gragish: It's actually been a few weeks since Zach arrived on Vandalor. He's
been held up in the volcano with the rest of the research team while Lt. Baker
and his crew make sure that there are no interruptions. They have the area
fairly well locked down to keep unwanted visitors out (though rare being so far
from the city) and making sure no one leaks any information. But just about
everyone on the research team is trusted, otherwise they wouldn't be here right
now. During that time Zach has been given one of the black uniforms the others
are wearing. It is specially designed to help keep the body feeling cool even in
the hot temperatures of the moon increased by the volcano (even though it is
dormant).
gragish: ((Still going ...))
gragish: ((By the way ... really hard to NOT type Trent instead of Zach. I've
had to correct that each time so far. :p))
lady_coldstrife: lol
gragish: Since he arrived and started his research into it, Zach has become
convinced that a certain wall is a doorway. Even though he's certain of that
much, opening it has been a much harder task. It's not like he can just command
it to open or anything. The door appears to be similar to a vault door with
several locks and very thick. The research team has done some added evaluation
of the wall and discoverd that Zach is indeed right. It's been quite the effort,
but they think they are coming close to opening it.
gragish: ((That should just about do the summary bit. Feel free to pick up
from there.))
lady_coldstrife: *looks over the door, trying to see if there is some sort of
structural problem of why it isn't opening, and looks elsewhere in the Volcano
for some sort of key*
gragish: The "door" looks like any other part of the cavern walls actually.
It was just something Trent could figure out from looking at it, almost like it
told Trent what it was. As for the key, it appears to be opened by a combination
of sorts. The combination appears to have something to do with the energy of the
room (as when the generator turned on last game and the walls lit up ... mixed
with the absorbing the discharge from the gun of the raider). Certain patterns
will open it ... and others lock them back up. It's been a hit and miss method
so far.
gragish: ((I could skip to its unlocking if you'd like, but thought I'd give
you a chance to try things or if there was anything you'd like to do before that
part starts.))
lady_coldstrife: "There has to be a guide or manual of some sort. Everything
has tech manual. Perhaps we're looking in the wrong place...are there any other
caverns you've discovered?'
gragish: Scientist Trapper, "That is a possibility. There are several alien
characters all along these walls we haven't been able to decipher yet. Any of
those could give a clue. However, are linguistics teams working back on Belsinat
aren't moving at a very stellar pace as far as that is concerned. However, you
must also take into consideration that someone built this. If you locked a door
or made a safe, would you just leave the key or combination lying around? No,
you'd have it with you or know it by heart. That may be the case we're dealing
with as well. The caverns are quite expansive though, you can feel free to go
exploring if you'd like. Though from what we've found so far, it is only the
sections we've found so far that contains ... whatever this is.
lady_coldstrife: "Allright... I'd need a little, um, backup.. I get lost
easy, but I'd like to go exploring and try to see if there are any clues.
Yeah... I mean, even an ancient race might forget their password or have a
hide-a-key somewhere."
gragish: Back-up can be arranged. Would you like Vincent? Or another? Sorry,
Baker is the commander here and he can't do the grunt work like that.
lady_coldstrife: Vince is fine.
lady_coldstrife: yeah, baker would be the one pointing to grunt and saying:
"Go with him." :D
gragish: Lt. Baker decides since Zach is already somewhat familiar with
Vince, he'd be a good decision to accompany him. They're not expecting trouble,
but always better safe. Travis gives Vince the order that if something does
happen, his main priority is to ensure the safety of the tech (Zach). In other
words, if the fit hits the shan, Vince it to hold off any hostiles with his life
to keep the brains alive. Of course, calling for back up goes without saying. :p
gragish: ((And as a reminder, Baker's entire team -the military guys- all
have those tiny machines in them.))
lady_coldstrife: ( interesting. )
gragish: ((If memory serves correctly, I said like nanites, but not actually
nanites.))
lady_coldstrife: "I don't really have powers, per se, I'm only a D class
psychic. Can't control them very well, either, they seem to work better when I'm
distracted. That's actually one reason I brought you along, I figured if we got
into a conversation I might be able to figure something out."
gragish: Vince, "Oh well yeah, hey, I can like talking sometimes. Anything in
particular you'd like to talk about?" *He looks around the area they're walking.
He's military and entrusted with the life of Zach.*
lady_coldstrife: <.< >.> "Can't think of anything in particular
unfortunately."
gragish: "Well that's cool. Why don't you tell me what happened that you
started working with ..." ((Um ... the organization? Whatever the thing is
called. I can't remember off the top of my head.))
lady_coldstrife: (( i didn't actually name it. <.< >.> )
lady_coldstrife: (( its just called "the Agency." :p ))
gragish: Then that is what he'd say.
gragish: I couldn't even remember the team "the Agency."
gragish: term, not team.
lady_coldstrife: lol
lady_coldstrife: "Oh... well... I really needed a job that had job security.
I'd get a job, then the Low Income Employment Corps would take me for a year and
make me unemployable, I'd finally get another job... and they took me again. I,
um, found out about the Agency and saw they had, er, good job security, so I
decided to join up."
gragish: "Yeah that sounds about right for life in this sector, the Great
Opportunity. It's pretty frelled up when you really stop and look at it, but
hey, we all do what we must to survive."
lady_coldstrife: "Yes." *in wholehearted agreement* "We survive or die
trying."
gragish: "But hey, I guess if things was always easy we'd be pretty bored,
don't you think? I mean at least stuff like this keeps us on our toes." *Said
with a bit of joking. It's hard to tell if he really believes it or not.*
lady_coldstrife: "Right... and if everything was easy and soft... I guess we
would be easy and soft too."
gragish: "Yeah, this is the life for me. This and all the crap that comes
with it. So what do you really think you'll find down here? Anything or just
needed to get out of there with all those wound up too tight techs?"
lady_coldstrife: :-S "I didn't think they were wound up..."
lady_coldstrife: "Just excited."
lady_coldstrife: "But Im looking for some sort of key. I mean, every password
has a password recovery system, even if its a complex puzzle. It just wouldn't
be obvious because you only want the owner to figure it out."
lady_coldstrife: "Otherwize... we could cycle through all the possible
permutations and a brute force could take, litterally, years."
lady_coldstrife: "unless we got really lucky."
lady_coldstrife: "Brute force program, not, going through the wall with a
blowtorch.."
gragish: ((And we all know that you will if it comes down to it.))
lady_coldstrife: ( lol )
gragish: ((Hmm ... a dormant volcano ... that could still become active again
some day, right?))
lady_coldstrife: ( dormant, yes. extinct, no. :D )
lady_coldstrife: ( but there would be earthquakes and siesmic warnings
several weeks in advance. Oh, and acid starting to leak into water systems. )
gragish: ((That's fine. Just trying to figure out about the lava situation
deeper inside. :p))
lady_coldstrife: :-S *imagines Megatron's Lair from Beast Wars for somereason?*
gragish: ((I thought it was the Maximals base ... anyways ...))
lady_coldstrife: ( yeeees )
lady_coldstrife: ( no, maximals were over a stream and waterfall, predicons
were in the middle of volcanic area with magma :D )
gragish: ((OH! I was thinking last season with the Arc ... which was in a
volcano.))
lady_coldstrife: (until aliens decimated everything and all was lava... but
anywho. )
gragish: Anyways ... where was I? *Scrolls up real quick.
lady_coldstrife: *searches for some sort of Key.*
gragish: Okay.
gragish: "So how far do you really intend to go looking for this thing?"
lady_coldstrife: "until dinner time."
gragish: Roll 2 D20 (individually).
lady_coldstrife: 16 and 4
gragish: And roll a D4.
lady_coldstrife: 2
gragish: As they're walking through the cavern, there is a slight rumbling
noise. A part of them wonders if it could be the volcano acting up. No, it's not
that severe. Vince suddenly turns and gives Zach a push, "Get back." He extended
himself a good distance to reach Zach. The ground beneath Vince starts to give
way. It appears to be collapsing. If Zach isn't careful, he may find himself
caught in it as well.
lady_coldstrife: *tries to jump to more stable ground, closer to a wall, and
extends a hand to catch Vince if it collapses underneath him*
gragish: Zach is able to move quickly back to more stable ground (the 16 from
above ... Vince got the 4 :p). However, the motion back took Zach out of arms
reach (as Vince already extended to just give Zach the push back trying to get
him out of the way). When Zach first arrived he could remember Vince telling him
how the ground of this volcano was unstable and that's why they didn't want him
driving the car on it. When Lt. Baker gave a rundown on the situation it
involved one of his men and a raider crashing through some loose ground as well.
It appears the same is now happening to Vince and there is little Zach can do
about it.
lady_coldstrife: *mind instinctively searches for some sort of device around
that he might be able to use to help Vince, but stares in utter horror and
helplessness, unable to think of what to do, mind going blank and numb...*
gragish: The scared psi-tech doesn't find anything to help the hapless
soldier as he goes through the collapsed floor forming a large hole in the
ground. However, there is definitely something around.
lady_coldstrife: <.< >.>
lady_coldstrife: <HELP!>
lady_coldstrife: *calls in on radio and aloud* "Vince! you okay? Vince!"
gragish: ((And by your Phase World radio ruling ... everyone with a radio is
going to hear that, right? :p))
lady_coldstrife: (( on the same frequency and who happens to be listening :D
))
lady_coldstrife: (( Baker possibly. ))
lady_coldstrife: (( but the <HELP!> would only apply to machines ))
gragish: ((Actually, most of the military guys. What did I say earlier? He'd
call for back-up, right? That means others have to be listening for that too
work.))
gragish: ((And yeah, I figured you mean the only machine thing.))
lady_coldstrife: ( so, yeah, they're prolly listening in. :p )
gragish: Response on the radio, "This is Lt. Baker, what happened? Vince,
come in."
lady_coldstrife: *waits, hoping Vince will respond.*
gragish: ((What is Zach's last name?))
lady_coldstrife: (( Foster ))
gragish: "Damn it Vince, I said come in!" *Brief pause.* "Foster, what is
your location? What is going on? Give me something." *He sounds frustrated at
the moment.*
lady_coldstrife: "Unstable ground... Vince just... the ground under him just
fell. He just dropped..." *sounding panicked*
lady_coldstrife: "Im... I'm at... we went down *this* tunnel, and we've been
walking for about" *checks watch and lists time*
gragish: At the research site Lt. Baker gives orders. With a point to one of
the techs, "You, see if you can give me a seismic reading. If there's unstable
ground, hopefully it left some kind of mark." *He looks at two military types.*
"Jack. Eli. You're with me. And bring some damn rope." *Over the radio again.*
"We're coming to get you. Foster, are you in danger? Can you hold position or
are you in danger of further unstability?"
lady_coldstrife: "I can hold games, I think.."
lady_coldstrife: er, position***
lady_coldstrife: ( fruedean slip )
gragish: Travis, "All right then. Hold tight. We'll be there as soon as we
can."
lady_coldstrife: *waits patiently and nervously, curled against the wall,
mind reaching out and trying to find comforting Tech.*
lady_coldstrife: *is silent except for frightened breathing and heart beat,
which seems unusually loud in his ears*
gragish: Zach hears an occasional report over the radio giving them
directions from a tech reporting on the seismic readings from that time. It
wasn't much so not the best, but it's better than nothing.
gragish: Eventually, the Lt. shows up with two others. They have rope and
some other basic equipment for climbing.
lady_coldstrife: *points to the hole*
lady_coldstrife: "Grounds unstable there... he just fell in..."
lady_coldstrife: *is more pale than usual*
gragish: Baker looks at Zach. He's clearly not in the most relaxed manner,
but he does a good job of staying relatively calm (maybe a bit annoyed, but
still clearly in control). He moves over to Zach. "You'll be okay now. Why don't
you move back a bit just to be safe." *He then looks at the other two.* "All
right, I'm going down. Jack, I'm going to need you to manage the rope. Make sure
you're far enough back in case the edge gives way more. Once I make sure things
are secure, I might need you next Eli. If he's still alive, he's going to need
treatment."
lady_coldstrife: "Yes, sir." *quietly. May not be a lot of help, but knows
how to follow instructions.* "Um... if you don't find him right away... I could
find him if I'm in 20 feet of him, maybe."
lady_coldstrife: "But I hope you find him quickly. He fell trying to push me
to saftey..." :(
gragish: Travis, "Noted. But I don't want to involve civilians in this if I
can help it. That's one of mine down there so I'm going. Now wait here. I'll be
call in when I find something."
lady_coldstrife: "yes, sir."
lady_coldstrife: *waits patiently*
lady_coldstrife: *feels them by their minimachines until they get out of
range.*
gragish: Jack throws the rope over the edge. It's still partially over his
shoulder (loosely; giving him some extra hold in a pinch but also enough leeway
that he could still give more if needed). The rope is then put in a 90 degree
angle around a rock (for added leverage so the one body isn't holding all the
weight). His hand remains on the rope to continue feeling the tension and try to
hold tight if necessary. Lt. Baker grabs the rope and slowly moves over to the
edge. Part of the ground gives way more, but he manages to keep his footing as
it's not much and he is still holding the rope.
gragish: ((I'm sure I'm missing some basic equipment that would make this
easier, but I figure that will suffice to give you enough of an idea.))
lady_coldstrife: *sits quietly, knowing that he'd just get in the way, and as
a specialist understands to let those who know what they're doing alone to do
their job.* ( only thing i can think of is a harness and clips, so you attatch
rope to harness and slide down instead of using hands)
lady_coldstrife: ( like SF use )
lady_coldstrife: ( then simply detatch clip when you get to bottom)
gragish: ((Would probably do that, but in the end you get the idea.
Considering I know almost nothing about climbing, think I did not too bad of a
job. :p))
lady_coldstrife: ( *nods* :) )
gragish: Anyways ... Lt. Baker starts down. Both Jack and Eli are still up
top with Zach, though Jack is a little preoccupied manning the rope.
lady_coldstrife: *stays quiet unless they say something to me*
gragish: After about 15 feet Zach loses track of him (he's not at the edge,
so it's only 15 feet ... and I'm factoring in the angle).
lady_coldstrife: ( right. )
gragish: The rope still continues to fidgit showing that it is still being
used. Eventually over the radio Baker's voice sounds, "I think I see the bottom.
Jack, give me some more line."
lady_coldstrife: oO(That's a big... drop... )
gragish: Jack gently eases down some of the loops off his shoulder to give
Travis the extra rope he ordered. After a bit longer, Travis sounds, "All right,
that's good." *The sound of his feet moving on the ground can be heard. He left
the signal open it seems.* "Vince!" *The sound of him walking around can still
be heard. It's not that he's loud, it's just that it is that quiet right now and
the radios are that good.*
lady_coldstrife: *sits and hugs knees, balling up and waiting, hoping that
Vince will be okay.*
lady_coldstrife: ( btw... any ancient tech around in the walls or area? <.<
>.> )
gragish: "It's dark down here. I'm having trouble making much out. This is
the area though, he should be ... Vince!" *This time it isn't said as if calling
out. It sounds more like he's found him. There is silence then.*
gragish: ((And yes, mentioned that Trent sensed something in the area earlier
... during the collapse.))
lady_coldstrife: ( yeah. what did Zach sense? :D )
lady_coldstrife: ( trent wouldn't curl up in a ball, he'd be in the thick of
it. :p )
gragish: ((To what degree can it sense?))
gragish: ((Doh! I told you how hard it was for me to type Zach. :p))
lady_coldstrife: ( what it is, what it does, how to work it, and any
weaknesses. )
lady_coldstrife: ( its okay. I when Vince first fell i almost gave a truly
Trent-like response. <.< >.> )
gragish: Whatever Zach sense is ... "sleeping" (inactive/turned off) making
it harder to communicate right now.
gragish: ((Can he still learn all that stuff typically from things with no
power?))
lady_coldstrife: ( yeah. without power he just can't hear its thoughts or
read it to the line of code. With say, a war weapon android, he can hear it
cycle through the list of instructions and process (just it usually goes by so
fast he can't process what he hears ) )
lady_coldstrife: ( but when off? What it is, what it does, and general stuff
)
lady_coldstrife: ( and the more stressed he is, the more he can sense. :D )
gragish: ((Uh .. that wasn't stated before .. so no. I'm still thinking of
how to describe this.))
lady_coldstrife: ( yeah, that was in background story, but not on character
sheet. Its not that he can sense more when stressed exactly, as when he's
completely calm he has a harder time senseing stuff. :p )
gragish: ((And it's not complicated, just brain's not working right to
explain. As for the background thing ... so in your theory when Zach was nearly
killed with all his arms and legs being broken ... that wasn't stress at all and
was perfectly calm? *Blinks.*))
gragish: ((And basically in the background he used the powers just about
whenever and being attacked didn't help him.))
lady_coldstrife: ( his powers are a bit subconcious. Like they're always on,
and he can use them more on instinct, but most of the time he has trouble
conciously using them.)
lady_coldstrife: ( with the android it was instinct, not thought, just
reaction. )
gragish: ((Okay ... but trying to say he's suddenly stressed and now is twice
as good is crap. And you said he uses them on instinct ... so him acting on
instincting when getting all his limbs broken would mean he'd be better and even
more capable of doing something ... so you're arguing against yourself.))
lady_coldstrife: (( no, not 'twice as good,' just sometimes if he tries to
use it conciously it doesn't work as well, lile sitting in an office and trying
to write programming, he occasionally would have trouble conciously listening to
the code. and that was a split second decision with the android, one of the
times he actually *heard* thoughts and instructions, knew that the only way he'd
survive is if the android could disable him really quickly.)
lady_coldstrife: ( but for gaming purposes his powers would simply be
"normal..." since he hasn't really used them much in a stress free environment.
Meaning he'd still know basic what it is and how it works. )
gragish: Um ... you're the one who is saying how he could sense it already
... but now he's stressed so he's even better. How are you not trying to say
he's better? You're trying to tell me he's suddenly better with the addition you
wanted to include stress into it. It's exactly what you're saying ...
lady_coldstrife: ( and the more stressed he is, the more he can sense.) ...
notice the MORE lines. It's not like suddenly he can ... now ... it's a comment
totally about him just getting better and better.
lady_coldstrife: ( yeah, I didn't phrase that right. :( )
lady_coldstrife: ( the more he's better able to concentrate on sensing
maybe?)
lady_coldstrife: (better wording* thingie )
gragish: And for added note, at no point in your backstory does it mention
that Zach knew that curling up in a ball would help. That was just his response
to being attacked (like he typically responds). It had nothing to do (at least
not the way it is written) with him knowing he'd be better off that way. And
regardless of how you want to try and describe it now, it is not the way it was
written and that's all I can go by. As of for now, I'm really not having fun at
the moment and really not in the mood to continue right now.
lady_coldstrife: :(
lady_coldstrife: I did leave a lot of details out because it was a sum up.
Though Zach was a story character first before he was a PC, so yeah, there are a
few "bugs" and might be a few inconcistencies I hadn't thought of.
lady_coldstrife: >:D< but thanks for GMing. :)
