EVENT: HERE THERE BE MONSTERS

[initiatesnpc]

Date & Time: October 24 - October 31
Location: Throughout Exsilium
Characters: ALL; tag yourselves in
Summary: The Transports return from their mission to find the island crawling with monsters.
Warnings: Violence, possibly injuries (notify a mod if there's cause to add a particular warning!)

The Transports return from their mission to Medieval Russia, but the Initiative Hold is eerily deserted. Normally, their would be a number of Initiative personnel prepared to meet the Transports at the end of their mission for debriefing.

Instead, there is only silence.

That is, until a distant thumping sound can be heard. It is growing closer, and suddenly the beast is bursting into the room. It lets out a roar and charges. Within minutes, it is easily defeated, but damage has already been done -- it collided with the Transporter machine, which is now making a low fizzling sound and lets off a couple sparks. The commotion is enough to draw the attention of the few remaining Initiative personnel who still inhabit the Hold, who arrive immediately afterwards. They are able to tell the Transports two things: that the machine is broken and currently unable to sent anyone back in time, and that the island has been overrun with aggressive, mutated beasts sent by the United Earth. They have been under siege for months, with the island's population reduced to a mere fraction of what it had once been.

Comments

[ex_bandai157]

Going somewhere?

[ Barnaby's in for a break from fighting monsters, and the slingshot, among other things, has definitely earned her raised eyebrows. ]

[studieswaitressing]

I guess you could say that.

[She finishes packing up the bag and slings it over one shoulder with a sideways smile.]

I've been told I need to learn how to use a weapon better before I head off to fight monsters, but I can at least go look for some parts.

[ex_bandai157]

You're going with someone?

[ Because if you're going out anywhere it'll still be really dangerous if you can't deal with the monsters ]

[studieswaitressing]

That's the plan.

[Not that wolfy-Collette is going to be enough if they do run into more than one monster...]

[ex_bandai157]

Well, that's good to hear. With everyones' efforts, we can hope it won't be too long until things get fixed.

[studieswaitressing]

[She nods, rubbing a hand over her shoulder.]

Yeah. I'm guessing we're the ones that caused this, anyway -- better that we fix it.

[ex_bandai157]

[ He breathes out lowly at that reminder, thinking of his own callousness regarding the last mission and where it's got them now. ]

It's only right that we do.

[studieswaitressing]

This is why I don't understand why they're even trying to fight through the past.

[It never ends up doing what they want it to.]

[ex_bandai157]

With the impossibility of a direct attack...

[ It's all too complicated. He pauses rather than go on, since they both know that the odds of succeeding in something like that are even slimmer; and in an uncharacteristic drop of poise, rubs a hand over his face. ]

There should still be other options.

[studieswaitressing]

[...okay, that seemed kind of off. She waves a hand toward him.]

What're you going to be up to, trying to help fix things?

[ex_bandai157]

Fighting the monsters, primarily. Making sure they aren't able to kill anyone else.

[studieswaitressing]

[She nods a little, shifting side to side.]

You're going to be all right doing that? I mean -- you'll be well-equipped?

[ex_bandai157]

[ He nods. ]

I'll be fine. A Hero should be able to handle any situation, after all.

[ It's a little stale on his tongue, but there's some wry humor to how he says it. ]

In any case, I've had more difficult opponents before.

[ One-on-one. While he had a large robotic suit to protect him. But hey. ]

[studieswaitressing]

Yeah, that didn't sound rehearsed at all.

[She pauses once she says that. He's welcome to talk to her about things, but she doesn't want to press somewhere she isn't going to be wanted -- especially with everything that's going on right now.

Pff those are small details anyway.]

[ex_bandai157]

[ He's not worried about being able to handle the monsters. There are plenty of them up against them, and monsters are easier to handle in certain ways than fellow humans. They also, unlike say androids, have weak points that can be exploited. He isn't afraid of them.

But it's too soon - after the bombings, his resolve to oppose the UE, the battles in the past and the realization that he's still controlled by his own, only to see that they'd messed up and caused a future like this - it adds up quickly. Much as he hates to admit it, even he has his limits, and now he's left in the middle of another crisis unsure of what to do. Or - he knows what to do now, but not what the future will hold, all of these consequences, and that's enough to weigh on him in the present. Keeping track of the right thing to do gets muddled fast in a situation like this.

It's tiring. ]

I'll be happier when this is over.

[ That's half a lie, but it's said like an admission. Things will be better, but it's unlikely he'll be much happier. ]

[studieswaitressing]

[She crosses her arms over her chest, uncertain whether she should bother to offer as blatantly as she's about to, but -- well, he's been an all right person to her, and it never hurts to have more people on your side.

She's curious about him, anyway, so this seems like a good way to get him to trust her.]

Well, if you ever want to talk -- I know a lot about being pretty screwed up, so. There's that.

[She half-laughs, suddenly uncomfortable.]

I hope you're right, though - that you'll be happier when this is all settled. At least we'll all be safer.

[ex_bandai157]

That's just as important.

[ More important, actually, but he knows better than to vocalize that. She gets a slight smile, all appreciative. ]

Thank you.

[studieswaitressing]

I mean it. Don't go on any crazy killing sprees because you snap after holding in all your ... uh, feelings.

[Seriously, Barnaby.]

[ex_bandai157]

I'll make sure that isn't a problem, don't worry.

[ does he look like an axe murderer maybe he needs to fix his image ]

[studieswaitressing]

[She never knows what people are capable of, okay. She doesn't know you that well, Barnaby.]

...well, good. I'd hate for you to ruin your sparkling reputation.

wow i thought i tagged this

[ex_bandai157]

It'd be a shame, to say the least.

No it's okay <3

[studieswaitressing]

And I'm sure it would be heartbreaking for all your ... fans.

[ex_bandai157]

[ He laughs, just a little. ]

It wouldn't help me very much in working with the police here, either.

[studieswaitressing]

Unless the police didn't care, in which case I doubt you would want to work for them anyway.

[ex_bandai157]

No. Anyway, if I'd done something like that, I'd quit immediately.