trans_9

Sakura stared at the Atori Teahouse, wishing she had the ability to do more than a mental frown. Well, she did, it'd just send Marco spiraling into another panic attack, which would send her into her own version of a panic attack, which would be even less okay than it was earlier with some of his friends (partners, teammates) in attendance.

Her general consensus was that this sucked, and she was highly displeased with the situation. The things she was used to doing with a thought were balked by her own check on reaching out and directing herself -- hisself -- to do anything, leading to many abortive attempts to do met with sudden stops of wait, I can't.

Look up to the roofline, she asked, frustration coloring her mental voice. Then scan right. If I'm where I last was, I should be inside.

The reason for why she asked him to check the area was also there, less coherently thought-out. She didn't plan to explain unless he asked. He could choose to sift through her general unease and discomfort in the meantime.

"Alright, so we've got Androids or Dr Sexy MD," Marco said as he fiddled around with one of the media library's screens. "Which one do you want to watch first, Bird Boy?"

They weren't really three guys you'd expect to sit around watching soap operas, but it had practically been tradition back at Ax's scoop. On the ship, Ax and Marco had already made a habit of watching them at the media library. Now it was time to introduce Tobias to them

With all the preparation for the confrontation with the Ohm, the battle itself, and the immediate aftermath, most of the crew were naturally focused on current events. But some crewmembers weren't so up to date on what was happening.

Mainly because they were stuck running mazes with GLaDOS. No matter what was happening the eternal, endless, quest for cake always continued.

[[ooc: okay, so this is basically just a general running-around-the-mazes log for my characters that are stuck running mazes with GLaDOS. It basically covers about a week before Lirath, Lirath itself, and a couple of days after - so anyone who was GLaDOS'd during that time can tag in. Marco, Celestia, and Daja each have their own thread, and Zita might tag in on occasion with GLaDOS herself if she has time.]]

They hadn't had a meeting for a while - when it was just Ax, Marco, and Rachel, there hadn't really been much point to it - but with Jake, Cassie, and Tobias all podpopping? It was definitely time for another one, if only to fill everyone in on everything.

It was almost like being back on Earth, with all of them settling into their usual spots in Cassie's barn. The only real difference was that Rachel wasn't there, still being stuck running mazes with GLaDOS.

[[ooc: Okay, so a separate thread for each topic, basically. I figure two will do for now, but we can set up others as we need them.]]

The rest of the crew assembled on the Observation Deck to meet the latest editions to their numbers. After the revelation that their worlds are gone, many of them are even more eager to see people they knew from home.

Several people are set up near the doors to provide the new people with omnicoms and comm rings. New crew-mates might see a tall man in green armor and snake girl among their number. There are also several authoritative-looking figures ready to introduce themselves.

There's a lot to tell the new people. It's going to be a lot to take in.

[ooc: Only new characters and Command Staff can start new threads for introductions, to limit the number of threads. Everyone else, just tag in and have your guys greet the newbies.]

In the middle of the night, Marco woke up with a start. Sighing, he got out of bed and silently made his way down the stairsn. (Stupid nightmares. Come on, was sleep too much to ask for?)

He knew he wasn't going to get back to sleep for a while though, so there was only one thing for it: ice cream. Intent, he made a bee-line for the kitchen.

[[ooc: takes place a few hours after this log]]

At Cassie's house, it was just another average, normal day.

Well, except for the fact that two of the residents had regressed to being eight-year-olds and were currently throwing the house into complete and utter chaos, that is.

[[ooc: set after the Sleepover Party, but before this log.]]

A good number of those affected by the clock had reached childhood, and required supervision. Several of the adults had offered to help, and no one was quite sure anymore who had first suggested it, but it was decided that one night, there should be a sleepover, something fun for the children. The idea had grown; Eva had offered Cassie's house, after getting permission from the other non-deaged resident, Aximili.

In the end, it turned out to be a packed house. There were about twenty children running around, and thankfully, there were five adults and two teenagers supervising. Luckily for Eva, she had made sure to childproof the house the best she could beforehand.

It was going to be needed.

[Planning post is here. HAVE AT. A description of Cassie's house is here, and if you have any questions about it, you can ask Lisa (Eva), Blue (Marco), Cait (Rachel) and Kaylin (Ax). Start up subthreads for stuff, and try not to wreck the place. :D; ]

The last time Marco had been in the Media Library, he'd still be nineteen. Now he was looking decidedly different - much shorter, with longer hair, and younger. Definitely younger. Thirteen years old, in fact.

And on top of that, Marco was happy. Okay, so the whole ageing backwards things was a serious dampener, but he didn't care. His mother was alive, so Marco could forgive the whole being-on-an-insane-ship-with-tentacles-and-on-the-way-to-being-four-again thing.

But as much as he wanted to hover around near his mother every second of every day, just to make sure she was still there, he'd had to admit that he couldn't keep doing that all the time. Plus he was starting to suspect that his mom was getting a little tired of it. So he'd decided to come down to the media library instead, and play some of the really cool video games that either hadn't come out in his time yet or weren't even from his universe for a while.

Yeah, life was awesome.

The area of Hydroponics in which Zouichi chose to wait is isolated enough that people wouldn't just idly wander by, but easily accessible and well-lit. There were a number of alien-looking trees nearby, but alas, none of the people-eating variety, and it was close enough to the rest of Level 5 that it would be easy to find.

If a Synthetic Human dressed from head-to-toe in black body armor standing around in an open, grassy clearing was difficult to find.

Neither Rachel nor Marco had any real trust in the medical situation they'd both been forced into. It seemed like they had been tricked and betrayed; and it meant that there were instantly a few more people crossed off their list of who they should trust when they escaped. In fact-- it left them at each other, it seemed, when they did escape from medical, two cockroaches slipping out of sight while medical was distracted from them.

Of course, this was compounded by the fact that several communications posts went up shortly after-- one announcing a Quarantine (thankfully they'd gotten out in time for that) and one announcing their abilities to the crew to warn them. And then things got worse-- Marco's morphing began to get weird, and Rachel... literally split into two.

This wasn't going well.

((ooc: As Blue's OOC post said, we need to make sure that only the people signed up for taking the two 'groups' (Nice Rachel and Marco in one corner, just Mean Rachel in the other) to Quarantine are the ones who actually do that. Other than that, feel free to try and do it! Tag under the header for whoever you want to thread with and feel free set the scene, and ours will enter in. :) ))

PT finished at 0700, and the pilots and new recruits got a half hour to cool off before they got into the cockpits of their assorted craft. In the two hours since 0500 they ran several miles, did push-ups, sit-ups and pull-ups, and then a hundred jumping jacks to get the blood pumping. "You don't even want to think about how much force you put on your body when you're piloting," Trudy said at the start of the exercises. "Pilots need to be in peak condition to handle it."

Those who were used to doing the training five days out of the week would be out of breath but not exhausted. Anyone new, however, might have a little trouble getting their wind back.

"All right everyone, gather around. We have a few new recruits today, so we're not going to be running the Zokez scenario. I know you're all heartbroken." She kept a straight face, but that was a definite joke. She was sick of running the Zokez scenario. "We'll be doing some standard training exercises - maneuverability and gunning practice."

The track and exercise equipment melted away, and in its place the hangar of the Macross Quarter materialized with all its fighters and mobile suits. "Outside is a standard sim course. I'm going to have the recruits run it first to see how they handle and then the squadrons will go out as a unit. Recruits, let's put you in birds."

((OOC: This log is for anyone who signed up to fly a mobile suit, a VF or an X-wing and is not already in Starfighter Command. The flight sim is like something you'd see out of the training missions on Star Fox - fly through the rings, shoot the enemies, avoid the obstacles it throws at you like sheets of scrap and asteroids. EDIT: Subthreads for the squadrons are now up!))

After the briefing, the Orbs Deck disconnected from Stacy, making it's way down to the planet and landing on the top of what looked like...a mall.

Outside, a mismatch of buildings stretched as far as the eye could see on a backdrop of a sunny green sky, a few golden clouds lazily floating across it. Here there was a mall, there there was a endless parade of street shops, and over there was a bazaar. And everywhere you looked there was advertising, selling everything from kitchen knives to starship engines to pet cosmetic surgery.

And populating this world was a practically endless number of species's, all of them brought together by one thing: trading. Credit was being exchanged everywhere you looked, from the shiny exclusive stores to the the dark and dangerous spaces in-between.

As the crew stood around, a peculiar looking alien with a mustache approached them, his oddly-shaped legs and knees making it looks as if he was walking backwards even though he was coming forwards. And as he moved, his accordian-like midsection made moved, making a weird, wheezing noise that might remind some of the crew native to Earth of the sound of Fran Dresser's voice.

<Welcome to XaXing, strangers!> he said to them in thought-speak, eagerly rushing towards everyone. <I am Guide! Your ship has already arranged accommodation for you, and I have been employed to guide you there and answer your questions! But if you would just sell me your memories then I can also guide you to all of the best stores and markets...>

[[ooc: After this post, everyone is free to make their own posts on the planet! Just tag all logs for Shore Leave with !plot: shore leave.

Also, if you have any questions you can ask Guide! ...just be prepared for him to also try to buy your kidney.]]

Marco was on a mission.

He was going to find that cinnamon stash of Ax's, dammit. He was sick of gloop. So, after surreptitiously checking to make sure that Ax was out in the barn and not the house, he'd started checking the inside the couch. No, not under the cushions. He was checking inside the cloth itself, around the springs.

Hey, he hadn't checked there yet - you never know! It could be there!

But, Marco's search wasn't going to last very long, this time.

Late at night in the media library, two of Stacy's crew members were busy watching an unusual tv show on one of her many screens. Standing on the floor with his main eyes focused on the screen was Ax, while off to the side Marco was curled up on one of the couches.

For all intents and purposes, they appeared to be watching a soap opera about robots.

<What? Not his-- My goodness, I certainly didn't expect that! How could she?>

"Dude, what show have you been watching? They've been foreshadowing that for like the last ten episodes. More important question: how the hell does robot sex even work, and would we need to bleach our brains after finding that out?"

<We will have to see the next episode to determine how that occurred, undoubtedly. I don't think that androids reproduce the same way most species do.>

"Ax-man, this is like prime time television. No way is there going to be a robot sex scene in the middle of it."

<I highly doubt that they would show the reproductive act itself, but they will perhaps explain how it would be possible for Brook Jr to not be Brook's child!>

"...You have got way too much trust in Kelly's ability to be faithful."

[[ooc: okay, so since this is joint post, if you only want to thread with only Marco or Ax on their own just state that in the subject. Otherwise, the both of them will be tagging. Also, Ax's thought-speak is public.]]

Marco couldn't quite remember how he got back home.

Did he morph? He must have morphed. Or maybe he walked, so that Samson couldn't have looked out the window and gotten a glimpse. But what would have been the point in hiding? He knew. He knew. Sure, not about the morphing. Not yet. But it was only a matter of time. Already he knew way to much, and Marco didn't have a clue how to stop him from finding out anymore. Not without setting the entire Council on his tail. On all their tails.

Marco ran straight up to the attic without even stopping to talk to anyone, and tried to think of how the hell he was going to explain this to Jake.

[[ooc: bendytimed to just after Marco's psych eval. Also guys, timelinewise I'm going to assume that all the threads with anyone except for Jake happen after Jake's talked to the others / they've had a meeting / whatever, and thus know about the eval and whatnot. Also Marco's pretty much going to be holed up in the attic all day]]

Anyone in Trudy's path on her way to the hangar today would notice an uncharacteristic slump in her shoulders, a shuffle in her step. She seemed despondent, and while she greeted any of her soldiers with the proper protocol, it didn't come with the usual smiles and easy banter.

The reason for that was clear when she entered the hangar and went straight for a vehicle that had sat untouched for months. The cargo doors of her Samson were flung wide open, tools scattered around the bay. She would have to take the door with its painted tiger off in a minute, but for now she just ran her fingertips over the metal, tracing every bullet hole and scorch mark.

"End of the road," she said. "We haven't flown together for a while, and I guess I should have accepted a while back that we wouldn't fly together again."

She stood with her hand pressed against the nose of the Samson, looking up into the broken windows like they were two huge, accusing eyes.

A little way off from the Labyrinth in the City, there was an apparently normal farmhouse. Normal, except for the fact that in it's world it (and, more specifically, it's barn) had become a global landmark and it was also occupied by a bunch of teenagers, one middle-aged woman, a bird, and an Andalite.

[[ooc: Okay, so this is basically a post were we plan to stick a whole bunch of threads relating to daily live at the Animorphs house. Its not really set in any particular time, since it's mostly going to be everyday stuff and we'll probably just stick future everyday threads here so we don't spam the comm with it. The post is open though, if anyone else wants to come visit them or something - just make a note in the subject whether you're looking to thread with someone in particular, or are just happy to tag with whoever happens to answer the door]]

The rest of the crew assembled on the Observation Deck to meet the latest editions to their numbers. After the revelation that their worlds are gone, many of them are even more eager to see people they knew from home.

Several people are set up near the doors to provide the new people with omnicoms and comm rings. New crew-mates might see a tall man in green armor and snake girl among their number. There are also several authoritative-looking figures ready to introduce themselves.

There's a lot to tell the new people. It's going to be a lot to take in.

[ooc: Only new characters and Command Staff can start new threads for introductions, to limit the number of threads. Everyone else, just tag in and have your guys greet the newbies.]

Way up on Stacy's top level, the Hub opened and spat out four crew members. They hadn't been gone for very long, only a few shipboard "days" or so, but long enough for the crew members in question to be irritated.

"Who wants to hit the Sensoriums?" Paco asked, scrubbing his normal hand over his face. "I wasn't expecting to actually get cake, but I've got a massive craving for it now."

"[I will pass on that, thank you all the same,]" Jonas said, rising smoothly to his feet. He looked over at Jeka and Ax, who were in the process of untangling themselves from their pile on the floor. "[I believe that you two are both members of Security, would one of you care to escort me back to the Brig? I have no intention of going anywhere besides that, but I probably should not be walking around unescorted.]"

Ax and Jeka exchanged looks. < I'll take him down to the Brig if you report our return to the Head of Security, > Ax said. Jeka nodded. "Done."

"...So, no one else wants cake," Paco said incredulously. "Okay, I know two of you are aliens and one of you is, uh, an artificial person--"

"Synthetic," Jonas and Jeka corrected in unison.

"--Synthetic person then, but dudes. Cake!"

"My species is primarily carnivorous."

"[I need to go back to the Brig.]"

< He has requested an escort. >

Paco shrugged and turned to head for the Sensoriums. "More for me then!"

[[OOC: Say which of these four you'd like to thread with in the subject line. Jonas is going straight to the Brig if you want to thread with him, but the others can be anywhere you'd like.]]

Rachel was angry. Really angry.

She'd been on her way to her mission, when suddenly she was on this other ship. Pulled from one war, and into another-- it pissed her off to be just thrown around like that, used like a puppet once again. Was it Crayak, pulling her away before she could complete a vital goal? She'd barely managed to get her 'clothes' (not that it really counted as clothes-- but at least she could work with it), before she was snatched up again. And asked to run mazes, on the promise of cake.

Needless to say, it hadn't helped her mood.

Now that she was finally out (she may or may not have broken a few things on the way), she found herself in the hallways of this weird, pulsing ship. Nothing in it really looked Yeerk to her, either, which confirmed it.

Rachel stomped around the hallways, ready to morph on a second's notice. She was angry, and she wanted answers.

Bleary-eyed toil brought results, and there was a cure for ROM-199A. Now the problem came with administering it.

Down in the city, the makeshift strike team wielded modified tranquilizer rifles and each of them had 12 cure rounds to use. The infected needed to be struck solidly in order for the cure to be injected-- they were instructed to aim for the chest, though a shot in the arm or leg that hit and stuck would work as well.

It's like paintball, except with deadly pathogens!


Meanwhile, up in Quarantine, those who didn't feel comfortable with shooting their crewmates in the face chest and lower extremities were charged with curing those who had already been subdued and contained.

That was more like tag than paintball, except with deadly pathogens, of course.


(ooc: If you signed up here or here, fire away. If you want to participate but didn't sign up, fire away. If you're infected, tag in to your victim of choice and tear those jerks apart before they shoot you in the face chest and lower extremities! THROW-DOWN! Remember, give the newbs and less plot-fortunate first shot. HAVE FUN.)

Leon was, somehow, 900 kajillion light-years away from everything and everyone he ever knew. But what was he doing right now?

Walking through a ruined city that was crawling with raging infected in an attempt to locate and rescue any survivors. Again. Not that this work wasn't his stock and trade, but one would think that fate would have something else in store for him. But what is, is. At least he wasn't completely on his own, this time, having gathered a small group to go in and help.

With the virus having leaked out here initially, there was no telling where the hot zone was, so as a precaution, he (and anyone else who went) was wearing a modified combat-ready environment-suit. It was fairly light weight, but had some added padding in addition to body armor, and had ts own re-breather to supply air. In addition, he had a few weapons with him, as well as several clips of 'specialty' ammo, since he really had to be ready for anyone to be infected.

He moved through cautiously, looking for anyone who needed help.

((OOC: Open thread for anyone, infected or not, stuck in the city, and for anyone helping with the evac. Interacting with Leon isn't required, and you guys can free thread amongst yourselves if you want.))

It was night on the ship - or at least as close to night as the ship ever got.

But while most of the crew slept, something had been released from within the ship. Something invisible, something undetectable, and something very, very dangerous.

If you passed through parts of the City, you might start to feel a little sick...

[[Bendytimed to right after Jaime Reyes made this post on the Comm Channel.]]

After they'd discovered it's presence in the City, the Animorphs had claimed Cassie's barn and house as their base of operations. Having the barn empty was strange, but at least it was an oasis of almost-familiarity.

Ax was still trying to make himself comfortable with the idea of sleeping in an enclosed space when Jaime's message appeared on the omnicomm. Recalling the last time he and Jaime had spoken, he gathered up his omnicomm and moved toward the door.

It was time to talk to the others about this.

Between the time spent with the Animorphs and the time spent keeping track of the Yeerks still walking free, Ax had begun to keep a rather odd schedule. It was hard to tell, since there was no real way to keep track of time on board this ship, but he tended to have the labs mostly to himself when he came in. That made it even more easy than usual to notice the comings and goings of other people in the area.

Especially when those people included Jaime Reyes and his supposedly-symbiotic insect friend.

< I didn't know that you were part of the Science Department. >

This really should have happened months ago, but it was finally happening.

The engineers were having a meeting, and Billy couldn't be more nervous if he was presenting his best work to the scientific greats. And if he thought about it, he probably was doing that on some level.

Once the announcement was made, Billy gathered his strength at the lab board. Upon it, he'd scribbled drawings, lists of names, and possible project ideas. He also held a datapad in his hand, listing possible courses of action in the event that certain people were abducted and erased.

No matter how much he planned, though, the direction of the meeting would depend on what the members brought to the table. They could oust him, they could propose a death weapon, they could complain, they could blow something up, and they could do so much more. He would really have to wait, see, and try to restrain them from killing each other.

Resigning himself to his fate, he looked to the doorway and waved to the first arrivals.

[ooc: Anyone who would have responded to his request or been interested at all is welcome! There will be subthreads for different topics, and it will be open as long as it needs to be because I know we have some hiatuses right now.

We'll start with the mingling and slowly get the ball rolling!]

((OOC: Takes place after this post))

Cassie felt a little better at having Jake tell her to get a meeting going.  He may not have made some choices she fully agreed with lately when she came to Stacy, but he was still their leader and it was familiar.

Using the comm rings she contacted Tobias and Marco.  She included Ax and Jake so they could know what she said, but she didn't think at the time to include anyone else even though Loren and Elfangor had helped watched over Tom/Iniss as well.

Hey guys... we need to meet up here, something happened.  She wasn't sure just how safe the comm rings were so she didn't say too much.  They should remember that it was her shift and she still had about a half an hour left on it.  They would know where 'here' meant.

His hands itched. So did the backs of his ankles. And his head hurt.

It was rather annoying to not be able to scratch the itch. The headache was more troubling. It was going to get worse, but for the moment it was just an ache behind his eyes, aggravating more for the reminder than the actual physical pain.

He was helpless.

He let his head lull forward, resting his chin on his chest and testing the bindings on his hands. They were solid, and it didn't give in the least. They didn't even have the decency to scratch the damned itch.

He was hungry, and that would get worse as well. He had a feeling the current small portions of food would continue until he starved. He would get the added pleasure of his host's hunger making his own worse.

< They're going to kill you. > Tom's voice was soft, invasive, and annoying.

< That should make you happy. You're getting everything you wanted, aren't you Tommy-boy? >

The host was silent, considering.

Iniss kept his head down, soon, perhaps, one of his jailers would decide to lecture him, and who knew what might happen then?

If he pretended to be asleep, maybe they would just leave him alone.

((Occ: Give me what day you're on when you tag in, and we'll just do it sorta day by day? I guess? Maybe? Suggestions?)

Marco stood near the Garibah tree, just in front of the maze, his arms crossed as he kept an eye out for Tom. He couldn't see the others, but he knew they were there.

He felt jittery, like they always did back in the war before missions. He bit back the compulsion to crack a joke - he couldn't thought-speak one right now, and saying it out loud would look really weird if that just happened to be when Tom was coming along.

Course, Marco was sure Tobias would give them plenty of forewarning. Still - it didn't hurt to be cautious. Especially now. Especially when it was Tom. Marco had seen what Tom's death had done to Jake after the war: Tom's and Rachel's and those seventeen thousand Yeerks. He couldn't change what happened to those Yeerks, and who knew if Ax would be able to change things for Rachel when they got back to their world. If they ever did get back to their world. But here, right now? They could change what happened to Tom. Him they could save. And maybe that would save Jake too.

Marco waited.

Stacy's voice speaks over the whole of the ship. What she has to say has become very familiar over the the podlings have spent here.

||Pod Release Protocols Initiating,|| she says. ||Please proceed to the Observation Deck to meet your new crew mates.||

Those crew members that don't head to the Obs Deck on their own are hurried there via gentle but insistent tentacles. A few people stop by Engineering to help bring and pass out omnicoms and comm rings to the new crew members as well.

[ooc: Only new characters and Command Staff can start new threads for introductions, to limit the number of threads. Everyone else, just tag in and have your guys greet the newbies.]

In Nathan Petrelli's office, a small group is assembling. Some of them are there for information, and others are there to provide it -- and hopefully to get approval for a plan already in action.

Elfangor, Ax, and Tobias arrived independently of Marco, just in case. None of them wanted his cover as a Controller blown, and spending time with known Andalites would do that very quickly.

Loren had been on the meatship for a long time and there were still some places she hadn't been to. Take Engineering, for example. Which was why she was down here for a visit, just a look around really.

And if she happened to see anyone, well she was always up for making new friends. Provided they weren't Yeerks.

It had taken some doing to convince Ax not to immediately hunt down Prince Jake's older brother and bludgeon him unconscious when Tobias told him that he was awake and infested on board. But once Tobias had managed it, Ax insisted that Elfangor be brought into their conspiracy. Not that he doubted Marco's ability to trick the Controller of course, but someone on the Command Staff should know.

He'd sent a locked and encrypted message to Elfangor over the comms, asking him to meet them at the Garibah tree. He trusted that his brother would realize that the matter was important based simply on that.

Ax shifted his weight nervously, his stalk-eyes scanning the area for anything out of the ordinary, though Tobias would probably spot an attack first.

Kang was feeling particularly homesick that day.

He was standing on a plateau* in an arid savanna, overlooking a walled city, very obviously medieval in nature, with some areas still in construction. Draconians of brass, bronze, copper, silver, and the rare gold moved about, busy with their daily lives; an oddity was that almost every single one was an adult. There were very few children, and none appeared older than the average human toddler. The occasional dwarf or human was there as well, but not many, and they tended to be in the market area, selling wares.

The bozak still had a bandage on his tail and wing (the one on the latter bigger than it had been before), but the one on his leg was gone, showing a healing gash that was likely to leave a scar. Smiling to himself, he sat down, one knee bent and an arm resting on it.

"...you weren't perfect, but you were mine."

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice anyone entering the Sensoriums.

*Look Out Hill, on the map. :D

Several buildings in the City had been completely destroyed during Aang's rampage, but a few had survived relatively unscathed. It had only taken Kang two days to repair the Drunken Dragon; he'd done so by himself, not even waiting for his leg to heal up a bit first.

Usually, he didn't bother lighting any candles or using the fireplace in the tavern unless it was a period when the artificial sun had set. He could see perfectly fine in the dim light. For the celebration, though, he'd thrown the windows open wide, scrounged up every candle he could find, and started up a fire, knowing that human vision wasn't as good as his own. The tables surrounding the stage had been cleaned, as well as the tankards, and the door was propped open. The bozak had even wrestled two of the 60-gallon barrels from the back room into a corner of the main room for easier access, one of cactus juice and one of ale. If more was needed, he was sure he could get someone to help bring out another.

Tess had commandeered the kitchen to make her food, bringing in her own equipment. Kang had been slightly afraid at first that she was going to burn the place down, but nothing had happened yet. She seemed to know what she was doing, even if she'd given him a few scares.

The sunlight glistened on the old sword blade teeth and dinnerplate eyes of the comical-looking wooden dragon grinning above the entrance. Come in, relax, have a drink and a bite to eat!

[OOC note: Both drinks are alcoholic, and the cactus juice has twice the kick of the ale. :D;]

The rest of the crew assembled on the Observation Deck to meet the latest editions to their numbers. After the revelation that their worlds are gone, many of them are even more eager to see people they knew from home.

Several people are set up near the doors to provide the new people with omnicoms and comm rings. New crew-mates might see a green-skinned alien and snake girl among their number. There are also several authoritative-looking figures ready to introduce themselves.

There's a lot to tell the new people. It's going to be a lot to take in.

[ooc: Only new characters and Command Staff can start new threads for introductions, to limit the number of threads. Everyone else, just tag in and have your guys greet the newbies.]

Marco was lying on the grass under the Andalite tree, looking as if he'd just decided at random to plop himself down there. Though, if you could look closely enough, you'd be able to see him frowning, just a little, at the tree. This wasn't the best place for meetings. Too open. Too visible. Too much chance of someone just wondering by and wondering why they were up to. Sure, he trusted Tobias to notice anyone getting too close - but this place had anyone and everyone, and a whole range of odd abilities. For all they knew, there were people on board who could get past Tobias's sharp eyes.

But, Marco hadn't exactly found anywhere else that would work well either. And this was a place that Ax and Tobias came to regularly, so them coming here wasn't exactly suspicious. If anything, Marco was the odd one out. But hey, nothing wrong with wanting to lie down on the grass, huh? Or talking to his friends.

It was all too easy to slip back into paranoia and suspicion. Sure, there we no Yeerks and no apparent need for secrecy. But paranoia had got him through one war. It might get him through another. And everything about this was one great big mess of unknown quantities.

The really big question, though: how the hell were they supposed to explain to Ax his own future? "Guess what, the borg eats you. Try not to do that again if and when you go back."

This was it, the day that Instructors Callahan and Cranston had been anticipating (and perhaps, on Mr. Cranston's part, dreading). This afternoon, in a Sensorium-created laboratory, their students would be learning laboratory safety protocol and putting it into practice.

As students enter and receive greetings from Billy, they'll notice the main features of the laboratory if they choose to look around. A desk sits in the front of the room with boxes of supplies piled on it. In the middle sits a mysterious boiling pot. One one side of the room sits an eye wash station that shouldn't be needed today. Long work tables stretch from the front of the room to the rear, surrounded by simple stools, and a white cabinet sits to the side of the room, opened to reveal hair ties, gloves, and goggles.

Behind the desk sits a chalkboard, where Billy has written a list of paired names. Feel free to react in dismay or horror at your lab partners, students, but your instructors won't be budging. They have their reasons. When everyone arrives and is seated, they'll begin.

After processing all this, there might be another question on their minds---where's Wyn disappeared to? Students unfortunate enough to fail to arrive on time will soon find out...

((And the nightmare begins! Start tagging in the first few subthreads, team. If you're not already on the lab partner list but would still like to participate, feel free to contact Kuroi or Zoki on AIM or comment to this post, and we'll set you up. Have fun!))

When Marco stumbled across the media library, he concluded that this had to be the best day so far on this freaky meatship.

Music. Massive screens. A giant, alien entertainment centre. And, most importantly - video games.

Marco was immediately drawn to the tall white box with the strange looking controllers. He snorted when he saw the name "Wii" (who though that was a good idea? The puns where almost too easy) but hey, this was clearly gaming of the future. Or gaming of a strange and bizarre alien race - it was hard to tell. Either way, it was cool, and Marco was so going to try it out.

He fished around for a vaguely interesting looking game, bypassing all the ones that looked boring (Wii Fit? Cricket? Imagine: Fashion Idol?! pfft), eventually settling on Escape from Bug Island.

Marco had been a bug before. Waaaaay too many times. Now he could squish them in safe video game fun.

But as Marco began to play, his good mood rapidly diminished. Who thought up this whole "swinging around the controller" thing? What the hell was going on with that animation?

"What the hell is with this?!" He yelled, as he tried to get the control to do what he wanted dammit. "This is nuts! GAMING OF THE FUTURE IS CRAP!"

[[ooc: For reference, this is the extraodinarily bad game Marco is playing.]]

The crew meeting doesn't take place in the Obs Deck like it usually does. It takes place in the Medbay, because that's where most of the crew is gathered, and it's plenty large enough. Those that are still getting treated can sit on the beds, and those that just need to sit can sit on the beds.

When the last stragglers rejoin the others in the MedBay, when almost all the injuries have been treated, the Bridge Team finally returns, but they do not return triumphant. Most of their expressions are somber. One of their number, Paco, has come back missing an arm, and quite a few have rather nasty injuries, black eyes, burns, and so on. Jaime Reyes' armor is healed over his eye, and though said eye isn't gone (well, at least it won't be for long), it looks as if it is.

But their greatest casualty is being carried by Brainiac 5 with a flat pane of yellow shielding like an impromptu stretcher. Robin lent his cape to cover the body out of respect, but the green hand of the robot Brainiac is visible despite it.

The organic Brainy peels off from the group to silently carry the body into Special Weapons Division, to place it on one of the work-tables, as if the room is now an impromptu mortuary. An autopsy of sorts needs to be performed, after all, to ensure with absolute certainty what he already knows--that there is no way to repair their lost comrade. He will be absent from the reunion, and most likely chase out anyone that comes in.

As for the rest of them, they need medical care, probably need hugs, and mostly just need to see that the rest of the group is okay. They also need to meet the new people--who need to properly meet everyone in general, really.

[ooc: MEETING THREAD. Everybody, start subthreads and tag subthreads. This is for new people to meet folks and get a few more explanations, and also folks from the different teams just to reunite with people and see if they're okay, and all that. After the reunions and all that, free threading will resume. EVERYONE would be here, most likely. By this time, most folks would probably have joined the others.]

The conversation between the bridge crew, Stacy, and the Admiral is broadcasted where the rest of the crew is in the MedBay, and gathered right outside. Even in the bridge itself, the sound echoes over the monitors so that anyone resistant to psionics can hear Elfangor's side of the conversation.

They have now been told why they were brought to the ship.

Their worlds are gone, destroyed by the Ohm. They are refugees in an unforgiving Omniverse.

Transmigration 9 is an ark.

While Stacy is partially restored, including her core personality (which is far more personable), she is still severely damaged, and running on automatic somewhat. Until the ship can be repaired, podpops will keep occuring and they will be forced to go on missions to undo the damage the Ohm have wrought to the Omniverse. The threat of the being in Escherville is still a threat, one with no immediate solutions.

But they have allies out there, they have an AI watching over them, they have the smallest glinting traces of hope. Their loved ones are (hopefully) on board, and even beyond that, there is may be a chance, however small, of restoring their home universes.

Stacy broadcasts to the entire ship when it's all over, when all has been revealed.

||The bodies of the individuals that died today are being prepared for funeral services. A list of their names will be made available, though I can assure you that none are individuals any of you know. The funeral will be on Obs Deck in several days, and will be announced.||

||Those that wish to have their memories of their rescues restored, as proof their worlds are gone, will have a chance to request this after the services, but without grief counselors on board, I strongly recommend against it.||

||In the meantime, all of us must heal and recover from our ordeal. New areas of the ship have been made available, such as the Crew Lounge, and I have opened up the Crew Quarters for use, and cleared out the belongings of--||

Here she falters, sadness creeping into her voice.

||--of my original crew, so that all of you may sleep more comfortably. These quarters fit two people to a room, and have actual beds and sonic showers. Dining will still be provided in the Mess Hall, with periodic days of real food in the Lounge--they must be spaced out until my food stores are replenished with fresh food products.||

After a moment of thought she says: ||And because I think you've suffered enough, fornicative activities are now allowed--however, both parties must stop by the Medbay for a Contraceptive shot or this will not be allowed. These shots will provide protection for six months and do not protect against venereal disease, but all of you, barring several individuals with certain conditions--|| Like those, say, infected with zombie viruses, Steve ||--are currently disease-free.||

||The ship is now open, and the bridge team can relocate back to the Living Areas. The doors will remain open after they leave the bridge. I must now engage in heavy repairs. My AI will not be quite as available as usual. Please, take time to grieve, rest, and have your wounds treated. We will discuss more when everyone has recovered from this ordeal.||

They now know what they're up against: space pirates. Interdimensional kidnappers and ruthless scallywags, that hijack ships, and sell the ships themselves and their contents for profit.

Their spaceship is rammed through the hull of the bridge, they're outnumbered fifteen-to-one, and the pirates have some very shiny tech on their side. But even with Stacy suppressed, the crew has her on their side, as she's trying her best to hide them from view and not allow her internal defenses to be used against our stalwart Meatcrew.

Now, in the area outside the bridge, which is home to a wide open space surrounded by a network of hub tunnels and the like, the crew is going to make their stand against the pirates--and the success of this fight will decide the fate of the rest of the crew. It's not easy task, either, considering the powerful weaponry the pirates have at their disposal, and the physical strength, cyborg augments, and powers a number of them have. But they do have a plan.

Will Team GTFO succeed, reopen the ship, and be able to go back to help the others fight against whatever was released against them? (Is it already too late to help them all?) Or will they fail, will those Left Behind have to cross their fingers and hope for the best, will the crew be doomed to a horrible fate in the meat markets (both literal and figurative) of the of the pirate black markets known as the Chopping Blocks?

[ooc: As usual, old threads are still open. And subthreads will be left open so folks can tag them. For instance, even after the subthread with the pirates retreating goes up, the pirate FIGHTING can still be tagged. You can also tag multiple subthreads, since it's a big-ass brawl and you can do fun stuff like having your character flung across the fight.

OPEN FOR TAGGING]

Jaime Reyes was still alive, not that most of Team GTFO knew it. He lay still as death in front of Hal 9000, the scarab slowly working on repairing the damage he'd used to fake his death.

The only people that knew what had really happened were the telepaths. And they had some important information to pass on to a few of the others before anyone else got injured -- or worst, killed for real.

You have my sincerest apologies, but I have my mission.

The traps start. Rotating blades coming out of the walls and floors and ceilings, jets of fire, lasers, holographic enemies. The clear walls of the maze let them see what's happening to everyone else.

The traps start, and they have to stay alive despite them. If they stop avoiding them, it's their own fault, you see, if they die. That makes it indirect enough for Stacy's Anti-harming-the-crew protocols to be avoided, as Hal, despite his reprogramming, still has to follow some constraints.

Please commence with killing yourselves by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The only chance the group has is if they work together to stay alive, and somehow they have to take out the shield projectors creating the maze even though they themselves are shielded...

[ooc: Cooperation is key, people. Hal can only adapt to one power/skill-set at a time, not all of them.]

Team GTFO gathers in the Living Area Level, near what appears to be a blank wall near the Sensoriums, and now it's time to distribute equipment, go over the specifics of the plan, and get ready to commence Operations. With a capital 'O'.

There's a multitude of robot drones and other equipment about.


[ooc: Read instructions for these threads here! Edit: Srsly. Read 'em. Try to keep all the subthreads as one consecutive thread. Please?]

In her sealed, silent, sensory-deprived meditation room, Roxie is sleeping. It's a special sleep: for all dreams are connected, she knows, and by spinning her mind out along the web of thought, she might step into others...

[Roxie is dream-hopping, getting a look at the subconsciousnesses of the other people on the ship. So, how it works - if you're interested, go ahead and post with a dream your character is having, and Roxie will slip into it, subtle at first but more obvious as she tries to satisfy her curiosity. Just her being around will make the dreamer more lucid and more likely to remember the whole thing when they wake up.

Also, feel free to ask any OOC questions in a thread here, or poke me on AIM at 'anagramarye'.]

The Chief's got the sensoriums up with a shooting range. It's not the one he's called up in the past, this is an outdoor range. There are several different target distances, including the long, long rifle lines for things with considerable scope to them, at the end of the range are some somewhat chewed out hills deep enough to catch most impacts. There's plenty of open space off to one side with some practice dummies for melee training, and plenty of open space in general. It's relatively sunny and the air is fresh, but the weather's an after thought. They needed a range. Chief called one up.

They all have a lot of work cut out for them.

The Chief is in full armor, doing a little quick rifle maintenance before anybody shows up. It's holographic, but it serves his purpose for now.

[OOC: This is a FULLY OPEN post. Subthread all you want. Tag each other, teach each other, ask questions, branch off. It's like a big social thread with guns!]

([Also OOC:] If you need to talk to the Chief, just warning you that I'm a bit swamped right now. I'll get back to you but it'll be a slow process. @_@)

Shadow Link had heard about the sensorium. To say the least, it sounded interesting. An illusion that became a reality? He knew there were things that could appear an illusion that hurt, but in the end, the thing was truly 'real.' And illusions could be used to hurt and mess with people. But having a physical presence? That was knew.

So he had decided to try it out. Of course, the setting wouldn't be bright. Actually, since he was in control, he had for something that might be nice. Namely, a forest at night. Even as a shadow, he did still feel a bit of joy in nature. Not so much he wouldn't have willingly destroyed it before for his goals, but...

Well, he was still questioning what his goals were, so why not embrace that joy a bit more? And it certainly felt like a real night sky, with a light breeze and everything. He looked around and sighed.

He walked further into the sensorium, quickly climbing up a tree and resting on a branch and for the first time since he actually arrived on the ship, he relaxed. What harm could letting his guard down for a little while in his own illusion could do him anyway?

[Instructions: Here.]

Despite a few tricks up their sleeves, the Conspirators hardly stood a chance. It's all or nothing as they make a few last ditch attempts to kill the Yeerk, and as the fight grinds to a screeching halt.

Will they kill the Yeerk?

Will someone other than the Yeerk get killed in the crossfire?