Event | Satellite | Spectres!

[ironwood]

Characters: Any and all!
Date: May 23 - 26, 2013
Location: Keeliai, turtleside, ARSHEPHELIOS cluster remains
Situation: Repairs and salvage operations operating innocently have triggered an invasion of spectres that possess and wreak havoc upon all they see.
Warnings/Rating: Please put CW in your subject lines

Satellite Crash Event

Crash Landing | Salvage Party | Shocking Spectres


Questions | Keeliai | ARSHEPHELIOS


Salvage is sweet, but not all is well on board the ARSHEPHELIOS cluster. The seamless cylinders salvaged from debris and the cluster, now being frequently traded, turn out to be pods the first time one is penetrated or cracked open. Each breached pod releases a flood of energy-based apparitions hellbent on world domination -- or, more accurately, person domination (and it's not the fun kind).

These apparitions -- spectres, if you will -- are driven by a need to protect the technology of the satellite cluster that their pods are associated with. They will stop at nothing to see this through. Each is immune to physical attacks, but seem to be injured or dissipated entirely by things like electrical shock or other energy-based projections. If people touch them, there is also a brief window of vulnerability, but it acts also like a door that swings both way. Through contact, these spectres can and will invade one's psyche, take over their body and cause them to attack friend or foe alike! Should the possessed body be subjected to sufficient electrical shock, the possession should fade. Strong natural will can also drive the spectres out, but it is no walk in the park to do so. Possession is not the only tool in the arsenal, for these spectres use electricity as their main offensive weapon. They'll leave deep-tissue burns on anyone they fight, and show no degree of fatigue after constant use of it.

Ten thousand of these creatures will be freed from pods, resulting in a veritable flood of Keeliai, the turtleside, and the satellite cluster. With such a driven enemy, it comes down to killing or being killed.

Meanwhile, those taking shelter indoors may notice that the spectres will get into the biomechanical functions of Keeliai. Consoles will be malfunctioning during this time, with lines of mysterious code and strange, ghostly images. One might hear people screaming for help or hours of patchy radio static.

Comments

Open!

[refusing]

[Rose is in over her head.

After somehow managing to fight off possession by the skin of her teeth, she finds herself realizing the enormity of the situation she's found herself in. And despite wanting so much to help everyone she possibly can, she's useless. There's no way to help stop the looting or make those that are possessed and harming one another stop, and that leaves her aimlessly running through the sectors just trying to survive and avoid a second up close and personal spectre encounter.

She's managed to find herself something that might have been an axe at one point, but now is nothing but a long handle with the start of a metal tip at the end. It's not a good weapon, but maybe it'll work to defend herself if need be. It also works to poke at the pods that are scattered about and appear to be empty. Ones that she encounters are angrily swatted at in hopes that with enough effort she'll be able to crack them apart to pieces. They deserve it, for causing all of this. And maybe there's some kind of trigger in one of them, something that will send them all away if it's broken. It's hopeful thinking, but at this point she's not very sure what else she can do.]

[imaginate]

[The first thing he does when he's got free time is check up on his people. They're difficult to find and it's frustrating to keep track of everyone. Spending two years out in space with people who... answered your summons was really ruining him for being on this turtle.

Thank gosh he got to the civilians first.]

Rose! Get down!

[He's hovering in the air above her, about to unleash hell upon those spectres.]

[refusing]

[She recognizes his voice and trusts him, so therefore she hops back and ducks down, clutching her makeshift "weapon" close to her chest.]

What're you gonna do?

[She calls out up to him, eyes focused in on the spectres just ahead of her. She knows that being here in the middle of them is stupid, but it's not exactly like they're avoidable, not if she wants to be out here trying to help.

Some of the spectres advance, and she stars to move backward.]

Actually, never mind that, just do something!

[imaginate]

[That 'something' happens to be a blast of scorching green light: electricity from the ring. It tears the spectres apart within seconds.

Kyle, however, is by her side, checking her for injuries. His uniform is torn at the shoulder.]

You okay?

[refusing]

[She's roughed up a bit, mostly from trips and falls, and getting caught up in things while trying to run. Her clothes are a bit tattered and dirty, and there's a small gash on her forehead, but it's nothing too bad at all.

She's left in awe of the fact he's actually able to have so much power, and is standing there mouth agape as he looks her over. When he asks if she's alright, she dumbly nods, staring at where the spectres had just been.]

Is it always this dangerous? Fat lot of good I am with all this.

[She wonders in a small voice, before about facing to look him over. Her fingers instantly go to touch at his shoulder, where his outfit is torn. She frowns, and then tips her head so she can make eye contact with him. And despite everything going on she smiles, so happy that he's okay and was there to help her. She softly laughs and hops forward, embracing him in a hug.]

Thanks for all that. I probably would've gotten one of those in my head again if it wasn't for you.

[imaginate]

Dangerous? Sweetheart, this is Tuesday. Probably for you too.

[Satisfied that she's not too badly injured, he smiles, casual, light, to put her at ease. And it's also recognition that she encounters (and has beaten) things that are equally dangerous, if not more so.

The hug is a surprise though, and for a brief moment he stands awkwardly before returning it, and then rings up an electrified axe for her.]

One of these'll be more useful than what you've got.

[Because she can't not help people, he's at least going to make sure she's safer than she was just now while doing it.]

[refusing]

Oh, you're good. [She's very pleased with the weapon he's made up for her, and she takes it from him and steps away to give it an experimental swipe.]

I think things'll go a lot smoother with this. You and me, we're gonna get things done now.

[Yes, she is holding up the axe and speaking to it. But she quickly realizes this isn't the time or the place, and she lowers the weapon so she can look back up at Kyle.]

So! Where to next, exactly?

[imaginate]

[He's scanning for any more of them that might be in the area. There's thousands, and the static from the consoles is an irritating distraction.]

Wherever you can keep people together, and safe from those things. You know they can possess you, right?

[refusing]

Yeah, that might've happened a bit ago.

[She shrugs it off as if it's a perfectly casual thing to be discussing.]

Maybe it's not permanent? Or just...you gotta refuse to let it stay inside, yeah?

[imaginate]

It's not permanent; you can drive them out, but I'm guessing not everybody can manage that in time.

[He nods at her approvingly.]

Anyone you want to check up on?

[refusing]

Don't think the Doctor's here, not anymore.

[That gets her to look entirely miserable, especially when she realizes that she doesn't know very many people still; apart from him and Jim Kirk, and Jack Frost. She's got a suspicion that Jack can handle just about anything that's thrown at him though.]

I was gonna say, let's find a safe place to start rounding people up in. I can stay there with this - [She raises up the axe.] And wait for you to get back.

[imaginate]

Sorry to hear that.

[He genuinely is, especially with that expression. It's more than missing someone, it looks like complete heartbreak.]

One of the buildings in Wood Sector, that's still standing. Your neighbours know you, and you know them, so if any of them aren't acting like themselves you'll know where to start swinging that. [He points to the axe.]

[refusing]

[All thoughts of the Doctor are gone as she realizes that she might have to swing her new special axe at someone and potentially harm them. Her eyes go a bit wide, but she nods. She knows she'll have to do whatever it is that needs to be done, even if she doesn't like it.]

Right, yeah. I'll just...I'll go do that. [She bites at her lip, even as she tries to smile a little.]

Promise you won't go and get yourself hurt?

[imaginate]

[Gently:] It won't hurt them, just whatever's inside them.

[He almost viciously says thing, but he remembers, starkly, saying to Costigan that he'd been in the war too long.

He smiles at her, his usual, self-assured smile. The one that says Are you kidding? I've got this.]

Tell you what. Promise I won't do anything stupid.

[refusing]

[Yeah, she doesn't like his choice in wording there. He gets stared at, and then she uses her free hand to lightly hit at his arm.]

Nothing stupid, and no getting hurt or dying. I'm not gonna accept anything less than that.

[She is incredibly intimidating, she knows.]

[imaginate]

Yes'm. Lantern's honour.

[Then, more seriously-]

You take care.

[refusing]

[Pleased with his response this time, she gives him a little salute.]

Always do. See you in a bit, then? Wood sector, can't miss me, I'll be the one with the electric axe.

[She laughs at that, and offers him a final glance before spinning about to take off toward safety as fast as she can.]