Other Worlds: V 2.0

[initiates]

Date & Time: May 21st, beginning at 0900.
Location: The Initiative Hold and all throughout Elmer's world
Characters: Anyone participating in the fighting, anyone staying behind.
Summary: Elmer's world is fought for and lost.
Warnings: Violence, death.

They reopen the portal at 0900, May 21st. The first scientist who stepped through was killed within thirty seconds; the rest who followed made it back through to Exsilium, albeit not unscathed. The portal was shut again by a panicked operator, although a second operator knew to keep the coordinates locked.

Within ten minutes, the alert had been sent out. There's no time to wait for the Transports to gather en masse; as soon as they have a sizable enough force to stand a chance at fighting through and clearing their gateway's location, the door is opened again.

Immediately inside the door is a desolate, grim scene. What had previously been the coast of Japan is now scorched earth, blasted sand, and little else. As the first point of contact for this world, it has undoubtedly suffered the worst. Here, the UE didn't stop at governments, financial centers, and capitols — the UE destroyed everything in sight. There are enough UE soldiers remaining in the broken country to give the Transports a difficult battle, although by now the bulk of their forces have moved on.

The Initiative will soon realize the necessity of opening more gateways, just as the UE had done. Transports will be deployed to London, Berlin, Paris, DC Washington, Moscow, Beijing, New York City, Hong Kong, Madrid. Through each of these windows, the destruction is staggering. Buildings are more husks than structures, everything that can burn is alight, and the death toll is off the charts. Blackened bodies seem to line every street, while pieces litter the ground among the rubble. There's no doubt that the UE has no need of the people of this world. They're after resources only, and anything and anyone already here is to be removed.

You can find UE soldiers everywhere. They move in coordinated squadrons of 20, and each of them carries a small arsenal. Even without their incredibly advanced and destructive weaponry, they're fearfully formidable. Each soldier, while still only human, is a genetically perfect clone, further enhanced by technological implants. They're all highly trained in physical combat. Even if you can disarm one of them, don't count on close-range attacks being any easier to handle. They've brought along cannons, small flying craft, and lightweight tanks. Each of these is the top of the line in terms of technology, geared toward destroying as much as it can, as quickly as it can. The United Earth is here to destroy, and they won't stop to wonder why their targets go from being civilians and scrambling, off-guard, comparatively primitive militaries, to trained and powered Transports.

For anyone staying at home, they'll find that any Initiative presence has withdrawn fully to the Hold. All Initiative employees are needed, and most of them in the med bays. The majority of the Initiative focus is on recalling and resurrecting fallen Transports, but attention is still needed for the living-but-wounded. Any Transports who stay in Exsilium and offer their help will have it immediately accepted; they'll be put to work in the medical wings, runnings supplies, or simply set at a machine and told to keep an eye on the numbers: Transport vitals, UE movements, and maps upon maps of changing statistics and colors.

At 1500, the Initiative will recall all Transport soldiers back to Exsilium and seal shut the gateway. The UE numbers are too great, their soldiers too powerful, and Elmer's world is lost.

Comments

[ringwizard]

[Haruto suspects Nitoh's aim as soon as he says he's fine--despite it clearly not being true. He starts, once or twice, for Nitoh's wrist, stopping each time, and then it's too late.]

Nitoh, what were you thinking--

[Nitoh's condition knocks the wind right out of him, and he follows Nitoh down into a crouch that is certainly far less painful than it should have been, brushing his fingers over Nitoh's thigh. He sounds harsh and choked up when he speaks.]

Why did you waste a healing spell on me, you idiot?

[bumbles]

She's impossible. He's halfway to making some protest, but when she kisses him, it's silenced. All he wants, in that moment, is her, his hands-- just hesitating, before they settle at her waist. And all he wants is to be kissing her, even as he knows she's corroding his will.

It's shameful how much he missed this. He, who was meant to the be the one that treated her right, respected her, wasn't one of the people that demanded things of her, and there's something painful in his voice as he pulls away from the kiss.

"Max." Panted out, broken. "You're here."

As if, finally, it might be real.

[goinbust]

"What does it WANT though? Near as I can tell this is a lootin raid. Looks like when pirates hit a station, kill everyone and take anything that can be sold."

[ringbeast]

[He blinks at Haruto, eyes dull with pain and sharp with frustration.]

Healin' you took nothing, healing me would get me into the danger zone. I need mana to get back to where they can fix me up.

[He tenses up and grabs at Haruto's hand on him. He's touchy-feely, he's always all over Haruto and anyone who seems like they won't get him arrested for it. But this is the first time Haruto's ever touched on him and it's weirding him out.]

What're you cryin' about, I'm not gonna die, I just need to get back and they'll heal me with weird future magic.

[He winces and hisses as the pain of his arm clashes with the pain of what are clearly some broken ribs in there too. He breathes short and closes his eyes, trying not to hyperventilate.]

I'm just gonna sit here til I stop feeling dizzy and nauseous and then I'll go back, is that all right with you, mom?

[goinbust]

When the tank stops firing Jim quickly pops up and starts hosing the enemy troops again. Not really paying much attention to his savior to start he continues firing knowing not to look a gift horse in the mouth.

"Dunno who you are but thanks for the assist with the heavy stuff."

[goinbust]

Jim rolls the cigar in his mouth from one side to the other and keeps firing. Melee fighters always seemed a bit off to him, but the Protoss did good work and who was he to judge. When the line of fire changed directions he reminded the troops he was still there by firing a rain of bullets into their sides.

"Hey kids, don't ferget about the target with the assault cannon!"

[Com]

[goinbust]

"Explosive bolts are a safety precaution to get a pilot out of a damaged vehicle. Tend to be well hidden so you can't JUST pull them in a fight but if ya know how to do it, you can wreck a tanker's day pretty hard with them."

There is a burst of static and gunfire.

"Take a breath kid, I get shot at a lot. Usually by all sorts of weirdos with crazy powers and I'm still kicking. Just any info'd be nice."

[thephix]

Something aches in her chest when he pulls away, even if she idly notices that he's getting better at resisting her. She holds his face in her hands for a moment, before pulling him into a hug, one hand sliding into his hair.

"I'm here," Gentle, reassuring, as if she hasn't been shoving him around and yelling at him a moment ago. This is more within her comfort zone, taking care of him, and it's easier than fighting with him, "I won't leave you again."

Which means he can't leave her, either.

[needsteaplz]

She looked over shoulder when she heard her roommates coming from behind. There's a tiny smirk on her lips. It somehow brought back memories of her world and her friends along with her husband along her side fighting.

Saori whirled around to smack an incoming soldier with a backhand. No more restrained strength for this round. While she normally would hold back with humans but the circumstances changed. It took a lot to infuriate Saori, but this took the cake. Another swipe with her smoke-made scythe sliced another incoming soldier.

"Margulis, Lee," she called out to them. "Come here. I need to give you guys something. This is definitely a worse case scenario that calls for it." Yes, changing luck was a risky choice but there was no other choice.

[comm: 1100]

[raisedbybirds]

Loosing battle or not, Samus would've stayed and fought until the bitter end... were it not for a very important message reaching her ears.

Adam.

Something was wrong with him. She desperately needed to get back. Right now.

Her Power Suit had served her well in her efforts to plow deeply through the UE's forces; tanks were decimated and blown in half by her missiles, soldiers lay fallen at her feet but the onslaught just didn't end. She turned heel and started running back the way she came, only to quickly realize the bridge she came in was now mostly under water.

"Samus Aran reporting in. Anyone up in command, I need a clear path back to the nearest gate out of Hong Kong, ASAP."

There was a muffled boom followed by bit of static before she was able to speak further.

"Cheung Tsing bridge is out. I repeat, Cheung Tsing bridge is out."

[bumbles]

Thank God. The rest of the world can wait, all the worlds can burn, because Max is all that matters. His hands press into her back and he just pulls her closer, eradicating any thought of distance between them, breath hoarse, fragile, as he kisses her neck. Forget leaving, he's nodding at her assertion. She won't leave. He doesn't want to leave.

"P--promise?"

Surely he shouldn't sound so needy? It's pathetic, right? That's what Phoebe had always said. God, and Selena and Phoebe and Asteria, and he grips her tighter to him. Promise.

[thephix]

Her free hand strokes across his shoulders, trying to soothe him.

"I promise," It might be a foolish promise to make, considering how easy it was for the Initiative to drag her away from everything, but if nothing else, she'll make this promise to Donny.

Maybe she should feel guilty for using tactics like this to manipulate him, but all she can feel is relief that he's going to stop fighting her on this.

is A ok bb

[pixieboots]

[ He can't think about the horrifying sameness between the portals, can't think about the numb feeling in his stomach, can't think about how much easier it is to keep moving than it is to slow down. He catches Onyx in his peripheral while he's clinging to the side of what probably used to be a skyscaper. Even out in the open, even here she's like something that belongs in a movie. His brain wants to stop and gawk, watching her even as his reflexes say move while bullets ping the steel he's holding on to.

She's terrible. She's frightening. It tightens something up in his chest, watching her kill soldiers, even if they are UE. But maybe...

It's probably the dumbest idea he's ever had. But he's swinging a leg up and vaulting up to the next narrow slab of metal, high enough that he knows he'll be visible, yellow cape and red vest, waving a hand furiously in her direction. ]

Hey! [ Can she even hear him, from this far away? ] Hey, remember me?

[pixieboots]

No. That's- [ It's so wrong what she's saying. So wrong in so many ways he can't leave it at that, he has to show her how wrong she is. His fists are clenching when he finds the words he needs to finish up that thought. ] You can't think like that. We have to win this thing, because they need us. We did this, don't you get it? None of this would have happened if I- [ And there's his voice starting to catch. He hunches his shoulders and hopes she won't notice. ]

We just have to find a way, okay?

[bumbles]

If she should feel guilty for using these tactics, surely he should feel guilty for giving way to them, for so wanting her kisses and her comfort. His lips brush against hers, again, gently dragging her lip through his teeth. "I m-- I m-missed you."

Yes, useless. She wouldn't have missed him, she doesn't need him. His chest heaves, and his fingers curl around her arms, preparing to ease her away from him. But not yet. Soon, just... not yet.

"Sorry."

[thephix]

She allows the second kiss, closing her eyes for a moment and just breathing this in, relishing the fact that she's not alone anymore. Things are going to get complicated, with Adonis here, rather than someone who'd follow orders without question, especially considering what she's been doing to start rebuilding her resources.

He missed her, of course he did, because she's spent months making him fall in love with her. The question is whether she's missed him?

Even if she did, there's no way she can admit it.

"I'm glad you're here," It's not quite what he must want to here, but it's... true.

[bumbles]

Glad you're here. It sounds so sterile. The sort of thing he might hear from Selene. Glad you're here, a euphemism for really not giving a fuck. His shoulders stiffen, and he pulls away from the wall - from her - dragging his fingers through his hair. Of course it doesn't mean the same thing to her. It was stupid to harbour the hope that it might.

Easing away, he checks his mask, shakes up his shoulders. All right, signed, because he has to be Atlas. Adonis is the one who gives into her, whose shoulders shook and who wept. Not even "good": that's far too optimistic.

What name is your tablet registered to? I'll find you.

Because this doesn't mean the same thing to her, that it means to him. He really is useless, isn't he?

C

[reconnaissance]

"Bad ideas, huh? I'm pretty fond of them, myself."

A wicked grin, and a voice that might not be so completely unfamiliar to either of them, although last time there was a lot more anger involved. She's clambering up, as well, and the light moves over her strangely, as her body and her clothes camouflage under shadow.

"G'day." Well, being in a tank sure beats being out there, although-- "You two got a plan for big bertha, here? 'Cause you're gonna go under some friendly fire, I reckon."

Ellie Linton: she's a helper.

The Hold

[worldswillburn]

She knows that he's going to leave. Wouldn't be Jim if he didn't.

Kerrigan looks on as he prepares himself for the trip and the fighting. Is she going along for the ride? Not this time. Her reasons for staying were kept mostly to herself, for not being one of them. She had heard how bad it was on the other side, and frankly thought they had no chance at all at even pulling this off. And yet...

"Like old times." Kerrigan says, coming up behind him.

[thephix]

It's obvious instantly that she's said the wrong thing, and she winces inwardly, wishing she'd said something different, something better, but it's too late to take back, now.

It doesn't matter, it can't be a problem for now, and just like he slips back into Atlas, she has to be the Sphinx instead of Max, can't let all this bother her. Adonis is here, it's a relief, but it can't be more than that. Anything else would be a weakness.

"Roscha," Just the last name, and her voice is even now, steady, not quite cold, but there's a lack of emotion that typical to how she deals with people when she's the Sphinx, "Where are you going?"

[thephix]

[She can be; she's made a life out of guessing people's motivations and manipulating them, and all of it requires a certain surety.

The only thing that surprises her any more is Donny and his psychopath of a sister.

That's not really something she wants to think about.]

I'll be back in ten minutes.

[She doesn't wait for a response before striding out of the room, and once she's out of sight she takes a moment to put out her cigarette, pinching the ends between her fingers and focusing on the burn.

From there it's a simple matter of tracking down a chain of Initiative employees that she's familiar with, finding out what she can from each one before moving on.

It's more like twenty minutes by the time she walks back into the office, but she looks satisfied.]

You want the long version or the short one?

[bumbles]

Moscow.

Without looking at her, simply assuming that she'll follow his hands. She'll be angry, he assumes, but Atlas is all he has, and Atlas has to be in the field. He's already spilled blood, some belonging to others and some his own. A little more won't make a difference. Get them to close down the portals sooner, stop so many people just getting their deaths recycled.

Anyone who managed to get through this with their lives intact probably deserved a medal for skill, or just being smarter than the rest of them. Later he'd need to check in with different people.

[thephix]

It makes her feel sick, makes her legs feel weak, that she can't even get him to stay with her, but maybe she shouldn't be surprised, when she's been so cruel to him, when she's let him think he's worthless.

Why would he want to stay?

But she still has to catch his wrist, just for a moment, wanting him to look at her, like maybe he'll be able to see how much this is tearing her apart, "Be careful."

She doesn't know what she can do on this side, if it'll be possible to convince the Initiative to retreat, but she knows she can do more here than she could on the battlefield.

[painfeels]

Painwheel had joined in the fighting as well, but had finally come back. She had been turned into a weapon, yes, but one that still had limits. She actually didn't look too bad, save for chunks of her mask having been lost in all the fighting. Right now what she really wanted to do was to just look around for her friends and make sure they were alright.

"That you, Martin?" Off to a good start, at least. "I'm glad you're doing okay!"

[goinbust]

"Something like that. Figured they could use all the experience with fightin lost battles they could get."

He looks over his load out and shakes his head.

"Gunna be messy, probably going to end up bugging out from what they said. You comin' along?"