cradleproject | WEEK 13 - I can't lie to you about your chances, but you have my sympathies.

WEEK 13 - I can't lie to you about your chances, but you have my sympathies.

the pygmalion. . .

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CAPTAIN'S LOG:
WEEK (13)

sunday

(41) survivors

Something in the air breaks, shattering from deep within space itself - and to accompany that sensation is a psychic scream. The ship shakes, coming to a screeching halt as a bright light explodes outside it. It pulses, not unlike a heartbeat, that crawls and crawls along at a slow, grueling pace. The last illusion has been broken, the last mental tie severed and crushed. You've done well up until now, and you can reap the benefits of Her labor; the dead walk among you, after all, and as Her scream rings out, a burst of energy shoots through the residents of the Pygmalion. It's clearly a desperate bid, but it doesn't root itself in place. Instead, you feel lighter than ever - Her attempt to claim you has only unraveled the string that kept you in place. The 40% limit has been lifted, and you are at full capacity.

The chains have been broken.

Go freely, heroes.

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ENTER COMMAND_

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[ The datapads vibrate, but Furry Passing doesn't auto open. In fact, attempting to open the game would show it's stuck in a loading screen. However, it seems that an emergency ship wide message has been issued - it pops up much in the same way a text message on a cellphone would. ]

We're not out of the woods yet, gang.
Cockpit's unlocked. Get us past her - you've got her weak enough that she can't follow, but as long as we're in front of her, we can't do anything. But she's got us stalled, and without a pilot, we're all doomed to stare up at a Eldritch Abomination's ugly eye until we run out of power.

God speed, soldiers.
You're one hell of a crew, I'll give you that. Even if you forgot to fix the conference room door during an alien trial.
-- CPT. PERKINS

[ Who wants to pile into the empty pods in the Electric Sheep room to take a nap? Everyone, probably. For the time being, this is a viable option. Hopefully the people piloting don't make this a bumpy ride, there's no seat belts in these things. ]

[ There's a rumble within the ship's machinery. All of it seems to shake violently, as if something beneath it is rushing to the surface, trying to break through. The vents groan with life and there's the sound of skittering that seems to drag on and on and on. There's seemingly no end to it. The noise sounds more and more alive as it continues, as if growing into some kind of taunt in and of itself. Scritch, scritch, scritch...

And then the first drone appears.

It flops uselessly out of the vents, landing with a disgustingly organic splat!, and despite the noise, it begins to skitter closer and closer... It's the same kind of creature that had crawled out of Fiona's mouth during week 11 a cockroach made of flesh and carapace. Then suddenly, with a metallic burst, thousands of the creatures are filtering out of vents, bursting through the floors, crawling on the walls and ceilings.

As if it couldn't get worse, some of them bulge and grow to the size of a man, standing on two legs.

Music plays from the speakers. ]

[Did someone call for a pilot? Because that was... probably a mistake. Yes. It was a huge mistake. If you're asking yourself how such a thing could be a mistake, then you won't have to wait for long. Take a look inside the recently unlocked command center, and you will find not one, but two teenagers. Specifically, Clover and Jason. Light isn't far off because he's never allowed out of Clover's sight ever again, some level of exasperated by this mistake but probably not as much as he ought to be??

Both of the destructoteens seem to be getting acquainted with the equipment, however. This can only end well.]

Ooh, what's…omigosh. [And it's at this moment that everybody who doesn't come see this mistake for themselves learns exactly what kind of terror is about to be unleashed, because Clover has found the PA system, and she's waving Jason over and beaming as her voice rings out on the ship.] Attention, Pygmalion! This is your newly-appointed co-captain speaking.

[Oh god. This is a mistake and we are all going to die but when was the last time we heard Clover sound this sincerely happy? Not in a very long time, probably. Jason is dutifully joining her over by the PA system, shit eating grin already in place as he gets ready to make this as (un)pleasant an experience as possible.]

And this is your other newly-appointed co-captain speaking. We suggest you buckle up, travelers, because we're in for one hell of a bumpy ride. Please be sure to keep your screaming and crying to a minimum. If you feel the need to rue the day your captains were born, you can start a queue by the door.

Emergency exits are located absolutely nowhere, so please, sit back and enjoy the ride. Captains Field and Todd, signing omigosh Jason look what I found—

[That may or may not be the least reassuring thing to have ever been uttered, but there we go. Once the "announcement" is done, the ship will be treated to several great musical hits to add ambiance to their experience.]

Edited 2016-09-05 22:57 (UTC)

[they're free. that bond around her heart was gone. there aren't words to describe the energy that comes rushing back into her bones, a waterfall crashing over, and the sense that things are going to knit back together at the proper pace. it was worth it for that alone - they were going to be alright.

but given everything that occurred, while there's space enough to have a moment between new horrors (no, Jason and Clover's driving doesn't count), the fact remains that the dead have returned. that others have survived as well. and if they went through anything like what she did...then she isn't confident about what state they'll be in.

so whether people are napping, trying to take shelter from the bumpy space ride, or really just Done with this whole endeavor, Grell seeks them out, keeping a mental checklist of who she's seen. to the injured, she offers aid, to friends, a relieved smile. despite personal relationships right now, it's...good to see everyone alive.]

[ Okay, there's a big irony in this.

There has to be. With all the shit going down, even with how physically weak she had become since revival and how much relied on her - she is calming her nerves. At 100% power, she needs to relax. After 13 weeks of dealing with bullshit, Elizabeth requests to be guided to the parlour where she can sit down at a small coffee table and pour herself a glass of wine.

And fucking chug it because this is too much.

She won't get drunk, but she is definitely enjoying a big chilled glass of wine before their inevitable deaths or her - no, ... well, that's to come later. :) ]

Edited 2016-09-06 00:08 (UTC)

[After all of the illusions and nightmares, Dorian needs a break. He's back in his quarters for a while, but comes out to the viewport in order to get a little work done - he's sitting in there, working in a notebook sketching out some complicated runes and what look like magical equations over a cup of tea, watching the progress of the ship. Of course, Bull is in there with him, waiting with him while he puts the finishing touches on what's shaping up to be a more complex time manipulation spell than he's ever attempted.

Still, though it's quiet in there, the door is open; you're welcome to come in for a talk.]

[OOC: Please specify whether you would like Dorian, Bull, or both.]

INCOMING MESSAGE from DR. LIN

[ The datapads vibrate, again, and this time - it's Sunny coming through. ]

avagu bs Abirzore 1913 – avargrragu bs Wnahnel 2000
>INPUT PASSWORD?

[ There's an empty space in which to type the password once you figure it out, and it looks like it'll take at least two people to type it in. ]

[Bull is being gross and publically just repeatedly hitting Cremisius Aclassi on the "Contact Passenger" list. He will pick up and he doesn't care if anyone else has to listen to this bullshit.]

Krem, get your ass over here and pick up. You're going slack on your training. Should have way faster reflexes than this.

[ There is absolutely no way she won't be connecting with Booker DeWitt. After an emotional moment a few days ago, Elizabeth never thought this day would come, so when the video picks up, she's publically accessing this message: ]

Booker?! Mr. DeWitt -?! Are you there? Please let this work...

{ ... Okay guess what. Arumat's going to be using the thing to get in contact with a certain Captain. He definitely selected Edge's name off of the skype-like format via that 'Passenger List'. }

You better answer me. Now.

{ Sorry Edge, he's not mincing words. }

[ hey, folks. there's a group chat now open on the skype program and a stranger's voice coming in because he is the fussiest dad in the god damn world. usually he might be a bit more private than this but needs must, as it goes. he's going to try to be a bit more optimistic here, maybe.

but to be fair to bruce, jason was being a butt . ]

Hi. My name's Bruce and I'm a passenger over on the Nuwa. If anyone hearing this could point Jason at his datapad to talk to me, that would be a great help. I know he might be driving the ship right now? But I really need to talk to him, so surely someone else could provide Jason with a quick moment to talk. He's... my son and I just need to talk to him for a second.

[ a pause and a little quieter now. ]

Please. It would mean a lot.

[ in the group chat, a girl's voice. she sounds pretentious. ]

My name is Rose Lalonde, aboard the Nuwa. Consider me your new therapist, Pygmalions. If anyone would like to discuss the horrific trauma they've endured or their daddy issues [ JASON TODD ], please feel free to contact me.

[ pause. ]

Also, please chuck a datapad at my dear brother Dave Strider. Thank you.

[ while it's possible to spot a blonde in the back of some of the transmissions, annabeth mostly doesn't bother to skype - though she will if you say something to her as she's passing through, eyes locked on her tablet as she scrolls through something or another.

a little while after the nuwa transmissions are open, however, a paint chat option will pop up. annabeth has had all the time since their game ended to fuck around with the tablets. coding can be a little like weaving - if it's a useful outcome, her hands tend to do what they want and it tends to work out. athena's kids don't have a ton of flashy powers, but what they do have is useful.

so. it's a paint-chat coded solely so she could keep her notes on her tablet, originally, but now used for the following purpose:

text written out in a mostly neat hand in ancient greek. so you're kind of shit out of luck if you can't read that, but given that she's trying to contact one person in particular, annabeth isn't bothered by the details. ]

Your dagger fell into Tartarus. It was Arachne's fault.

[ that more or less functions as "hello" for a girl who'd once tried to murder luke a bit with a hammer at their first meeting and who had once told percy jackson he drooled in his sleep rather than, like, praising him. it should make luke respond. it should make luke respond enough she can have a better gauge for whether or not this is a trick or actually legitimately luke.

if you can read ancient greek and aren't luke castellan you can reply to that. or. you can flag annabeth down if you see her passing by through skype. or, you know, try to write at her in english and she'll respond in kind, but more slowly. ]

[ Shortly after communications with Nuwa are established, the copilots will shoot right through the Queen's pupil. As they do, the whole ship will experience the effects of Her presence - visions of potential futures that they're leaving behind will flood every resident of the Pygmalion's brains. Becoming a host for a parasite, being wrapped in Her unconditional love, She shares with them the future they are depriving themselves of. A colony of aliens, all strong, all beloved, cared for and mourned when they pass.

The drones rot away. They die, leaving liquified entrails behind, the carapace left behind in the alien stew. There's one final push, as if the ship is launched right out of the Queen's eyeball, and then -

There's nothing but silence.

She's gone. Aside from the mess, there's no sign of her presence, and no one has died. There's 41 residents on the Pygmalion, and after several moments of resounding silence, a song filters in from the speakers. As it does, the datapads vibrate again. ]

INCOMING MESSAGE from DR. LIN
1 IMG FILE ATTACHMENT

[ The metal walls of the ship raise, folding into the ceiling. They give way to ceiling to floor windows, and everyone will be able to peer out into the dark expanse of space, full of stars, distant planets, and asteroids. It goes on forever, and it is... peaceful, for once. There's no looming darkness in the ship, and the Pygmalion will close the distance between it and a strange form. As it floats closer, it becomes clear what you're all looking at:

The Nuwa.

It seems to be docked, unmoving and waiting. Nuwa residents will be aware that they've been docked since the moment Dr. Lin delivered the news that the Pygmalion broke free, finally, after nearly fourteen weeks of struggling against the infection of the alien parasites, and hours of fighting back against the Queen's psychic attack. They'll watch, too, as The Pygmalion floats into view, trucking along at a slow, but steady pace. It's clearly nearly out of juice, but the robots on the Nuwa are on standby and ready to get to work to repair the ship.

And while another song begins to play, The Pygmalion docks next to the Nuwa. The image of Dr. Lin comes together, the clouds shaping into her form. Over Daft Punk, she speaks. ]

Damn, I had ten to one odds we wouldn't ever been seeing you again. Welcome, Pygmalion, you crazy sons of bitches.

[A bridge between the two ships extends. Looks like you can finally see your friends again.]

[ It seems like things were coming closer and closer to end. Reunions happened. People cried. People were definitely punched or screamed at.

Off on the bridge of the Nuwa, a select few people were gathered. Elizabeth had slept the entirety of the trip (yes even through the eyeball and Jason Todd's horrible parking job in the Nuwa's docking bay). She rested and with her bones less achey, she knows it's getting closer and closer.

Yuno was here and she was holding her hand tightly, balling it closely with a nervous twitch. ]

I'm certain this will work - I just... I'm just not sure how well this new body can perform. [ A tired laugh, but for the most part, she seems optimistic. ] Dorian, I have faith in you. If you can't - if I can't be helped, please help Yuno. Keep her alright.

[ She's sure there's going to be a scorn from Booker who was pacing off back and forth. It's realistic, though. The chattering of drones off in the distant room barely catch her attention. It was pretty much only the beating of her heart. ]

The others - they can handle finding the right worlds, but... catch a wide enough net and you're bound to catch a fish, right? I'll open the tears out into space, Dave and Rose can venture out and recognize the "right" ones. I believe that's... all we can do.

[ She's scared. Ripping open tears of that variety - it's going to drain her but she knows there's absolutely no way she can let the small group of people down. The three options Lin provided with were... they weren't ideal. This allowed people to go back - return to what they had.

So... Elizabeth has faith in the powered individuals in the room - Dorian, Bull, Dave, Rose, Yuno, Booker. Wonder why there's an idle song beginning to play on the sound speakers...? ]

...Are we ready?

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SPACE ROADTRIP NAP

DRONES

QUESTIONABLE PILOTING

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parlour

viewport; dorian and bull