august 2020. welcome to the void.

[modblob]

Redshift: Welcome to the v͖͕̺̲̘̱̜͎o̴̦̣̠̦̘̹͞i̯̖d̛̪̬͈̱̦̝͍̕.

▶ Click here to read what characters will experience when arriving in Anchor.

▶ All TDM threads can be considered game canon, and current players are welcome to either top-level on the TDM so prospective players can tag them, or use the prompts for logs or network posts on the communities. All threads on the TDM can be used for Activity Check.

a. tombstorm.

A few days after the end of July, early in the morning, everyone in Anchor will be able to feel a deep rumbling moving through the city, will hear a rush of rocket fuel, and anyone who goes out to see the source of the sounds and vibrations will be able to watch the alien cruise ship carefully detaching from Anchor's exit, detaching their radiation bubble from Anchor's, making sure to never break the city's dome before flying off into the vibrantly red sky.

The departure of the aliens leaves an unmistakable mark on the landscape. The rumble of their takeoff, the intense roar of their ship's thrusters, blasts a hole in the sand that uncovers a part of Anchor long-buried outside of the dome. An area the length and breadth of two football fields put side by side, with tidy rows of...tombstones? Are those tombstones? They have lettering on them that glows faintly blue, getting slowly brighter as anyone approaches them. When someone gets close enough, a bright beam shoots from the top of the definitely-not-a-tombstone, scanning the person in front of it, and the marks on the metal tablets reorient into a readable language.

They're names. Names with a string of numbers underneath, and nonsense dates below that. Sometimes several nonsense dates are listed in a row down the front of each stone. Oftentimes, the names belong to strangers. Sometimes, though, they're familiar. Names of people who have come and gone in Anchor, sometimes listed on multiple different stones, each with a unique number underneath. Sometimes names of people that the Anchorites might know. May Parker, Jacob Seed, Samsara, Liara T'Soni, Perry Kelvin - the lists of the familiar go on. Sometimes, the names of current residents themselves are the names that appear on the tombstones.

b. arachnophobia!

Of course, it's not as simple as just walking out to the cleared area in a hazmat suit. That would be too easy. The noise of the alien ship's departure also woke something else up. Or perhaps more accurately, activated it.

A massive robotic spider, glowing with threads of the same light that illuminates the broad valley of marked stones, circles the space endlessly. The lucky can get to the stones without facing it, if they wait until it's on the farthest edge away, but the thing is fast and unfriendly and won't hesitate to attack someone careless. Or someone curious, even. And its legs conceal a variety of blasting weaponry that can do a whole lot of damage on their own. Even worse, when the eight glowing eyes all align on one spot, get the hell out of the way, or be caught in an incinerating green beam. Also, it...really likes stomping on things.

It can be defeated, if its carapace can be broken into and its insides destroyed, but you'd probably have to blind it first. Might be worth it, though. Those explosives in the legs might just come in real handy, and the parts inside the spider could be analyzed to reveal characteristics very similar to that weird humming orb thing buried in those caves - they even have their own faint hum.

c. ⱠɆ₮'₴ ₲Ɇ₮ ₱ⱧɎ₴ł₵₳Ⱡ.

Existential dread and monster battles not your thing? The bots have you covered. It is, after all, Physical Evaluation Day! Yay!

The medibots have set up an elaborate obstacle course in the park, one designed to test the speed, strength, and stamina of participants. It's a fairly standard military-style obstacle course, with climbing walls, mud pits to crawl through, ropes to climb, and huge monkey-bar sets with a potential drop into multicolored dye that just will not come off if you fall in. Y'know. Standard stuff.

There’s also...laser tag? If you want to add a little extra challenge to your obstacle course, sign up for a "combat sim" and face down fellow Anchorites and specially-programmed bots as you run the length of the obstacle course and try to stay "alive."

If you don't complete the obstacle course within a specific time designated by the medibots and arbitrarily changed every fifteen minutes or so, your reward is a full exam in the medical bay! Yay! You also get a half a gold star that says "effort" on it, but that's less exciting.

Fight all you want, but they will get that urine sample one way or another.

If you complete the obstacle course in the allotted time, you get a little metal star badge that says "I DID GOOD!" with a little etching of a cheering medibot underneath. Also you're gonna get showered with celebratory glitter.

Maybe the medical bay would have been better.

d. the network.

Need to get hold of someone, call for help, ask the city at large a question? Need to ask a friend to forge a doctor's note to get out of the obstacle course? Maybe you need to hold your sat phone up to whatever crazy thing you're seeing and send out a recording to double-check if your eyes are deceiving you and what you're looking at is real?

Whatever the reason, the network is going strong, so feel free to include a post to it in your top-levels.

Navigation.

Comments

[tsuyoi_ame]

True but if it's home to these kinds of things, that would mean there could be more. One is going to be hard enough to take down, a swarm of them would crush the dome no matter how many of them came out to fight. Then again if it was created, then who is out there sending it at them.

These are all questions someone else will have to get the answers to. Yamamoto is not an answer man, he is an action man and that is what he is doing now. He can't say if this thing just woke up, if someone created it, what he can say is he wants to take it down.

It's not as easy to hear in the suit, but he can sense and hear Hayato well enough and the pattern is familiar. He does not hesitate, just turns with a sharp pivot, sliding into his stance as he draws flames and hits where Hayato directs, no hesitation and he does not wait to assess the damage. Instead, he is in motion again, ducking, sliding and otherwise risking his neck with a laugh to get in close enough and do what damage he can.

The only time he takes his eyes off the giant in front of him is when he checks to make sure Hayato is okay, he feels one leg nearly nick him, it's a turn of his body that saves him and he shoots back a couple of inches, looking for his next opening.

[bakudan_bambino]

They also run the risk of drawing more attention towards the Dome if this thing is able to alert more of its kind. Gokudera is not interested in that, but he'll do what he can to keep Takeshi safe, to keep being the relentless storm he's supposed to be.

The suit keeps him from utilizing his full system, but at least he's able to maintain some semblance of distance. He hates this, that Takeshi keeps getting close. Of course he does, though... it's how he fights. But it's a lot more difficult to keep his worries in check when he has feelings yuck this is why he avoided them back home to make the dread deeper.

Takeshi comes close to being hit, and Gokudera can't stop the robotic arachnid. Instead, he's just dropping bomb after bomb on top of it, trying to bother the thing enough so it will target him.

If it hits Takeshi, he's getting on top of it, and that's his plan. Gokudera will literally ride the giant robot spider, because he can. The damned thing is big enough that the moving parts shouldn't be too difficult for him to get his footing, and while he's no athlete, he has enough dexterity to make planting bombs and running along its abdomen a totally reasonable feat.

Now to just make sure that Takeshi can get enough space from it to not get thrown by the force of his bombs when they go off.

Gokudera is very much a calculating fighter, the answers come as he goes, and he's making plans as he goes, and so his disc is following along, carrying him over the center of the creature's back. Can't hit him if it's legs can't bend backwards, after all.

"Takeshi, HOP ON!!" He shouts and hops off his lightning disk, placing bombs along the creature's back, moving towards its head while his disc glides towards Takeshi, trying to give him a platform to quickly avoid for a moment. If he stays on it, it will just deliver him back to his boyfriend, and they can both get a bit more distance from the inevitable explosion.

[tsuyoi_ame]

It's frustrating because the suit restricts his movements and keeps some of what he can do locked up. It goes too far he'll do as he did in the caves and risk a small exposure to access his full flames to make up for his movements being impeded.

He wishes he knew for sure he could protect his body but he won't risk it. He has someone counting on him more than ever before and so for the first time, while he may go all out, he will be careful more than ever before.

"Got it.." And as soon as that disc is close enough he leaps, shooting what flames he can at the beast to try and help Hayato without getting in his way at the same time. He has faith in the other and his abilities, so he does not doubt that disc will bring him in close.

When he gets there he is reaching for Hayato, he knows they need to get some distance but he is not going to back off from this beast as long as his boyfriend is in the line of fire. Why can they not seem to make a dent in this thing, once they have some distance he is going to suggest he remove his suit and go all out, his full strength is all he can think of to stop this. As much as he just told himself he wouldn't risk it, what else can he do? He won't know unless he tries.

He knows Hayato isn't going to like it.

[bakudan_bambino]

Gokudera does not know that Takeshi risked exposure to the radiation just to try and access his flames. He knows it's boring staying in the dome all the time, but there are ways to explore without getting into situations that require their flames.

Takeshi does not have to go one hundred and twenty percent on everything. Gokudera doesn't expect him to half-ass anything, but there are ways to tell if a situation is worth getting involved in aside from barging into it.

The disc is close enough, he takes his boyfriend's hand, steps on, and they're lifted up. Gokudera crouches, grabs the edge of the disc, and the bombs go off, pressing hot air under them and lifting them higher.

"I think that just pissed it off more."

He was hoping to disable some of the movement, or blind one eye. Nothing. He needs Storm flames to eat away and through that metal.

"I can use this as a decoy so we can get out of here. I've got enough smoke bombs...." He sounds a bit desperate, is also just not really wanting Takeshi back in the fray.

[tsuyoi_ame]

He only risked his hand that time, it was an enclosed space and down in the sinkhole, this what he is thinking of right now is a lot more dangerous. It's downright crazy, maybe even for him. Except, that thing is going to kill someone if that dome is breached it's over with.

"Message Genji and King..." It's clear he's thinking something from the way his eyes darken more, holding onto that monster as Hayato propels them out of the way. He may not want Takeshi to go in there, but he's a swordsman, he's the frontline. The battlefield can't be washed clean from a distance.

"I'm taking my suit off." He had been quiet all this time, drawing on his resolve, every ounce of it within his body, his love for Hayato rocketing it higher he thinks there's enough, he can cover his entire body like the suit and still give a hundred percent with his weapons. What it will do maybe nothing and he may be sick after, he may get hurt but he may also hold this thing back enough to save others. He would have done the same at home, that hasn't changed.

"We're holding it off till help can get here, if this thing reaches the dome we're all dead." He is already making the move to start taking his suit off, there's one shot here, he doesn't plan to die. Isn't trying to sacrifice himself, he believes he can do this. He knows there is always the chance of failure but you never know till you try.

His will is stronger than it has ever been, he's grown, firmer more mature since being in Anchor and it's made him a better fighter. Plus, he's going to use his box once the others arrive, Cambio Forma doesn't take this thing down with the help from the other fighters he may be out of ideas at that point.

[bakudan_bambino]

Okay a hand is easy enough to get back in, and if it was out for a short enough time to get baked with radiation, then Gokudera is none the wiser. He understands that this spider could destroy the dome and kill everyone, but there has to be some other means of fighting it that does NOT involve removing a hazmat suit.

“Fine. No problem.” He’s doing it now. The connection is poor, because of course it is. With them lifting higher above the planet and that dangerous robotic spider, its not getting better. He sent it, but it’s not showing as received by either of them.

“No you’re not.” He grabs onto Takeshi’s arm with a vice grip. “Wait till they get here. You’d be exposed to radiation without the suit, and that will just make you weaker.” He doesn’t care how strong the swordsman’s resolve is. He is still a human being on a planet far different and more dangerous than Earth.

“We have its attention now. Let’s keep it like that and form a plan when we have reinforcements. Then you can go at it all you want. I’m not fucking letting you bake on some alien planet in an attempt to save the colony when King and Genji can help us.”

[tsuyoi_ame]

He did not get it exposed badly, a few moves with his word to ascertain that he could not damage whatever that was and now this. Then he thinks, maybe this thing came from the sinkhole? They never did figure out what the thing in there was, could it have been this all along just sleeping?

It's impossible to know and the thought is gone almost before it comes, he looks at Hayato when he grabs his arm. He knows he has a point but they can barely keep this thing back as it is, they have yet to do anything that counts as real damage and neither of them is at full force. It's restricting and for a moment he almost understands Hibari and his dislike of restraints. This suit is annoying, these fighting conditions too.

The only thing that isn't are the green eyes he is looking into, bringing his go for it mentality into check, keeping him healthier than he would be on his own. He gives a nod, he won't take it off yet.

His jaw hardens as he looks back at the spider, he can't do anything from here. He needs in closer but Hayato does not have to take that risk, he is not wielding a sword.

"You're right, this is frustrating." He admits as his fingers tighten around his hilt through the gloves, he wants to do something to stop it but he doesn't know if he can.

"I can't do much from here and I can't use Cambio Forma in the suit, my box is inside with me." He'll lay it all out, for now, they can hold it off and maybe he and Hayato can think of a way for him to access his full power without removing the suit at all.

[bakudan_bambino]

He’s imploring. Takeshi doesn’t have to hold back. He just has to wait, to let Gokudera strategize, to focus his attacks with backup. For now, safety is the highest priority. They could die and the Dome would still be in danger. Or... Gokudera could watch as his boyfriend is killed or baked by the radiation, defeat the spider and then...

Then he’d be losing Takeshi for a third time in his life and he does not have the strength for that. Gokudera will keep them out of harms way, keep the spider focused on them for as long as it takes until help arrives. They can do this... just not on their own.

“Maybe... go back to the Dome? I can cover you with smoke bombs so the spider won’t see. Then you can get your weapons out, and try putting your wring on the outside? It may damage the suit a little, but... it’s just be in that area. If you coat it with enough flames, it might be able to slow down the effects out here...”

[tsuyoi_ame]

It's the look in this eyes that tells him, he made a promise to Hayato and that means he has to do this without letting the other experience the pain of losing him. He knows what he wanted to do was crazy, rash and probably would have turned out bad.

But he is also smart enough to listen, to respond and hold back, wait for help like Hayato is telling him to do even as he worries that by the time it comes it will be too late.

"Not till someone else comes to help, I won't leave you here alone." He'd shuck the suit and his life before he'd leave Hayato here and risk losing him, it drives home the point of what he almost did.

"I'm going in, I'll use what powers I can and you cover me, maybe I can get some damage in while we wait." As long as he is in the suit his stamina is strong enough that engaging more won't affect his ability to hit hard after help arrives, that's when he'll go back to the dome and attempt to access his full powers, till then they are just going to have to keep going.

[bakudan_bambino]

“You could leave me here alone. I’m not going to get close to it.” He’s not getting off the disc again, not going to get back on that giant robot spider again. That was awful AND it didn’t work.

“Fine, but the suit stays on.” Gokudera says, understanding Yamamoto’s frustration, but they aren’t going anywhere until he’s certain that his boyfriend isn’t going to become something of a baked potato all exposed while trying to fight a giant robot spider.

[tsuyoi_ame]

"I know but it could decide to attack." He is not leaving Hayato alone and despite his frustration, he is not taking off his suit, he'll fight this thing limited as he is till help comes, as he promised. Then he'll do what he can, even if is exposing his hand while wrapping it in flames to slow down the effects, hopefully, his ring will fit outside the suit.

"Suit stays on, promise." He goes to jump from the disc, then stops turns around, flashes Hayato a bright grin with those determined eyes of his.

"I love you." Then he is gone, flames coming from those short swords as he heads back into the fray, where let's be honest he will a always head in battle, it's his nature to fight to protect the people he cares about.

[bakudan_bambino]

Gokudera rolls his eyes. Even if the spider wanted to attack him, it can’t reach him. The way that Takeshi promises helps, but also amps up the feeling of dread in the bomber’s stomach. He wishes he hadn’t left the dome. Knows it was a bad idea, is promising to himself that he’ll never do it again.

“Show off!” He shouts at his boyfriend’s back.

[tsuyoi_ame]

They don't know for sure what that spider is capable of and as he agreed to no suit, Hayato is going to have to agree to not being left out here alone. Yamamoto does not have the same thoughts, he believes they have to explore these things that happen outside the dome because they can endanger life inside.

And he wants desperately to hold onto the peace they have found here. Even giant spiders don't compare to a continuous battle against the next enemy set on taking your family down.

Gokudera listens he'll hear his boyfriend chuckle at that before he disappears under the spider, twisting in a free fall but stopping himself before he hits the ground, he going to be darting in and out, moving from one stance to the next as he takes his shots. Hoping for the best.