suppose it is. I could almost forget.

[She had been here for some time now, and it had so much in common with other places she had seen. But it's good he finds something familiar about the place, it would help him adjust, and remembering where you had come from was so important.]

Me? [Surprised, delighted that he is asking, as if it was not predictable.] I do. It shows so much promise. And what they have accomplished is quite impressive.

[The numbers tick higher, and higher, and higher. She tucks a stray hair behind her ear, looking out the corner of her eye.]

Besides, the planet is beautiful.

[The elevator slows, and she walks towards the door even before it slides open, revealing the rooftop gardens of the building.]

Come on, it's almost time.

[decommission]

[ Impressive is right. Beautiful - he hasn't had time to see any of that yet. Maybe once he's a little less overwhelmed.

The doors open and he looks over the greenery in front of them, taking a step out onto the roof. This is what he figures she meant to show him, until she continues. An eyebrow raises. ]

Time for what?

[serenae]

It's better to see it. [She says it simply as she walks out onto the terraced roof, winding through the walkways and past the simple benches. The green was thick and damp, water spritzed from automatic feeders when the high clouds didn't leave enough moisture behind. It was just cool enough to be chilly despite the walls that protected against the worst of the wind, but she seems unaffected.

She turns left, then right. Ducks under a low branch, fingers trailing across the flecked bark. She clearly knows where she's going, and when she comes to the place in question, a single, unassuming plant at the outer wall, it's transparent material seeming too fragile for its purpose, she turns neatly to face him again.]

We must be patient now. Not for very much longer. Was your home a lot?

B

[exhuxperation]

[ Being in the Nest took some time to adjust to– the space was so large, almost labyrinth-like in design. There were hardly any doors (if at all) and the open spaces set him on edge. Even if they were all essentially sharing a brain, it would still be nice to pretend to have privacy.

So, upon discovering that Bearings has doors, well, he's gratefully been using his. It didn't block out all the noise since some of it filtered through the mental audio. But, it did give him a better sense of personal space (not everyone respected that yet). Though, he was hardly going to lock himself in his room the entire time. They had a mission to do and he can't help but asking questions. Making his way down towards the living area, he glances over at Carata who appears to be quite busy with her work, whatever that may be. Hux has a curiosity, but he opts to leave her be.

At least, until she pipes up first. ]

What sort of something?

[serenae]

[She hums slightly, tipping her face up to him, height only exaggerated by her own slight frame. It was the private one- one of them, at least. What a funny thing, to make yourself so alone.]

It is a surprise. [She says it cheerfully, taking a step towards the elevator, not bothering to check to see if he follows.]

Although I suppose you may not like surprises.

[She did- almost always. Without surprises, life could become so predictable. She had seen so very many things. She still found beauty in them, but she couldn't help but value what surprises were left.]

Are you coming?

[She paused just before the elevator, turning her face back to him as she reached for her shoes. She thinks he will.]

[exhuxperation]

[ (He prefers the solitude, though he's slowly coming to terms with the usefulness of this arrangement). ]

It depends on what it is. [ As a rule, he's not fond of surprises. Hux has never been particularly good with social situations and surprises of that nature tend to leave him reeling. Tactical surprises are a different story– while they usually aren't welcome, there's something exhilarating about the challenge. The adrenaline.

Well, that is neither here nor there.

Watching Carata for a moment, he ultimately decides to follow, curiosity piqued enough. ]

Yes.

[serenae]

Well, there is value in caution.

[It is impossible to miss the slight suggestion in her words- it takes all sorts. To each their own.

She slips into her shoes and immediately into the elevator, holding the he door with her interfacing device and waiting patiently enough, if you ignored the slight bouncing sway as she stands there. As soon as she slides in with her the door slides shut behind him, and she turns her head to look out the glass strip behind them that overlooks the city as they begin moving down.]

Do you find this place very surprising?

[exhuxperation]

[ Better safe than sorry. That's what he's been raised on. Calculated risk, if he's to take one at all.

It works in a group setting, since there's always someone willing to pull the trigger while he's still mulling it over. Sometimes that leads to disaster, but setting things in motion can be difficult when he's content to think it through for days at a time. Hux steps into the lift after her, gaze pinned on the blurring city through the glass strip. ]

How do you mean?

[serenae]

I mean it how I said it.

[Her tone is distracted, gaze still drawn to the window. They're not high, it doesn't take long to reach the bottom. It's enough of a deadline for her to turn back to him again, blinking once and smiling crisply.]

Does this seem like a strange place to you? I don't know what you're accustomed to.

[It's a true statement that threatens to not be, very soon. She doesn't press into his mind, but her curiosity is a clear bright spotlight. She wants to see. Won't he show her? It's such a simple thing. Words were never so clear, and her mind is warm and inviting and very calm.]

[exhuxperation]

[ Out of the corner of his eye, Carata is staring outside, something he mirrors as he considers his answer. They reach the bottom floor, doors opening with a quiet swish. ]

It's not strange. [ A little different, yes, but nothing will be the same as what he considered home. Of course, the AI are more advanced here. Like droids that haven't been reset.

The impressive rush of people is also a bit off-putting. But then, he's never felt at home surrounded by people. As he thinks about it, he feels an odd sense of warmth. An invitation. It takes a second but he finally pinpoints it as the brush of Carata's mind alongside his. Instinctually, he locks up at first, has to tell himself it makes sense to transmit information this way. If she wants to know about his world, it's not exactly something he can put into words.

Gradually, he lets his defense relax, holding the image of the Finalizer in his head as they walk along. ]

This place is brighter. Louder, too.

[serenae]

[She takes the open door as an invitation, stepping past him and out into the lobby. It's busy- manufactured stone and steel and the bustle of people coming home from their jobs- those that had jobs that required them to change their physical location- and heading out to the evenings entertainment. She takes a sideways step, allowing a stream of people to move past her before she angles towards the door, miving easily and freely.

She feels the way he almost shuts her out, before he eases up the grip he has on his mind. He makes an offering-a sterile one, perhaps, carefully regulated, but she doesn't press any further. Takes the aggressive lines of the Finalizer, his home and his domain. It was quiet, in comparison, and dark. Reserved. Inherently violent, but not in a way that discomforted him.

It's interesting, that that is his image of where he was from. Not whatever place he had called home as a child, not a planet or even a city. A simple ship in the darkness of space.]

It is a very busy place.

[She pauses at the door, glancing left and right before she pads out onto the sidewalk, delicately weaving between the passers by, their carefully structured outfits and augmentation distinguishing each of them, a vibrant and thriving collection.]

You were perhaps more comfortable on the station?

A

[inflori]

[ It's such a weirdly cozy feeling that he doesn't even know what to do with it, watching her chop chop away with that warmth in her eyes. If he remembered his mother at all then he might be missing her now.

And then comes the question, and he can't even put one and one together. He just shrugs. ]

... I dunno. I'll look around?

[ petre no ]

[serenae]

[Her blade momentarily stills at his response, and she blinks once before pressing easily past whatever frail boundaries he has erected around his mind, enough to understand what he meant.]

Oh- [She laughs lightly, blade lifting and falling again, a flash of cold steel.] I mean do you like this place? Are you settling in? It is an interesting world.

[inflori]

Oh.

[ The echo of her realization, and absolutely no shame to go with it. Whether this kid is even capable of that feeling is totally up for debate. ]

Yeah, I like it. Kinda reminds me of what I did back home with Diana, but everything's automatic.

[ He peers a little at what she's doing, how she's holding that knife. ]

What's that?

[serenae]

[She hums quietly, attention momentarily focused solely on her task before she chops definitively through the last of that small pile, sliding them to the side, reaching the pull the next over.]

Who is Diana? [She let's him answer instead of going digging. A friend, more likely than family, she imagines. Most people prefer titles for those related- but maybe not.]

These are tara nuts- [She picks one up between the first two finger of her free hand and flicks it smoothly towards him without further warning. It's not, strictly, a test, but it would serve as one either way. A simple way to test his reflexes.]

They'll go on the sweet bread when it's done.

[inflori]

[ Reflexes seem to work just as fast when he's alert and distracted - without any telling shifts of other body parts, his hand snaps up and closes around the nut, frozen in mid-air for a second before he simply turns his palm and looks at the thing. Then he picks it up with two fingers and places it in his mouth. Nom. ]

She's my sister.

[serenae]

[Her eyes barely flick up to register the speed with which he moves. She's not shocked, certainly not scared, and if anything the gentle rhythm of her mind was closer to content with it.

She far more interested in his answer. It hums up the connection between them, as open as a book.]

And the two of you worked together?

[It is a question with two sides. She will take whatever answer he gives, even as her chopping has slowed somewhat, her interest firmly on his answer, spoken or felt.]/

[inflori]

Yeah, [ he chews, apparently too distracted to decide if he likes what he's eating or not. ] We travel together. I help her out on her mission. It's just the two of us back home.

[ So... he's not used to being in a group. Where he actually has to behave. ]

What about you?

[serenae]

[What did she know about him? There were so many of them, and she'd met so few of them personally. She thinks she remembers some. Enough to know there's more to his story than just that. His mind isn't quite human, she can feel that plainly enough. But there would be time to get to know him better, even on a mission like this.]

Do I like it? Hmm. [She scoops the last pile off to the side to join the rest, leaning over to check the oven. Her mind is just as indecisive as her answer, hovering somewhere in the middle, little flashes of distaste and pleasure, of amusement and confusion. She adjusts the temperature by a couple of degrees before she straightens again.]

Yes and no. It is interesting, but- what's the saying? Oh. It's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live here. [She laughs, a single short sound] Of course, that isn't an option anyway.