( open ) our ag wing's back and you're gonna be in trouble (hey now! hey now! our ag wing's back)

[initiates]

Date & Time: October 31st, 3313, 11:59PM - November 3rd, 3313, ????
Location: Agriculture Wing, Moon Base to start. Cafeteria, warehouse, docking bay, VR rooms, Transport Pad, or Observatory later on.
Characters: Any & all!
Summary: Space Zombies are allowed out of the Agriculture Wing, slowly revving up their systems to try and infect and absorb as many of the Transports (or 12 Initiative Members) as possible.
Warnings: Log will be locked for potentially graphic violence. Please warn in threads should the violence or gore become graphic.
Notes: Specify a date and location in your top comment. You may specify multiple dates/locations. Specify a time if you wish as well.

Everything is a success at first, from the cool rush of air out of the Agriculture Wing once the doors are fully unlocked, to the heady sense of accomplishment for finally moving forward on something good for the long-term usability of the Moon Base. It's intended to remain a resource, after all, but not be a permanent home. Fraying tempers and the sense of cabin fever descending on Transports continues to showcase how important it is to get back down on Earth to regain some breathing room.

There's little enough dust between all the unmoving, unlit structures, many even supporting the barest dried husks of what once grew there. Upon the lightest touch, they disintegrate, turning into a dust that falls to the ground. The silent rows will be reclaimed and turned into functioning units, based on Transport efforts, and Transport time invested in the project.

There's just one problem. Something stirs in the reclaimed wing, among tangles of hosing and wiring. Skitterings and movements that make no sense for a long abandoned Moon Base. The further in Transports go, relying on magic or technology to generate light past the bare minimum maintained by the base, the more disturbing sights they may run into.

Of course, the most disturbing of all might be lying just around the far corner -- but don't worry, it's only a flesh wound. Try not to get surprised in the machinery, caught suffering from not looking up or caught making out with anything unsavory this holiday season, Transports. We need all of you to stay alive!

We can't bring you back right now!

Comments

[salvagedsoul]

Why not?

[Kaworu is displaying no fear. Billy is literally at no risk if he's here to protect him. The zombies couldn't touch them unless he allowed it.]

Hm. You're always eager to shoulder everyone's burdens. It's admirable.

[oncearanger]

It's meant a lot that I actually have people to care about now. For the most part I'm working on restoring Exsilium, but it gets lonely sometimes.

[Billy treads lightly, still not entirely relaxed. It's hard to wind down after a session like that.]

[salvagedsoul]

Lonely...?

[he keeps himself faced forward, in anticipation of any zombies that may need to be pushed away. but there's concern in his voice.]

You ought to contact me more often. It would be my pleasure to spend time with you. We could get together in one of the VR rooms.

[oncearanger]

I haven't used them for much other than discussing strategy.

My former residence like this had similar rooms---we used them to pretend to ourselves that we still had the comforts of rich food and lush landscapes, but it was all artificial and we knew it.

[salvagedsoul]

I think that's unavoidable. We ought to use whatever comforts we have, even if it isn't ideal.

[oncearanger]

I always devoted those trips at least partially to training---power was limited, as it is here, and I didn't want to waste it on frivolities.

But I could train in an imagined exotic locale and hold on to the simulation for a little longer, right?

[Finally---they've gotta be close to a safe zone by now, right? knows the fighting is necessary, but he also knows he can't carry on with it right now.]

[salvagedsoul]

That sounds nice.

[Kaworu gives him a good-natured grin. Soon enough, they arrive at a safe zone, heavily barricaded but free enough for them to slip in and block the entry again.

Kaworu's hands finally pull out from his pockets.]

Do you need anything? I can go get it for you. You should rest.

[oncearanger]

[Now that they're safe, Billy can finally let go of the adrenaline pushing him on. He taps the coin on his belt, shifting back into his civilian clothes in a flash of light.

In this light, the exhaustion is visible. But at least most of the blood hit him after he morphed---it's gone, for the most part.]

I have to admit that sleeping in the middle of an immediate conflict makes me nervous.

[salvagedsoul]

[at the sight of his face, Kaworu's brows furrow just slightly. he looks terrible...]

I'll stay and protect you while you sleep, then. You don't need to be afraid of anything.

[really, he didn't need to even be here. Kaworu could handle all of the zombies himself. but he doesn't say that part, since it's probably pointless to tell Billy that.]

[oncearanger]

You're strong, Kaworu. You can protect a whole entrance---I'm far from the only person vulnerable here.

[If he wants to, of course. Billy wobbles on his feet and awkwardly catches his friend's arm.]

I'll come back as soon as I can. I believe I'll be fine.

[There needs to be a just-in-case clause here, though, because their lives have been so unpredictable already. His grip tightens slightly.]

But if the worst happens somehow...I don't think it will, but if it does?

Kill me before I can hurt anyone. Please.

[salvagedsoul]

[Kaworu reaches up to pat Billy's hand comfortingly. Without hesitation, he nods and looks him in the eye.]

I will. I promise.

[there's no need to discuss the logic or morality behind a request like that. Kaworu would argue the same values if prompted.]

But that won't happen, like you said. So don't worry.

[oncearanger]

[Billy curls his fingers around Kaworu's hand, giving it a weak squeeze.]

Thank you.

I'll see you for that 'training' when we win, okay?

[...yeah. As much as he hates to admit it, he might need a real break when this is over. But the small respite now is fine.

He smiles over his shoulder as he departs.]