(open) mission: hit the beach

[aithinkthereforeaiam]

Date & Time: July 18th-24th, Exsilium Time
Location: Sea Shore during the Late Cretaceous Period
Characters: All! Oh those pesky mandatory missions.
Summary: In lieu of the success of the space shuttle's test flight, all of the Transports have been sent back to the Cretaceous period to gather mineral supplies and volcanic rock, while doubling as a sort of 'vacation' and chance to get Transports out of the Initiative's hair. With well stocked supplies, camping gear, and more burlap sacks than anyone could possibly ever use, the Transports have been set under a protective dome and told to collect what they can... and to enjoy the sunshine.
Warnings: Shenanigans!

The overflow log can be found HERE!

It's almost surreal, the quality of color, of light, of oxygen saturation in the air once people arrive. It's so rich that the Initiative sent people back with respirators, to help ease the transition, and warned those who would listen about the effects of too much oxygen on a system.

What they don't warn for is the sheer alien familiarity of the landscape, the warmth, the roughness of the sand on the beaches. This is not the fine, sandy beaches out of vacation dreams, but a rougher, larger granule sort, with shells that might be recognizeable as ancestors to ones those from Earth would remember washing up on familiar beaches, millions of years later.

Most striking is the lack of abundant wildlife found among the fronds and leaves and foliage, or underneath the surface of the saltier, much warmer waters extending off the beach. While acting as a permeable membrane to oxygen and water, along with the sorts of phytoplankton that kept sea creatures alive, all the larger animals had been pushed out by the Initiative's installment of the safety dome. Along the transparent walls, curious creatures would come close, peer in, tap against the barrier and run off if frightened, but very few were found inside at any size larger than that of a house cat. It was for the better in the long run.

Too bad that the Initiative didn't have ultra-violet blocking technology in their shielding. For all the atmosphere is in much better shape millions of years in the past, the sun is as strong as ever, and the unwary will be burned through and through if they're not careful.

Comments

CLOSED to LUCY HEARTFILIA

[theparasite]

[this. trip. is. agony.

the sun. oh. ugh...it's fire. boiling fire. it burns up and down, heat bouncing off the sand and stones, and even the shade is sticky with it so as to make a body sweat and suffer in tattered furs and coarse homespun.

many pilfered articles of clothing or decadent jewelry is lost to the ages, furiously ripped off and dumped in desperation. choking heat. choking air. choking stink of the bodies of strangers from faraway places...

it had fled the very instant the world had shifted so drastically.

and now it hides, cloaked in the shade of thick ferns and broad-leafed trees, suffering the days and seething through the nights until it's time to return. the very idea of playing its broken game is completely beyond thought –

until a fresh smell fills its nose, bombarded though it is. and that's saying something.]

Re: CLOSED to LUCY HEARTFILIA

[celestial_wizard]

[ No this trip is AWESOME. So awesome that Lucy had, after much mineral gathering, and much goofing off with her friends, eventually begged a little peace and quiet, in order to think on some story ideas. So she'd wandered off from the group, in her bikini clad self, keys as always hooked at her side. Strolling along the edge of the shore, hands folded behind her back, she has her gaze turned to the sky, curiously. ]

[theparasite]

[magic.

the smell is tremendous and terrible. the Nightcap reeles, repulsed, and staggers further back into the thick foliage, causing a ruckus, hacking and gasping, sounding much like a person in distress ought to.

because, despite being awful and horrible and evil, it is in distress.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ LUCY IGNORES IT. ... no, no she doesn't. Actually she stops short at the sound, looking concerned. ]

Hello? Is someone out there?

[ From the sounds of things, that would be a yes. Also saying the smell is terrible is really rude, y'know. Following the sound of the distressed... person? she walks cautiously towards the foliage. ]

Hey, who's out there?

[theparasite]

[a cry, agonized, peppered with hacking whimpers. the Nightcap clawed at its namesake, as if trying to pull the brim well over its face as it sagged on the ground.

it whipped its head up quickly at the sound of too-close footsteps and froze, cutting off sound and breath in a flash.

it remained still as the girl appeared, like an animal frozen in headlights.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ Whoever it is sounds like they're in a lot of pain. ]

It's all right, I'm here to help! Just - let me help you, okay?

[ She steps closer, pushing aside some of the foliage, squinting a bit. Now.. where ....? ]

[theparasite]

[there.

quickly, three needles slid from its knuckles and were flung at the flesh now suddenly in view.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ OH FUCK WHAT - Lucy has only a split second to register something being flung up out of the foliage before feeling two of the three needles embed themselves in her shoulder, unable to get out of the way in time. ]

AAH!!

[ RUDE. She grits her teeth, a free hand dropping to the whip at her side automatically. ]

Who's in there? Come out - what's your problem anyway, attacking me like that...!

[ Even if it was hurt and scared that was no excuse! ... unless it was a wild animal, but it didn't sound like one. ]

[theparasite]

[it may as well be – it certainly hasn't earned the right to claim humanity.

as those needles turned to dust, the remaining leaves are parted by heavy hand swipes. the Nightcap, lifting itself to its feet, slowly leans forward, mouth setting into an awful smile.]

Yhh. You. Horrible. Stinking. Monster.

[celestial_wizard]

[ Excuse me sir just who are you calling a horrible stinking monster? Her free hand pressed to her shoulder, she was about to yank out the needles, only to be surprised when they just... disappear to dust. Well that's convenient. ]

What ... what the heck are you...!

[ Something dangerous, that was for certain. She narrows her eyes, backing away and uncoiling her whip. ]

I don't know what you are, but you won't get away with that!

[ And like hell she was going to let something like that get any closer to the camp and hurt any of her friends there. She flicks the whip, the water flowing down its length, and with a swing of her arm, aims to crack the beast one with the weapon. ]

[theparasite]

[the Nightcap lets out a screech, skin crawling at the display. it reeled back – way back – like, The Matrix way back – and shuddered at the sensation of the whip so close in quarters.

elbows hit the dirt and were a launching point to quickly rise upright, knuckles already adorned with fresh needles that where whipped Lucy's way. the Nightcap wasted no time in rushing forward just after them, leaping and bringing its foot forward for a swift kick.

it's not a great learner, but it has learned to fell its rotten opponents as quickly as it can, lest any more awful surprises await.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ Lucy on the hand, IS a great learner. She jerks to the side to dodge the fresh set of needles flung her way. She anticipated it would try to close in after something like that, and she immediately attempts to counter. Funny you should mention surprises though, because as Nightcap comes charging her way, her free hand darts to the keys at her side. ]

Open, Gate of the Lion! Loke~!

[ Nightcap didn't like light and sun, right? Have all the sun and light he could offer. Loki, as he was summoned. No wasted time in flirting with Lucy this time though - rather, he immediately moves in front of Lucy to protect her. ]

Lion Brilliance!

[ Incoming blinding light as brilliant as the sun for ya Nightcap. Lucy will capitalize on this if successful. ]

[theparasite]

[blinded, dazed, and burning, the Nightcap makes no attempt to shield its anguish or contempt, senses alive with all the warning bells a Darkov is bred to sound. so as it screams, it absorbs that false sensation of boiling – absorbs it, then raids Regina's mind for countermeasures.

what countermeasure is there for blazing, horrible light?

it reels, staggering and collapsing into the dirt with unbridled shrieking and gasping in its pain, rolling onto its stomach as hands clutch at a bulging, shuddering hat form. not so much a hat in such a glare...

where is it coming from. kill it. KILL IT.

crawling forward, clothing and skin bulged at its shoulders, its elbows, its knuckles...every joint locked up and loosed a needle while the cap itself wrapped itself around the Darkov girl's eyes.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ Seeing the womancreatureNightcap react to the light, and smirks a bit to himself. Seems that Lucy's guess was right on the money, as expected. He glances over his shoulder towards the blonde wizard. ]

Lucy!

[ Lucy needs no further prompting from Loke, drawing out another key to follow up as the THING screamed. Ugh such a HORRIBLE noise too - ]

Gate of the Golden Bull, I summon thee! Taurus!

[ Her two very best melee fighters - with Nightcap dazzled, though she wasn't sure how much longer, she sent Taurus in, the muscular bull-spirit wielding his double-edged axe, charging forward to bring that axe down on the Nightcap. Loke is too slow to call the warning to Lucy, when he catches sight of the needle, and it zips past him to stab into the side of her hand. She yelps in surprise and pain, reflexively dropping the keys to the two spirits. Shit. Oh man if that had been Aquarius' key, she'd be a dead woman. ]

[theparasite]

[the reality was becoming clear as the Nightcap got its bearing in all the magic and chaos.

doors. the girl was opening doors. like a Darkov – like its own body could – once.

this was not expected at all, and though the sight of the hulking minotaur-of-a-monster loomed overhead and sent its axe downward, all it could think of was Lucy and those damned doors.

no, keys.

the Nightcap rolled, losing a bit of skirt and hair to that blade, but brooked no argument, instead scrambling to its feet and weaving past Lucy's guardians and straight for her, voice strangled and shrieking almost unnaturally.]

DARKOV! LIAR!

[it lunged, grasping for her arms, throwing all her weight into that bullying leap, mouth in a maddened smile.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ Dang - Taurus' axe misses the target by THAT much, biting hard into the ground - hard enough that it takes him a moment to wedge it up again. Loke calls a warning to Lucy again, and the blonde mage looked up from where she had knelt quickly to grab the keys she dropped. ... uh. Oh . LORDIE. The bum rush was not anticipated, and the speed in which it rushed her, along with that horrid shriek - that sound that does NOT belong coming out of a human's throat - ]

WHa-

[ CRAP. She can only defend against the lunge as it grabbed her arms. Clutching the keys in one hand, her shoulder screaming in pain, she wrestles against the other creature to free her arms again to try and push the Nightcap away. ]

Nngh! GET OFF!!

[ Lucky for her Loke was still summoned - he rushes over to her aid, aiming to grab the Nightcap and pull her-it-him off of Lucy as well. But it's words to her were confusing, a mystery - something that would nag at her when she was in position to think about it. ]

[theparasite]

[the Nightcap bristles against the feeling of the spirit's hands on its arms, mouth drawing back in a wild snarl. it scrambles, wildly snatching and catching Lucy's key-bearing wrist. That's it. THOSE ARE IT.

doors.]

HOW DARE– [its grip squeezes and squeezes, feeling bones buckling. it bears down, practically pressed against Lucy as its other hand sought leverage, the means to push back against Loke's hold, elbow him in the face: it's a move that sends it reeling and landing on its back beside Lucy.

it's a pretty grotesque hand-holding, cloudgazing posture.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ Oh No. NO. Not the key. SHe pulls at her right arm, trying to free it from Nightcap's grip, only for a pained shriek to rip out of her throat as she feels bones cracking in her arm. OW. OW SON OF AN OW! Reflexively her hand twitches open, the key slipping out of her fingers a second time, landing in the grass. ]

aaaaAAH!!! Na--!

[ The urge to scream for her partner is almost overpowering, but she snaps back to herself, remembering he wasn't there. He didn't know she was in trouble. She should have sent out a message - even a quick one - the second she was attacked. She should have asked him to come with her - she always had fun with her friend whenever they were together, right? But no, she did neither of these things. ]

[ Arm. ARM. ARM. Let go. LET GO. Even as Loke reels back from the blow to his face, stumbling. Even as Nightcap himself tumbles over next to her in that twisted semblance of cloudgazing, she can only think of getting her key away from it. It lay between herself and Nightcap - she shifted with a groan of pain, her left hand fumbling, grasping for the key even though from her angle she couldn't see it clearly. What interest did that thing have in her keys? ]

[theparasite]

[with Loke out of its way, the Nightcap sets it hand scrambling to wrestle Lucy for that key. not only is it shiny, gleaming...it's got to be the door.

it twists, rolling onto its side, bringing its face close to Lucy's, practically hissing:]

Filthy girl, you dare. Give it to me. You have no RIGHT–

[as it pushes itself up, digging fingers against Lucy's for that key, its own door dangles from its neck: a medallion on a chain, closed for a long, long time.

there's a name, though:]

[celestial_wizard]

Taurus!!

[ Wait. Ssssshit, his limit was already reached. Loke - before Lucy had a chance to call out to him, there was that THING's face in front of hers. Well. That's nightmare fuel for you. ]

G-guaha!!

[ Get away get away get away. And what's this she has no right, business!? She has every right! Pain shooting up her arm as she scrabbles to be the first to reach it, she lets out a cry of dismay when the parasite gets to it first. Her arm feels like it's on fire, and numb at the same time, she instinctively grabs for it with her right hand and howls again in pain at the movement. ]

Give him back!!

[ Wait -- what's that? ... there, there! Around its neck. It's.. similar. Almost like her own summoning magic, another doorway. If she could just... maybe she could use it. With her good hand she reaches out desperately, almost clawing out to toch the medallion. ]

I know you're there -- .. please ... help me...!!

[ The name.. it almost eludes her. Sk..skia? Skiga? Is that it? ]

[theparasite]

[Skigaa.

it's not the fantastic flare of a Celestial Spirit's grand entrance – more like a break in water, hands pushing at fine fabric. a serpentine body glides from seemingly nowhere, just a gossamer glimmer, a trick of the light, but quickly whole and large.

it coils around a now-shrieking, horrified Nightcap, lifting it up and away from Lucy. unfortunately, the key goes with it.]

NO! You! Ghuohh–NO! NO!

[celestial_wizard]

[ Very subtle by comparison of her usual celestial summons, but its there. It's there and helping her - it answered her call. ]

[ BUT IT WAS TAKING THE PARASITE AWAY. She hadn't reached the key yet! ]

No! Wait!

[ She pushes herself up, only for her arm to give out again, coming nowhere near either beast. ]

Bring back Loke first!!...

[theparasite]

[it's a little late for that, with the Nightcap squalling and shrieking in the snake's coils, lifted and pulled away. there's a strange, ethereal sound hanging heavy in the air, lamenting the whole affair. an apology, but certainly not the monster's.

they disappear, but not anywhere near as gracefully as the snake's initial appearance.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ Damnit damnit damnit. No no no...! ]

Loke!!

[ Lucy can only stare in horror as the creature is pulled away, and that thing's -screams- and words seem to cling to her like a second skin. What did it all mean...? ... no, she'd look into it later, after she got her key back. But by the time she gets to her feet, the creatures - both of them - have already vanished. The loss is like ...well, no different from losing any of her dear friends. She turns, staggering, hurt and bleeding, back towards the camp with a heavy heart. She has a message to send out - a warning. But before she gets too far, she whispers a silent thank you to that spirit - Skigaa. Even though the way things ended weren't the way she wanted, it did come to her aide and she wasn't even contracted with it. ]