MISSION: RELEASE THEM BACK INTO THE WILD

[initiates]

Date & Time: April 27th - May 1st
Location: Wollongong, Australia, 2464.
Characters: All voluntary transports + maybe a few drafted ones.
Summary: Make those stay-at-homes leave their nerdcaves! My god, do they even know what sunshine looks like???
Warnings: none planned, will be updated accordingly!

The city is old, dark, and very, very quiet. A good deal of the buildings are crumbling and old, but the ones that are actually inhabited glow like candles in the dusk the Transporter has dropped you into. All of these buildings are infested by wiring pouring in from every angle, ensuring that each inhabitant in his or her little block of a room has every modern convenience available in 2464.

There is no one on the streets, no public transportation, and even cars look scarce. But that doesn't mean there's no movement. Maintenance drones, controlled remotely, run deliveries or work repairs. Armed law enforcement drones patrol on rounds through the city, although their mechanized attention is mostly turned outward. Still, they might come to investigate a ruckus within the city limits. And if the persons causing the ruckus don't respond to peaceful attempts to get them to cease, the drones might attempt to subdue them with paralyzing technology and haul them in for a night in the city jail — another dark, unused place.

If you get hungry, there are entire warehouses dedicated to the production of foods. It can't be that hard to sneak in and collect a meal, right? Or you can hack into the system and order whatever you want, if you're good with that kind of thing. Or you can just scavenge—or fast for four days, maybe—if thieving and hacking aren't your style.

And somewhere around here, in those glowing, secluded towers, behind the legions of automated drones, live the reclusive citizens of Wollongong. The methods are up to you, as long as you can get them to come out and breathe the fresh air somehow.

[[ ooc; Mission details are here! This will run from 27th of April to May 1st, with those on the mission returning to Exsilium at the same time that the new arrivals show up. It's an optional mission, but if you'd like your character to go along that would ICly sit it out, feel free to say that the Initiative drafted them for this one.

There aren't any teams or structured threads to this one, so go wild! ]]

Comments

[concealingeyes]

[Kido doesn't find a crowbar but she does find some sort of metal pole that's good enough to break into crates with.]

Yeah I'm thinking that too. Even though it's the future, people always like owning things best. Back home, I had some special release albums even though I just use my iPod all the time. It's probably the same now, just probably with video games and everything.

[copia]

Well, let's see if we can find something! [ She finds a box cutter and starts opening up various boxes, spending a minute or two examining each one before moving on to the next. ] Did Kano want anything, or will you let him find his own souvenirs?

[concealingeyes]

[She stops and props her head up in her hands as she thinks.] The date is... the 27th or something, right? It was August 15th back home but it'd be a pain to try to keep up the dates and match them, so...

[Kido continues to consider something to herself before nodding.]

His birthday is soon by this calendar. So I'm going to find something for him. He probably isn't even expecting to celebrate it but we might as well, right?

[copia]

It would be a great surprise! [ She stops for a moment to look over. ] And if anything, at least it's the thought that counts, right?

[concealingeyes]

Yeah. I think I know what to get him once I find it. They probably still have them...

[She starts searching crates with a new mission in mind.]

So, I haven't gotten to ask, but... how are you settling in?

[copia]

[ Kaede also continues going through boxes, stopping again every so often to examine anything that catches her eye. She pauses for a moment at the question, thinking about the news Barnaby delivered to her earlier during the week. ]

I am settling in fine. I'm still learning about what my item can do — which I forgot to tell you earlier was changed, but more on that later — and just general life and information about this place. My dad told me about how he's been faring here... [ She huffs softly for a moment. ] Well, he probably told me the not-so-bad stuff, but he did warn me to just watch myself in case anything ever happened to him. It was great to see him again, even if we were only together for a week or two before the Initiative sent him back.

[concealingeyes]

Huh? Your dad? Er...

[She scratches the back of her head. That probably isn't something she wants to dwell on.

But even then, she's carrying on so well. Kaede's a tough kid.]

...I'm glad you got to see him. Is anyone else you know here? It helps to have someone but you've got us either way, promise.

[copia]

He was who I was looking for when I first arrived here.

[ She nods. ] There are two people here he works with from back home, one of them being his partner, so I'm not completely alone. But yes, I do have you, and Kano as well. [ A smile. ] So even if they go home, I'm not truly alone, but I will miss them.

[concealingeyes]

...I understand. That's why we need to stick together. I don't like that this place can just send you back without warning, though.

[Kaede is braver than her, she thinks. But talking about this won't make either of them feel better.]

Hey, when Kano's birthday comes up, you want to celebrate it with us? I was going to ask another friend, too.

[copia]

I agree. They should let people tie up loose ends before sending them off.

[ She tries to put on a brave face and act brave, but sometimes it doesn't always hold up.

Kaede looks up from a box, and nods at the invitation, smiling. ]

Sure! I'd love to join you guys. What does he like, so I can keep an eye out for a gift?

[concealingeyes]

He's pretty much a magpie... You know, he has interest in everything. Geography, language, technology... Ah, I'm getting him some photography equipment. But he's someone I can honestly say loves what you get him. He'll find something interesting to talk about from it. That's the kind of thing that makes him happiest.

[To put it more bluntly, he likes being able to share things with people. Kido smiles unconsciously at the thought.]

So, what would you want him to talk about with you? That'd be what he likes best.

[copia]

Hm... [ she taps her finger on her chin before nodding. ] I'll definitely keep that in mind, especially if I can't find anything during this mission.

[concealingeyes]

You'll probably find something.

[Kido finishes chucking a few items into her bag and turns to her.]

Hm, speaking of that, do you need a hoodie? It's pretty much our uniform.

[copia]

[ Kaede looks up from a package she's examining in her hands, grabbing the bag she found to set it into. A hoodie? She pauses for a moment to think if she bought one, before shaking her head. ]

No, I don't. Should I keep my eye out for one I like?

[concealingeyes]

Definitely. Official members need a hoodie. We could give you one but you should probably pick out what you think suits you best.

[copia]

[ A nod! ] Do I need to leave room for anything, like a pin or something?

[concealingeyes]

We don't have anything like that. The hoodies just identify us, you know? Like a secret code only we know.

[copia]

Ahh, got it. I'll definitely find one I like to be my official one!

[concealingeyes]

[Kaede gets a thumbs up.] Show it off once you've got it. It's something special between us.

[copia]

Of course! [ Thumbs up has been returned! ]