EVENT ★ THE FRACKING FIELDS

[futurologists]

THE EARTHQUAKE One day, early in the morning before the mechanical rooster at Amos Zephyr's farm even crows, there's a sudden rumble in the distance. Perdition's Rest shakes and the ground roils, knocking things off shelves and startling the mechanical horses in their pen. Look out the window and you'll see Qorral locals blearily stepping out into the street, murmuring anxiously amongst themselves: Earthquake. Ever since the argecite mines started to dry up, the Qorral colonists have been turning to fracking in order to pull all available argecite out of the planet as quickly as possible. The technique has caused more and more earthquakes to shake the planet, though the fracking fields are far enough away from the town that damage is minimal. However, the fields and mines aren't as lucky. The mayor rushes out into the street, his assistant and Sheriff Holladay flanking him, and asks for any willing heroes and adventurers (that means you!) to venture out to the fracking fields and assess the damages. Though the tunnels aren't being actively mined, there were likely miners and other workmen inside, so there will be rescue needed as well. Get your provisions ready and hop on the train: you're going to work. THE FRACKING FIELDS The fracking fields are a wide open swath of land peppered with looming, iron machines going on for miles. These machines are the Qorral's final attempt at scraping the last remnants of argecite from the planet before abandoning the colony and moving on for good. This destructive practice is causing obvious instability to the planet, but they don't seem to care. This is what their species does: seeks out argecite, mines it, and moves on. The fields are dry and dead, with no plants around -- and now, after the earthquake, there are sinkholes. The iron machines are falling into the sinkholes, slowly being swallowed by the planet, with desperate workers trying to pull them back out. They could use the help -- but be sure not to fall in yourself. Grotesque alien birds circle overhead, searching for the dead or the dying, workers caught in the collapsing earth. Save them before they're swallowed by the earth or swallowed by carrion birds -- and if you're too late, the locals would be happy to have their loved ones returned to them intact. Also found in the fields is the Argecite Refinery, a massive factory filled with machinery meant for the refining of the crystal before it is to be shipped back to the Qorral home planet. The outside of the factory is surrounded by a 610cm (20 ft) tall electric perimeter fence, whose energy shorts out sporadically after the earthquake cracked the service box. If you're quick enough to make it through one of the gaps in electricity, don't relax quite yet -- there are malfunctioning guard drones throughout the facility, the earthquake rattling their sensors and making it impossible for them to tell friend from foe. The drones resemble dogs, though they are capable of folding their legs in for aerodynamic superiority when they take flight. They are equipped with energy lasers to destroy, sticky glue to slow trespassers, and a thin blade in the tail to poison attackers. The poison is quick-acting, causing hallucinations and fever, but it is not deadly. Inside the factory, the machinery has collapsed in on itself from the earthquake; electricity sparks from damaged wires, dangerously nearby spilled oil drums or pools of standing water. Fire can start at any second. There are factory workers here that need rescuing, but also a variety of inanimate objects, including barrels of argecite, machinery parts, files, computers, etc. Anything that isn't bolted down needs to be moved outside of the factory before it explodes. Of course, no one is really keeping track of what's inside... THE MINES The Qorral have been digging in the mines since arriving on this planet 30 years ago, but recent efforts have shifted to fracking after the argecite veins slowly became depleted. The mines are still maintained by a skeleton crew of workers, making sure there is no build-up of dangerously flammable gas and patrolling the tunnels to look out for cave-ins -- which, after the earthquake, have happened in spades. The tunnels are winding and deep, turning in on each other and ending in dead ends or sudden, steep drop-offs into the dark. There are workers trapped within, and some at Perdition's Rest have said that their thrill-seeking relatives -- typically teenagers -- have gone missing. It's possible that they have found themselves trapped in the mine, so it may be a good idea to look out for them as well. And even deeper in the mine, there is a writhing, pale danger: sand worms, blind and hungry, wait in the dark. The earthquake has begun to drive them further up the tunnel, their tooth-lined maws open as they slither through toward the surface. Those focusing on the fields above may find a straggling sand worm or two, thrashing wildly in pain from the unfamiliar heat of the sun. This will definitely put a damper in the rescue and recovery efforts, so take them out as quickly as you can -- with as little damage to the fracking equipment, please. OOC NOTES Please direct all questions pertaining to the mission to the dossier page to keep questions and responses in one place for easy player reference. General game questions should be directed to the FAQ. If you haven't already, make sure you check out the Bounty Board for side missions! Remember you can also request bounty missions or submit player plots at any time.

Comments

Lucy/Nyuu | OTA

[scarredhorns]

1. Lucy Awakens/Sandworms On the Field

[Suited up in her white Audentes uniform, along with her black cowgirl hat to hide her horns, Nyuu remained above ground to help tend to the injured--fetching water, putting pressure on bleeding wounds, and wrapping bandages. But now she was using her shoulder to support a worker she'd just found as he tried to avoid putting pressure on his broken leg. In the distance there's a raging sand worm heading straight towards them, but there was no way they'd be able to hobble out of the way in time. Desperate, Nyuu shut her eyes tight as she tried to get them moving faster, wishing that she was strong enough to defend the man. To her surprise, she heard a female voice in her head repeat her wish, as though answering a prayer.

Just as the sand worm is within six feet of them, a non-human, or magical being, or a human with a knack for seeing the supernatural will be able to see several ghost-like arms shove the creature back; normal humans won't. Everyone, however, will be able to see the change in Nyuu's posture as she slowly lets the worker down, except it’s not Nyuu anymore. Lucy’s head is hanging down, causing the long pink hair to hide most of her face, and her shoulders are slouched. Slowly, silently, she steps forward and pushes back the sandworm with her vectors again. When it tries to turn another direction, Lucy focuses all her vectors towards the oversized worm to hold it down by the head, causing it to kick up more dust as it thrashes around in an attempt to free itself. Without even looking at whoever was near her, she speaks in a cold voice.]

Are you going to kill it? Or are you just going to continue standing there?

2. (Lucy) The Mines/Rescue/Collecting Data

[Inside the mines, Lucy can hear cries for help coming from those who'd been trapped, but thanks to the echo of the tunnels, she can't decipher where exactly it's coming from. The deeper she goes, the darker it seems to get, so she resorts to using her vectors to feel around. At some point, she feels them touch something.

You.

And the vectors feel like the cold hands of death.]

3. (Lucy) Clearing Debris and Bandits

[Being around this many people was making Lucy feel so anxious that she almost felt sick to her stomach. Under the cover of darkness, hoping to break away and give some time to herself, Lucy noticed that the railroad tracks kept going past the fracking fields and followed them until she reached the area where the path was blocked by debris. After sizing up the damage, she prepares to use her vectors to start removing some of the rocks, but then she hears the sound of hooves hitting the dirt. When she turns around there's six bandits mounted on mechanical horses forming a half-circle around her yet she doesn't look fazed.

One of them recognizes Lucy from the arrival train, leading the rest of the group to mock her as he recalls the way she'd been frozen with fear and screamed for help. The sound of flesh being sliced cuts through the taunts as one of Lucy's vectors cuts the ring leader's arm off, which had been holding the gun, followed by his screams of agony as he stares down in horror at the bloody stump that was left of his arm.]

4. Wildcard!

[Just let me know on mariposahermosa or through this account if you want to make something up together! Don't be afraid to ask me any questions about this character if you have any.]

2

[blessure]

[For once Félix hadn't run into the mines completely unprepared and impulsive; he'd taken a torch with him, aware that there'd be little light down there and reminded somewhat of the caverns under Wheldrake's Crossing scant days ago.

But his planning had proved futile as, after making his way a fair distance into the mines, the light had flickered and died, leaving him in the darkness and trying to feel his way around so that he might have a chance of turning back towards the surface and light again.

And that's when he hears something else moving around down here as well. He freezes immediately, trying to listen and get a sense of where and what it is, and then...

There are hands on his face, cold like death, like the nightmares of what lay in the portals he created and a cold touch of something otherworldly he'd felt before, and it takes every inch of control he has not to lash out at the touch.]

Who's there? What do you want? [He asks the darkness, his hand moving towards his rapier slowly.]

[scarredhorns]

[Because Lucy's vectors had a range of two meters, she wasn't even up close to Félix when she felt him tense against her "hands." Instead, she was standing nearly seven feet away in the darkness and stays there to keep some distance in case the one on the other end was armed.]

I won't kill you if you don't try to kill me. [Her distant-sounding voice is as cold as her vectors, as though she was devoid of any joy and was but an empty shell.] If you've been brought here by ALASTAIR, then we are in the same situation. We need each other, as well as the rest of the crew, in order to get back home.

[Though she hates to admit it.]

Killing one another would only be counterproductive. [Cold, hard logic. Nothing more.]

[blessure]

I have been brought here by those you name. [Félix confirms, though his fingers still wrap around the grip of his weapon. He wouldn't trust someone with the sweetest of voices promising to keep him safer from harm, and she is far from that. However he won't attack unprovoked either.]

And I agree that fighting each other isn't productive for either of us. [A slight edge of amusement enters his voice as he continues, striving to keep up the light tone he usually has.]

Though I might point out that having your hands on me is equally counterproductive, although I can hardly blame your interest. Nevertheless, I would appreciate it if you let go.

[scarredhorns]

[She would have let out an unamused "tch" if she wasn't so surprised by him being able to see her vectors.]

You-You can see them?

[Despite her surprise, Lucy does release Félix from her grasp, though she keeps them hovering around the area in case he tried to pull a fast one on her.]

[blessure]

[The cold touch retreats fortunately, and Félix feels his breath come back stronger now for their absence. As much as they weren't entirely unusual, prolonged contact wasn't pleasant either.]

I can't see anything with all this darkness, but I certainly felt you touching me. How could I not?

[scarredhorns]

[She silently curses herself for getting ahead of herself. Of course he shouldn't be able to see them, no human could. Then again, she didn't know for sure if that was true either given the pitch black surroundings they were in, so she'll just file this moment away for later.]

I wouldn't know. [She returns to her usual calm monotone, which is still distant since she hasn't moved from her spot.] Usually, people never have the chance to comment on my 'hands.' [Because she ends their lives once she has them in her grasp.]

I thought I saw a light in the distance earlier. Was that you?

[blessure]

Don't they? [Félix makes sure to sound mildly curious and more interested than worried; hopefully enough to keep up the facade of being open and trusting, despite how aware he is of the potential danger. And there likely is a significant level of it. While he can't see her, he can tell from her voice that she's far away from him and yet he felt her hands in the dark, and the feeling of them... he has to assume that they're not normal hands, even if only due to the distance that seems to be involved.

But he won't speculate aloud or give her reason to think he distrusts her, not when that might prove fatal if he's not careful. So he just flashes a smile in the darkness, in case she can see him and because it will come through in his voice as he continues.]

Well other than being a little cold, they don't seem too terrible. [Something of a blatant lie to anyone but one that seems likely to come from charm at least.] And yes, I had a light earlier but it didn't last down here so I thought I might try and return to the surface again. But I'm not certain if I got turned around...

[scarredhorns]

[Lucy can't see Félix in the dark and not while she's keeping the distance between them, but she does smirk,which can also be heard in her voice.]

I'm not susceptible to flattery. [She remembers how the humans at the research institute feared her vectors. That was why they went through such great lengths to try and keep her locked up several feet underground.] I won't use them unless I have reason to, though, such as just a few moments ago. I was feeling my way through the dark.

[Her footsteps echo in the tunnels as she slowly closes the distance between them, her voice also sounding more clear as she comes near.]

It might have been a fortunate thing your light went out. I overheard some of the natives above ground talking about the possibility of there being gas pockets down here, so that's why I didn't bother bringing one. I figured I would just use my senses and extra hands until coming across the workers who are trapped down here. [She could still hear their echoing calls for help.] They probably have something that's safer to use if it hasn't been lost to the earthquake.

[Lucy was now close enough to reach her physical arm out and touch him, but she doesn't. She knew better than to spook someone who might be armed.]

[blessure]

I think it less flattery as being polite. But if you would prefer I'm more direct... what are 'them'? [Félix asks, pleasant curiosity in his voice despite the worrying feeling of the hands. And really, while they do feel somewhat distressing, he's more curious than anything at the moment. She didn't seem to mean harm right this moment, and better to know as much as he could should that change later.]

They felt like hands, but you're too far for them to be your own... Or at least not normally. Should I be afraid?

[She had mentioned extra hands, but he wasn't certain if she had unusually long arms or if there were some manner of sorcerer in effect here, something from another world that he's not familiar with.]

[scarredhorns]

They are hands, but they are not like normal, physical ones. They aren't a part of my body, but rather my mind. I just think about what I want them to do, then they appear and do it. [That was the reason her vectors felt so cold; there were no blood vessels within them to pump warm blood.] Based on what I've experienced in the past, humans seem incapable of seeing these hands, but other Diclonii like myself can see each other's as clear as day.

[She won't mention the fact that her vectors can only reach up to two meters, though. Can't be giving away all her secrets and making herself vulnerable. Then even if her target was outside her range, she could pick up any nearby objects that were and use them as deadly projectiles since the vectors also possessed great strength.]

As for your second question... [The smirk drops from her face as she takes on a serious tone that borders on threatening and one could almost hear the icicles hanging off her words.] You should, but-- [She quickly adds, tone lightening up a bit.] As I mentioned before, killing each other would be worthless since we need every member of Audentes to return home. I don't like it, but if that's what is required, I will refrain from harming humans unless they give me a reason to do so.

[blessure]

Then I should thank you for being so open with me about yourself and how cautious I should be. [He says it politely, but certainly intends to keep the warning in mind. And the information she's given. If she's really that dangerous, than anything might be helpful if there came a time when they weren't allied.]

You're Diclonii? Do your people usually fight humans? I apologise if it's prying, but I'd like to know a little about you, even if only so I can avoid doing anything that might insult or offend you.

And it would be nice to at least have something to talk about as we either press towards the surface or deeper, don't you agree?

[scarredhorns]

Only if you tell me some things about yourself in return, I can't be the only one doing all the talking.

[Likewise, Lucy is also trying to size her company up, especially since she still doesn't know what he looks like thanks to the darkness of the tunnels.]

As for whether we should go back or continue forth, I'm for continuing. I think we may be getting closer to some survivors if we continue down this tunnel. I'm not afraid of whatever creatures may be lurking here either, and if you don't have a weapon I can handle them myself.

1

[perma_banned]

[Ban wasn't simply standing there. He had one hand poised up in the 'wait a moment' gesture', one finger extended. His other hand was held firmly by his face with a green bottle of hard liquor set in it. He was drinking down the remainder of the contents gulp by gulp as Lucy held down the sandworm with her vectors.

He let out a cool breath as he finished the bottle and tossed it over his shoulder. In the next, Ban was shuddering and laughing, ready to go.]

Alright~! You got it, brat!?

[With one swing of his hand, Ban tugged an invisible string. The sand-worm went still as, out of nowhere, its heart was ripped out of its chest and manifested in Ban's open, outstretched hand.]

Got'cha ♪!

[scarredhorns]

[Brat? Lucy frowns, but keeps the sand worm still and is actually surprised by what she just witnessed. And he was able to do that while drinking?]

How did you do that? [She asks while retracting her vectors from the body.

Because she's been asleep most of the time while Nyuu was in control, she hadn't been able to witness some of the powers that the crew possessed. She was used to being one of the few with such unusual talents, which was one reason why the humans feared her so much.]

[perma_banned]

Most likely the same way you did what you did.

[That was to say--who the hell even knew? Ban dropped the heart on the ground and promptly stomped it without any further attention given. He hadn't seen any trace of what Lucy was using to bind her opponents. It could have been a mental incantation for all he knew. It could have been invisibly written runes or just the weight of gravity.

He didn't ask. If she really wanted to know what he could do, she would probably ask again. He'd cave and ask her the same. Ban's walls were flimsy and his curiosity just strong enough to pry when given reason.

Beyond that, he noted the girl was handy(har). He probably wouldn't need to worry an ounce for her if left alone.]

Doesn't matter, though~. You shouldn't get so distracted when we've got more enemies to worry abouuut ♪. [His eyes shifted from Lucy, a rivulet of hard alcohol running down from the corner of his lips. Ever a messy drinker, Ban wiped the side of his mouth dry with the back of his bloodied hand.]

[scarredhorns]

Hmph, what a vague answer, but you are right saying that we have other matters to attend to right now.

[She'll just file away what she just saw for later. For now, she returns to where she'd placed the worker down, only this time she lifts him up with three of her vectors rather than using her shoulder, making it look as though he was floating in midair. The Qorral sputters as he feels the chill of the vectors without being able to see them, but he doesn't resist and Lucy was avoiding his bad leg, so he wasn't feeling any more pain than what he already felt.

Meanwhile the rest of her "hands" hover around about her in case she needed to attack again.]

I hope you can hold your liquor well if you plan to drink on the job. I don't want to have to drag you along, too, if you pass out.

[This guy was interesting, to say the least.]

[perma_banned]

It ain't a big deal~. No matter how much I drink on missions, I always finish 'eeeem! [Ban snickered, looking and acting moronic without any hesitation in him. He looked to the Qorral that Lucy had drawn in closer as the ground began softening in a few patched close by. Ban reached to his belt and began unwrapping a four-sectioned rod, which he let drop partially to the ground. He burped into one cupped hand and his eyes rolled for a moment.]

Woo! Alright, absinthe really did the triiiick. I'm already sloshed! [The sand worms didn't even have a chance to surface on their own. Ban dragged fingers through the air and gestured towards the sky. Three sandworms were ripped forcefully from the ground, all at once. Looking to Lucy with a grin, he let loose with a cackle that illustrated a total disregard for the seriousness of their situation.

Lucy, who had used a rather scary power to both fight and deliver someone from harm, had seemed considerably more encouraging a figure to follow than Ban, who looked as if he were in the middle of a game.]

Are they yours or mine, missy~?

[scarredhorns]

[It's been a very long time since Lucy was this surprised. The fact that she wasn't the only one with unusual powers was strangely comforting in the sense that she wasn't as much of an outcast with ALASTAIR as she was back home. She also has to hold back a snicker, because she could hardly believe Ban was acting the way he was in their situation; not a care in the world. Lucy was more used to silent grim faces with eyes full of fear and hatred, especially if those expressions were directed at her.

She scoffs.]

I can't let you have all the fun to yourself. [Because even though she's got a more controlled air about her in comparison to Ban, Lucy was still cocky in her own way and after seeing him show off, she wanted to do the same.

The sand worms aren't quite within her two meter range, but she simply walks closer to them until she's about six feet away, still keeping the Qorral worker up and at a safe distance opposite of her. She could pull out a part of the iron machine that was slowly sinking into the sand to use as a projectile, but one of their objectives was to stop mining efforts, so she deems it better to let it go.

Instead, Lucy imitates what Ban had done to the first sand worm, putting a gaping hole into one of them right where its heart used to be as two more of her vectors punch through it. They cup the still-beating heart for a moment before crushing it in their grasp, sending blood flying in all directions.]

I can do what you just did, or-- [She slices the second sand worm clean in half.] I can make it messy. [Indeed, the sand beneath the body was soaking up all the resulting blood.] I can even make it perfectly clean if I wanted to.

[For the last sand worm, Lucy's vectors phase through different parts of its body, quickly locating all its vital organs. Hand motions were unnecessary for her vectors, all she needed was her mind to be focused. Without even a blink of her eyes, Lucy's vectors either move or damage the organs' blood vessels, leaving behind a clean corpse when they withdraw.]

[perma_banned]

[One brow lifted as Ban took a moment to process the end result of Lucy's actions--or, what he perceived to be actions on her part. In reality, she had just been standing there. She walked up to the creatures and they simply burst and were torn apart in those simple and direct ways. She didn't even have to move or make any gestures.

What happened was brutal and simple. She didn't trigger her ability with any somatic gestures. It was clearly all in her own mind. It wasn't so much the end result that was intimidating--it was the method. With somatic movements, Ban supposed he'd be able to see what it was she was doing and what her intended method of attack was.

If it was all in her head, then he couldn't tell even with keen observation. A scary bit of insight like that would have probably terrified anyone else but instead--]

Kahaha~. [Instead, he approached without a hint of fear and reached over to pat Lucy on the shoulder. Was it the alcohol in his system or was it just that he was incapable of feeling fear towards the unknown?]

You don't gotta worry about clean or noooot. Results are what counts--least at the moment ♪.

[scarredhorns]

[It almost feels refreshing to not have people cower away from her in fear, "almost" because while she quietly enjoyed being accepted by others, she was also unfamiliar with the feeling. All her life she's received nothing but name-calling, betrayal, lies, isolation, and hateful glances just because of her horns. Now, to be put in a place where people were not only unperturbed by her horns, but treated her like a normal person was strange. Still, Lucy manages to show a rare cheeky grin at Ban and doesn't shove him, or his hand, away.]

You've got a point.

[She takes a glance around the area, checking for more sand worms, but can't make out any disturbances in the ground, so she returns to looking up at Ban.]

Is it safe to take this one [A gesture of her head at the worker.] back to the medical tent, or are there more worms to kill? [A beat before she adds.] Wanna make it a contest to see who can exterminate the most?

[It's not the same as with human victims, but at least this way she wouldn't be too bored.]

[perma_banned]

[That was weird. Ban had gotten somewhat used to people tolerating him more than the norm but there were almost no times he could name in which someone actively enabled him in his violent tendencies. He wasn't a man consumed with bloodlust but he did like open challenges. Competitions among friends could definitely be fun.

Immediately, Lucy seemed amused and excited to compete with him and it nudged him all too easily into a giggle. A man of Ban's height and build, giggling like a child with a new toy. Even in his excitement though Ban managed to set his eyes on the real matter of importance--]

Before we compete, we better bring him back to the tents~. After that, you've got a deaaaal!

[If his tone didn't make it clear that he was excited, the fact that he was bouncing on his heels would have been the nail in the coffin for Lucy. As menacing as she may have seemed to anyone else, Ban knew better than to judge people based on appearances. Lucy was the sort of person he liked meeting and he saw no reason to throw that kind of thing away.]

[scarredhorns]

Call me Lucy.

[Because Ban needed something other than "you" or "brat" to call her by.

With the Qorral man still safely held up by her vectors, Lucy leads the way, grin still on her face. She was just as excited for the competition, even if she wasn't bouncing around herself. It seemed that her abilities wouldn't have to be completely restrained for the duration of her stay after all. Although there were times when she wondered if she could be good at anything else besides killing, the Voice of her Diclonius DNA had a strong hold over her and right now it was eager for some sort of violence.

While the worker seemed to be a bit concerned at how giddy Ban and Lucy were getting in anticipation of wreaking havoc on more sand worms, he was still grateful that the creatures were the targets and not people. The less sand worms the better.]

[perma_banned]

Ah? [Admittedly, Ban hadn't been paying much attention as Lucy set to carefully setting the man she had rescued. He had followed alone quietly up until he was set down in safety, feeling a bit more antsy about being able to run back and resume the fighting. Ban grinned suddenly, his curiosity sparked by what seemed to be a rather mundane name.

He snickered, running his fingers along his chin and throat in thought.]

That name seems a little lackluster for you, y'know. I'd expect something a little more terrifying ♪.

[Even so, his manners weren't completely shot. Ban bowed a little bit--a mock gesture of what a knight should have done the moment Lucy introduced herself.]

I'm Ban.

[scarredhorns]

[Lucy lets out something akin to an amused chuckle.]

Believe me, that names strikes fear into the hearts of many where I'm from.

[Even though she'd been kept under such tight security at the research institute, no employee wanted the job of tending to her.

The gesture, even though it's a joke, is still a bit surprising to Lucy. No one had ever bowed to her before.]

So then, Ban. [Lucy's arms are resting at her sides as though what they're about to do is normal.] Shall we get started?