( open ) i'll fly you to the moon and back

[initiates]

Date & Time: September 21st - September 30th, 11:59 PM
Location: The Hold, the Moon Base
Characters: Any/all.
Summary: The Transports are evacuating to the Moon Base. Those on the Moon Base try to settle in and figure out their next move. Setting info can be found here.
Warnings: Talk of nuclear warheads and reference to immense loss of life. Please contact the mods should any individual thread get graphically violent or anything else of the sort.
Note: Use date and location tags in your subject headlines! Such as "On the moon, 23rd onward" or "On the spaceship, 25th" or "down at the Hold, 29th."

The Hold is a flurry of activity, grim faced members of the Initiative group directing supplies and people with the subdued air of people facing their own doom, and wondering at how to process the knowledge. None of the Initiative appears unaware of what will happen; their eyes linger on the Transports, expressions pleading, hopeful, doubtful, or immeasurably sad in turn.

Every eight hours, the space ship is sent back up with a load of people and supplies. The pilots are worked until they can't; the AI stolen ages ago by the Initiative greets and corrals people and supplies at both ends, and in the middle step between.

The network continues to broadcast on narrow channels between the Moon Base and Exsilium, up until the time that all connections are lost, with the carrier located en route to Exsilium. The first airship will pass by without dropping anything, but it's too early to celebrate. At a six hour delay from behind, the second airship arrives, and with it, the dark promise of the Black Code's nuclear weaponry.

The six hour window allows for time for those left behind, either by choice or circumstance, to be pulled to the Moon Base with the successful activation of the Transport Pad. New characters will ultimately arrive with the remainder of those not yet on the Moon Base, all in time to witness the explosive contact of the nuclear warhead with the ground of Exsilium live on satellite.

But until then, there's only the hurry, the silence, and the potential for full out rioting should the Transports spread word to the Exiles inevitably left behind to face this fate.

Comments

[quackery]

[She pulls away again, scowling.]

That doesn't make it okay to let people die when we can at least help a few of them!

[5055034455]

[His hand drops down to his side.]

But you're not helping! I know you think you are, but — if you really want to help, you'll listen to me and board the ship. Please.

[quackery]

I'm not just going to leave them! You can't seriously...

[She draws in a breath, shaky.]

I can't do that.

[5055034455]

[It becomes clear to Saul, then, that she means it when she says she can't. If she's given the choice, she's going to attempt it anyway.

So the only thing he can do is take away that option. That way, Ahiru can't blame herself.]

I'm sorry.

[In one quick motion, Saul moves forward and snatches her up, holding her tight against his chest. She can kick if she wants to, she can wriggle, she can scream at him, but he's not letting her go until she's on that damn ship.]

[quackery]

[She doesn't know quite what she was expecting him to do, but it certainly wasn't that. There are a few moments before she understands exactly what's happening, what he's planning to do - and then, of course, she starts to struggle.]

No! No, please, put me down. Please. You can't do this. Let go of me!

[5055034455]

I'll put you down if you promise to let me walk you there.

[And watch her board. That's the best he can do.

Until she agrees, he's running with her in his arms, headed for the boarding area.]

[quackery]

[She hesitates for a moment, struggling harder and trying to see if she can get out, before she relents.]

Fine! Fine, just put me down.

[5055034455]

[He puts her down.

But is giving her a look like, Seriously, don't you break this promise.]

Alright. After you.

[quackery]

[She looks around, thinking. She knows she can't run. She could change and try to fly off, but with the way it's always raining here, she doesn't think it would work too well. She could - she doesn't have any other ideas. For a moment, she's sure she's going to be sick, but she isn't.

What she does do (stupidly, embarrassingly, she thinks) is start to cry, bowing her head and bringing her hands up to her face to try and shield it. It doesn't hide the way her shoulders start to shake, though.]

[5055034455]

[Ah, shit.

Saul stares at her for a moment like he's not sure what to do, but he knows exactly what he has to do. Maybe now's not the best time, considering how he just tried to basically kidnap her, but if she'll let him, he's going to hug her.]

Ahiru...

[quackery]

[She knows she's being selfish. This shouldn't be about her and how she feels; she's not the one who's going to be left behind to die. She shrugs away, shaking her head as she tries to force herself to stop crying.]

Sorry. I don't need... Sorry.

[5055034455]

It's okay.

[His voice is soft, gentle. He even crouches so he can hold her a little more comfortably, waiting for this to pass.]

I'm sorry. For just now and for everything. If there were a better way, I promise you, we would've done everything to make it work. But there's just — there's not enough time.

[quackery]

[She takes in a breath, trying to stop her voice from shaking.]

You don't have to apologize, it isn't your fault.

[5055034455]

Feels a little bit like it.

[Everyone's carrying their share of the guilt, it seems.]

[quackery]

[She pulls back enough that she can look him in the eye, shaking her head firmly.]

But it isn't. You know that, right? It's not anybody's fault except the United Earth. So don't say that.

[5055034455]

Yeah, I know.

[He looks at her, but he doesn't quite meet her eyes.]

Do you need someone to help you pack?

[quackery]

No, I can do it on my own.

[5055034455]

Can I come with you anyway?

[quackery]

Even if I said no, you would come anyways.

[5055034455]

Yeah.

[She's so smart.]

C'mon. I'm really good at folding things.

[quackery]

I can fold my own stuff even if you're going with me.

[5055034455]

Alright, alright. Fair enough.

[He pulls away.]

Ready?

[quackery]

Of course not.

[But she doesn't really have another choice, so she brushes the last of the tears off her cheeks and starts walking towards the apartment building.]

[5055034455]

[And he follows her, silently. This might not be his fault, technically speaking, but it feels a lot like there's something weighing him down as he trudges along behind her, and he's pretty sure it's guilt.]

[quackery]

[After a while, she looks over her shoulder at him. It's hard to remember when she feels like she might burst with anger (at herself, at everything) and a deep sadness, but of course, he must be experiencing the exact same thing.]

...Did you get your stuff already?