OPERATION SEXY MARIO: CONCLUSION

[initiates]

Date & Time: Sept 19th
Location: The UE Holding Compound, and surrounding area.
Characters: Anyone being rescued, doing the rescuing, or doing the distracting.
Summary: There have been some slackers freeloading off the UE for the past couple weeks or so, so let's go drag them home.
Warnings: Likely violence! Let a mod know if we should update this.

Those meant for distraction and those meant for rescue alike are both loaded onto the same stolen highspeed train. It's a great distance to cover, but the train manages in just under two hours, and deposits both groups three miles from the Holding Compound — a desolate and cold area, with rocky, uneven ground, small but jagged hills well-scattered and covered in scraggly trees — and there they part ways.

The diversion is sent away north, to draw United Earth attention and aggression upward, further into the continent, while the rescue team takes a much slower and quieter route to approach the Compound from the south, closest to Exsilium. The rescue team's orders are to wait a full half hour, to be sure that all forces who can be drawn out of the Compound to meet the sudden onslaught from the north will have already left.

The diversion team won't have an easy job of it. The soldiers are heavily armed, and trained to fight to the death before they surrender. They're grouped in organized squadrons, about 20 in each, and seem to outnumber Transports by three to one. Scattered throughout these soldiers are the Masked, the UE's special forces. These soldiers strike with a deadly precision, enhanced speed and strength, and highly advanced weaponry. Also, oddly enough, they seem to have a few smaller members among them, standing about 4 feet tall, and wielding strange powers… Those familiar with the powers of their kidnapped friends may see distinct similarities.

The Compound itself, when the rescue team makes their way in, will be very quiet. All prisoners had been forced into locked rooms (together or separately — whatever was most convenient) before the soldiers had left to face the encroaching threat. There are still personnel left to man the base, of course, and a few of them are armed soldiers — but for the most part it's scientists and researchers. Careful, though. Even scientists and researchers are perfectly capable of sounding the alarm to bring back the armed threats.

Once everyone is out of the Compound, the train will begin running a return trip. It will be kept as long as possible, while the distraction teams sneak back from the battlefield in small groups, but it can't wait forever. Those on the battlefield for the longest, the hardest hitters or the most dedicated fighters, might just have to find another way home. So… any Transports with relocation abilities feel like lending a hand?

Comments

[substitutable]

... I feel like you just really offhandedly told me something pretty awful, but okay. As long as you understand...

Do dream catchers actually work?

[affectate]

That is because I did! I did tell you that I was a monster, Mr Shintaro.

[But that's not important right now! Now we're talking about nightmares.]

Regardless -- yes, dreamcatchers do work if you believe them to! One base of any magic is the power of belief. An enchantment may only do so much if your target does not believe in magic!

[substitutable]

Mm... then it may or may not be effective. I usually don't believe in that sort of stuff, and what's happening here is more science than magic, right?

But... then again, there are worlds that have weird powers and magic so I can't say it's not real.

[affectate]

They are not mutually exclusive, Mr Shintaro! I study mathematical physics at my university, and often find it very useful in my magic-based experiments! For instance --

[Ahh, no. She's not sure what he'll think if he actually sees her do it. It's not worth the risk. So he might catch a flash of realization across her face before she shrugs her shoulders.]

-- Nevermind. I've decided that this isn't the time for an exhibition. You could, perhaps, attempt sleeping so deeply that you're unable to remember your dreams?

[substitutable]

[There's a pause before he answers, confused by what she's trying to tell him. Experiments? Never mind?]

--Uh. Mm? No... I'm not a really deep sleeper, so I can't even attempt it. I've tried.

[affectate]

What have you tried? You could increase your melatonin levels through artificial means, or simply exhaust yourself to the point that you sleep deeply...?

[substitutable]

Nah. I've been screwing up my sleep schedule for the last two years, and it doesn't usually help anyway. Don't worry about it.

[affectate]

[A short pause, while she thinks on it again. Hmm - ]

Have you considered masturbating before bed? Following male orgasm, the hormone prolactin is released -- one's prolactin levels are higher during sleep, and animals injected with prolactin often become tired immediately. The body also releases oxytocin, which reduces stress levels...

Ah, and if you are seeing someone, you could have sex with them as well! Orgasms during intercourse release four times the prolactin of those had during masturbation.

[substitutable]

Ma---!?!?

[He can't even get a word out and the sound ends in a squeak what the fuck Elaine that flying fuck.]

I don't--!

[affectate]

... You don't masturbate? How odd. If you find yourself unable to sleep, Mr Shintaro, then I would recommend doing so! In addition to the hormones released during orgasm functioning as aids for your sleep, studies done have also shown that masturbation increases one's self-esteem and the strength of one's immune system, and prevents cancer of the prostate -- ah, but I digress!

Is it that you're unaware of how? For men, the rudimentary movements are quite simple! Simply stroke your penis with your dominant hand until orgasm is reached.

[substitutable]

[Elaine please stop he can't take it anymore. He lunges forward and puts his hands over her mouth with a desperate look on his face.]

I got it! I really got it! Thanks, but, please, stop!

[affectate]

[Well, she doesn't say anything else! Partially because his hand is over her mouth, but also because him putting his hand over her mouth means he is touching her. Like. Consensually? She didn't touch him. He touched her. She knows it's because she doesn't give off that same inherently creepy feeling as she does at home but it's still just weird.

So she stops talking but she also stops moving outside of an initial stumble at him lunging at her, and just looks incredibly and genuinely surprised. Not over- or under-acted.]

[substitutable]

... Elaine, you're not supposed to say that sort of stuff, okay? I know you said you're a monster, but you got to be careful about interacting with people. We get embarrassed!

[affectate]

A... Ah, yes. I'd forgotten; my apologies! As long as you do understand, then it's all right.

[She doesn't really mean to look so chastized, but it sort of comes with the confusion dying down. It doesn't have anything to do with what he said. She's just distracted by what happened. Skin to skin contact is weird and she doesn't remember the last time it ever happened to her.

So would she call what she's feeling embarrassment too, she wonders? She's not sure.]

Then next time, I'll be certain to use more discretion when discussing such subjects. While I am far from an expert on those matters, I do recall the Daughters' pamphlets well enough to at least assist you in a more private venue should the issue persist...

[substitutable]

Next time, don't discuss these matters, okay? You might meet someone who's even more uncomfortable with something like that!

[affectate]

... Are you uncomfortable? It certainly may be embarrassing, but I do not feel that it is something that may elicit discomfort...

[substitutable]

... Embarrassment can be discomfort too, Elaine. Anyway, I'm fine, okay? I'll figure out how to sleep. I don't sleep all that much, so.

[affectate]

Ah, I see... I shall be certain to keep that in mind, in that case.

Mr Shintaro, how old are you?

[substitutable]

Huh? Me?

[He eyes her warily. What will she say about him once she learns his age--?!]

I'm eighteen...

[affectate]

Ah, then you and I are the same age! I turned eighteen... I believe that September would make three months ago...?

[She trails off a little. When it's something insignificant like ages, it can be nice to have something in common with people.

It's like a giant middle finger in her face telling her she still can't connect with them, regardless of her effort. That's nice. Sometimes the people here make it easy to forget.]

-- At any rate, it's very important that you sleep eight to nine hours nightly... Please be certain to at least make some attempt.

[substitutable]

June? Ah... mine's a little before yours, then.

[He doesn't know why that is suddenly significant, but he's already decided that Elaine has the predictability of an amoeba. Her and Christopher and like half the people here.]

And ah-- I'll do that... sorry, I didn't mean to make you worry?

[affectate]

Yes, the fourth of June --

[Uh. Christ. What does she even say to that? Was she feeling something you'd call "worry" because he wasn't sleeping? Because he called her a friend even though he's human? It's not weird to worry for your friends, but they weren't, were they? He was just stupid enough to take her seriously.

And yet, here she is. It's kind of nice.

But even if goes with her previous idea and accepts being his friend just for now, she's not sure what to say. Does she capitalize on his guilt to make him sleep better, or brush him off so he doesn't worry? Christ, this is why being friends with humans is a waste of time. Humans leave if you upset them. This is too hard.]

Yes, I'm very concerned...! A lack of proper sleep may result in even more hallucinations, in addition to a lowered self-esteem and immune system, and ultimately an early death.

[A beat.]

I would prefer that you refrain from dying.

[substitutable]

Huh?

[He was actually planning to comment on her extremely logical negativity but he wasn't expecting the last words that came after the pause. He blinks at her, then he laughs a little nervously as he looks off to the side.]

Thanks... well, I can do my best. I mean, it'd suck to die for me, too.

[affectate]

Yes. Dying itself is not so unpleasant -- however, if you may be returned to life, such as in this place... you may not find it quite to your tastes.

Of course, you may consider it to be akin to a short nap, but I doubt that your friends would feel the same.

[substitutable]

You don't have to tell me twice. We've gone through it before, and it isn't pleasant.

What about you? From the way you said it, it sounds like... you've died before too.