( 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]

No, that's...

[She pauses. She wants to find a way to say this without making him feel like she wants to avoid him, a way that doesn't make him any more worried about her than he already is. Maybe that's impossible, too. She pushes a hand through her hair with a sigh.]

I think I just need to be alone for a little while.

[5055034455]

[It's not impossible; he gets it.

So he nods, though he still looks sad.]

Okay. Then you can let me know when you're ready to talk.

[quackery]

[She nods, thinking. She wasn't lying when she said she'd rather not be around people, but as long as he's here, she doesn't want an uncomfortable silence surrounding them.]

Hey, Saul?

[5055034455]

[He's used to those. But the sound of his name makes him look over at her, one eyebrow arched curiously.]

Hm?

[quackery]

You kind of work with the Initiative, don't you? Do you know how long it's going to take for us to be able to get back here?

[5055034455]

I dunno. But I know they'll be working as hard as they can.

[They'd better, anyway.]

[quackery]

Yeah. I know all of us will.

[She wonders, though, how long it'll take until that's enough. Most of them had been trying up until now, she thinks, and still they've been fighting what seems to be a losing battle. Will retreating really help them?]

[5055034455]

[At least retreating doesn't end in all of them dying.

...probably.

Saul worries his lower lip for a moment, then forces a smile that isn't entirely false.]

Keep the faith, duckling. It'll be okay.

[quackery]

[Her face tightens, enough that it almost looks as though she's going to start to cry again. She takes a breath, though, holding it at bay. She doesn't want him to know that she's wondering if that's true; she's ashamed to be thinking it herself.]

Yeah, I know it will.

[Years ago, she knows that would have been said with much more conviction than it is now. She tries not to dwell on it.

They're finally approaching her apartment, though, and she reaches into a pocket to dig out her keys.]

[5055034455]

[He doesn't believe her. He doesn't even believe himself, so...

You know what'll lighten the mood?

Hair-ruffling.

That always works, right?!]

Hey, c'mon. Chin up.

[quackery]

[Normally she's not too tired for the act. She's a normally happy person, but something she prides herself on is hiding her occasional sadness in an act of cheer. Today, though, is different. She can't quite bring herself to put up the front.

Once he starts to mess with her hair, though, she's surprised enough that it takes her out of her thoughts for a moment. She actually lets loose a little laugh, both from shock and amusement.]

H-Hey, cut that out!

[But then a pause.]

I'm sure I will soon... I'm sorry.

[5055034455]

[Hey, he'll take it. It's better than nothing.

At least he tries to fix her hair after he's messed it up. Then he drops his hand back to his side and his smile fades a little.

Not completely. Only a little.]

You don't have to apologize. Let's get you packed up.

[quackery]

[Her hair is an unstoppable force that can never be tamed, so she doesn't really bother to put the rest of it back in place. She walks into the apartment, leaving the door open for him, and starts to walk to the door before pausing and turning back to him.]

Would you mind waiting outside the room? I mean, it's not like I'll be able to jump out the window or anything.

[5055034455]

You're not gonna turn into a duck and try to fly away, are you?

[look he has his reasons for being suspicious, okay]

[quackery]

[She shakes her head.]

Water turns me back and it's always raining here. It wouldn't matter even if I tried.

[5055034455]

Alright. I'll be out here, then.

[Sitting down and not touching anything, promise.]

[quackery]

[It doesn't take her long. She's afraid to linger, afraid she won't be able to make herself leave if she stays here too long. She only takes the necessities, so it's only around fifteen minutes later that she comes out of the room with a pack on her back.]

Okay.

[5055034455]

[He knows they're not supposed to bring much, but what Ahiru has with her seems like so little.]

You got everything?

[quackery]

Yep. I don't have any pets or anything.

[A pause.]

Can we make a stop or two on the way to the ship?

[5055034455]

Yeah, sure. Whatever you want.

[He has plenty of time.]

[quackery]

[She nods.]

There's an orphanage here I want to stop by, but it's not for the reason you think. You can make sure I don't take any of them with me.

[5055034455]

[god

damnit

duckling

Saul hesitates, then nods.]

Lead the way.

[quackery]

Okay. It's not far, and I promise I'll try to be quick.

[She begins to walk.]

[5055034455]

You can take your time.

[If she wants.

He tucks his hands into the pockets of his coat as he follows, kinda sorta dreading this.]

[quackery]

No, I think it would be best if we hurry.

[She wants to see them, but she knows it'll hurt more to pull herself away if she stays longer than a few minutes.]