redshiftlogs | september 2019. welcome to the void.

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september 2019. welcome to the void.

Who: Everyone in Anchor.
What: Third Introductory Mingle
When: The Month of September 2019
Where: Around and outside the city.
Warnings: Please add any warnings in the subject lines.

Redshift: Welcome to the v͖͕̺̲̘̱̜͎o̴̦̣̠̦̘̹͞i̯̖d̛̪̬͈̱̦̝͍̕.

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

a. turrets.

That power surge kicked off some sh... stuff, all right. It took a while for the systems to cycle back on, but two new areas of Anchor are now accessible and usable. One of them is nice and relaxing and safe, and we'll get to that one in a minute. The other one, addressed first, is not very nice and not very relaxing and definitely not safe.

The internal defense systems on the upper levels have come to life, and have targeted anyone within their range as a hostile entity. Get ready to run the gauntlet if you want to turn them off - you'll have to dodge lasers, bullets, and aggressive defense bots (that can be rewired and/or rebooted to assist characters instead of trying to murder them). The reward? Getting to the heavily protected (think many many murderbots and lasers) security control room. If you can make it, you'll be able to reboot the internal defenses, turning off the aggressive targeting and having access for the first time to surveillance of almost all of Anchor. Those areas your characters didn't know were there? Revealed. Those dense patches of jungle-like growth in the agricultural center? You've got a spotlight into their heart.

Though, huh, not all the cameras seem to be working. What's with those screens that show up from time to time that are nothing but static?

Oh well, doesn't really matter, does it?

b. hot springs episode.

One of the areas adjacent to the bar and intimacy lounge has been sputtering on and off ever since the power surge. One evening, with a loud crack and a humming sound that slowly dissipates, the lights come on and water starts flowing down the artificial waterfall into the fountain out front. The spa is back online!

The lobby is inviting and zen, with holographic walls that depict scenic locations (some of them very unlike Earth), with fountains splashing delicately on either side of the door. The attendants are slightly malfunctioning bots, but the most harm they'll do is bring you six towels when you ask for one, or a bucket of massage oil to work on those knots in your back with.

There are three areas in the spa, each of them fully-outfitted with towels, robes of all sizes, fuzzy slippers, the works. One has all the amenities of a Turkish bath, right down to the fantastically arched roofs and mosaics of Istanbul. One is designed not unlike a Japanese hot spring, though the spring is heated artificially rather than naturally. The springs are large enough to be communal in some areas and small enough to be private in others, varying in depth from deep enough to swim on one end and shallow enough to sit on the bottom on the other. All hot springs have a stone shelf around the edges where those who don't want to swim can sit. The last area is more Western, with steam rooms, saunas, massage tables, and mud baths for the adventurous.

One thing all of these areas have in common: the settings on virtually everything can be adjusted to taste. Not in the traditional way, either. The steams and waters can be tweaked to be soporific, can serve as muscle relaxants, can ease anxiety, and can even bolster moods. None of these effects are involuntary, and none of them are brought on by drugs - it's more an advanced mix of pheromones and harmless compounds that can affect a single person or a given pool or room. Also, the baths and hot springs have adjustable bubble settings. The water colors can change, some of them even allowing characters to dye their hair the color that's been selected for the tub without staining their skin. Bubbles of all kinds can rise up out of the water, from the foamy comfort of childhood bubble baths to hovering golden bubbles that chime when you pop them. Characters can choose from a variety of bath salts, scents, and oils - the spas were designed not just for relaxation, but for pure and simple fun.

c. joe's dirt.

So you've survived the security malfunction. You've washed off the dirt and anxiety at the spa. But the newly reactivated security stations throughout Anchor have revealed something odd. There's a blip in the power systems in one area of the agricultural level, like something is siphoning off power from the main lines. Tracking down the source in the deep tangle of underbrush won't be easy, and there may be a few mutated, fanged, clawed cattle that maneuver shockingly well between the trees, but eventually you'll come to a breach in Anchor's wall. At first it just looks like a crack, but it's large enough to squeeze through and there's the darkness of an open space behind it. A tunnel, leading down into the earth outside, well below surface level and thus largely safe.
Wires run along the roof and floor, though the tunnel itself is dark. Walk long enough and you'll come to a wider space, open enough for two or three people to move around comfortably at the same time. It's still dark, lit only by screens that show the same security feeds that are available at the stations throughout the city. And others. Angles on the surface that show Anchor from a distance, and other visuals that don't show Anchor at all, trained instead on massive structures or formations or lakes out on the surface somewhere. But there's something more disturbing: there are cameras set to record some people's rooms. And the only rooms that are shown are occupied.

Someone has been here, recently enough to track where new people have moved in.

On the floor in one corner, there's a crumpled photograph of a man some might recognize as Creepy Joe, happy and whole, with a little girl sitting on his shoulder. It looks like it's been stamped into the dirt.

Navigation.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You definitely shouldn't go alone. I'll be there in half an hour.

[ He does not, in fact, arrive armed. Or, well, not with weapons anyone would be able to see. But this is one of the advantages to the awful incident with that swarm of nightmare-reading nanobots: Peter knows that Ben doesn't need to bring anything other than himself.

Which doesn't mean he's empty-handed. He has some basic supplies that might be useful - foldable shovel, flashlight, food, water, rope, a small knife, a pen, a lighter, an extra pair of socks. 'Cause you never know. ]

So. Something weird's happening in the Anchor? Alert the media.

[ But he's smiling as he says it; always willing to make the best of a bad situation. ]

[Peter texts back a :) because of course he does.

Peter's got a backpack full of similar items. He's not so sure they're going to need much of it, but it never hurts to be prepared YA KNOW???]

Psh, right? At this point I think I'd be worried if something wasn't going wrong.

[That's about all the energy he's got for jokes right now, though. He takes a minute to double check his bag while he hits Ben with some ffffacts.]

So, here's what's going on. Something in roughly this area-ish is sucking power from the main lines and sending it... somewhere in here. It's a mystery and we're gonna like, solve it. There's a lot of animals in here, so just keep your guard up. You good to go?

[ Ben picks up on the fact that, compared to other times, Peter seems to mean business. He's not being chatty, and so Ben keeps it brief, doesn't ask how Peter detected the power loss or traced it. He wouldn't understand the explanation most likely and it isn't knowledge that, practically, he is going to need. He trusts Peter's skills enough to just believe him, nod, and say: ]

Good to go. If anything comes at us... well, you know the drill.

[ The two of them had actually worked fairly well together, fighting that nanite version of Ben. If they get attacked, he won't have to explain to Peter the dangers of his powers or warn him about them. And now that he knows some of what Peter is capable of in combat, he can factor that in.

Ben tightens the straps of his backpack and looks to Peter to lead the way, a serious expression on his face, looking around now and then for any signs of unwanted company. ]

Peter is all business right now, my dude. Aside from the fingerguns he shoots at Ben. Fine, Peter's mostly business.]

Yes, yes I do. Let's get this show on the road.

[Aaaadventure tiiiime. Peter takes point, leading the way into the thick underbrush, being super careful not to let branches swing back to smack Ben in the fact or something. Occasionally he takes his communicator out to check their progress. The good news is that they seem to be on the right track. The less good news is that they're definitely not alone in them thar woods, and he makes a few stops along the way to listen for wildlife. Like how he's doing RIGHT NOW.]

...Did you hear something? I thought I heard something.

[But his spider sense isn't picking anything up, so maybe it's nothing? (it's not nothing, it's never nothing.)]

[ Fingerguns and serious business aren't mutually exclusive; any superhero worth his salt knows that.

Ben falls in behind Peter easily, following his lead. It wasn't generally that useful to him on their missions, but he's always been good at not making much noise. He keeps his eyes open for anything suspicious or any sudden movements, keeps his ears open for signs of danger. And he catches nothing at all of whatever has made Peter stop dead in his tracks.

Ben doesn't answer out loud, just gives a curt shake of his head, sets a hand on Peter's shoulder, indicating for him to stay put, and takes a few steps in front of him, peering hard through the underbrush, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up. On the other side of the portal he could feel the creatures shifting. There is some interconnection, and they felt his adrenaline, thought there would be blood soon.

But he doesn't see anything. Yet... ]

What did you think you heard?

[ He whispers it, so quietly. ]

[Peter listens for a few seconds longer, but doesn't pick anything up. Nothing's pinging his spider sense either, so maybe it really was nothing?

He shakes his head, moving up next to Ben.]

I dunno, it almost sounded like a--

[And then, from somefuckingwhere in the brush comes a deep, horrible MOOOOOO. Peter shuts up immediately and gives Ben a look that basically translates to "DID YOU JUST HEAR THAT CRAZY SHIT THAT I JUST HEARD"]

[ Ben widens his eyes, eyebrows raising in an expression of "Sure did hear that crazy shit!". He touches a finger to his lips, reaches out and grabs Peter's shoulder, pointing to the ground. He mouths: ]

Stay here.

[ Then he is moving ahead, heart hammering, in the direction he thought that awful lowing sound had come from. The creatures behind the portal are even more restless, now, and Ben clenches his hands. This was always the worst moment. That calm just before the violence, when everything was uncertain. He knew something would happen, there would be blood, but not how yet, or when.

He doesn't stray too far from Peter, however. There could be more than one, could be something distorting the direction of the sound.

And sure enough, there is a crashing of branches breaking and leaves rustling, and it is not coming from the direction Ben had gone in, but to the side. Whirling, he cries out: ]

Peter, look out!

[Peter sure does stay here, crouching in that spidery way that he does while Ben moves off to investigate.

And then Ben's yelling at him, and a split second later Peter's spider-sense finally picks up that some shit is about to go down. He leaps straight up and snags a tree branch, and a second later this mutant cow tears right through the underbrush and plows straight through the spot Peter had just been standing. Well shit, that was alarming.

Peter's first thought is something along the lines of "I am so making a cheeseburger out of you", but he quickly gets his head back in the game because that is one angry cow, holy hit.]

I'm clear! This things pissed, are you good?

[Because if he needs to drop down and web that thing up he totally will]

[ Ben is too far away to get between the rampaging thing and Peter, but that doesn't matter; Peter jumps up and just sticks to a tree branch and god, that just never stops being cool. There's no time to be jealous of Peter's powers, though, because the cow is bellowing, enraged, and Ben sees that its teeth are definitely way sharper and there are way more rows of them than a cow out to have. It snorts, scraping hooves in the earth, and rams its horned head into the tree Peter is clinging in. Like it's going to try to knock it down. Ben doesn't know enough about cows to know if that's normal, either.

He hesitates for just a few seconds. The animal seems fixated on Peter for now, and Ben furiously calculates in his head if there is any other way. Any way to stop this without killing it. He could climb a tree, too. Scare it off somehow. Peter could use his webs...

But then the thing is winding up, and ramming into that tree again, and Ben hears a groan from the wood. Fuck.

So he shouts: ]

I- I got it. Just- stay still.

[ It will be easier for Ben to control the creatures, keep them from wanting to go after Peter too, if he is not moving like prey. He plants his feet, opens the portal. It's all over much more quickly than things had gone, with that swarm of nanites. Even a super-strong, super-pissed mutant cow can't do much about a tidal wave of otherworldly tentacles slamming into it, wrapping around its neck and horns and legs and slamming it against the ground a few times. Ben keeps himself from screaming this time, at least, even though his vision is blurred around the edges with pain. He feels the moment when the cow's neck is broken, and he slams the portal shut at once, staggering and dropping to one knee.

There wasn't too much blood, at least. Ben wipes the little that has splashed on his face off with the sleeve of his hoodie, breaths shaky with revulsion. When he can manage a few words, he asks: ]

You okay?

[EAT SHIT MUTANT COW. Peter refrains from cheering Been on during this whole cattle mutilation thing, but he totally pumps his fist like FUCK YES. Once the cow is good and dead, Peter drops from the tree and rushes to Ben's side, offering him a hand up]

Man, that thing did not like me. C'mon, we better go before it's buddies show up.

[He's not entirely sure he's going to feel them coming the way he should be. He hadn't felt that first one until it was practically on top of him, which is alarming, but something he's going to have to try to figure out later.]

Edited 2019-09-12 00:42 (UTC)

[ The hand up is appreciated - and not only because his knees feel like they're mostly made of jello at the moment. The fact that Peter doesn't even hesitate before rushing back over to him, getting close enough to grab his hand and help him up... well it means a lot. Peter really isn't scared of him. Really doesn't find him disgusting. Those weren't just words - his actions show it, too. ]

No. It only went after you.

[ Even as Ben is following in the direction Peter takes, and keeping an ear out for more trouble, he speculates: ]

Maybe it... you smelled like a big spider? Or it could be a color thing? Can cows see color?

[ Ben is, as usual, wearing black and black and some more black for variety. It's possible that is a factor. Bulls chase after red, right? Was that a real thing or only a myth in cartoons?

Then, because he's still all full of adrenaline and trying to distract himself from what he'd just done, he asks: ]

How do you think it got like that, anyway? All... messed up, and ragey?

Edited 2019-09-12 19:43 (UTC)

[Not gonna lie, now that Peter's seen that power a couple times, he thinks it's the coolest thing ever. What he doesn't like about it is that it hurts Ben to use it. So uncool.

After helping Ben to his feet, Peter pauses, tugs his shirt collar up over his nose and sniffs.]

I mean, I might need a shower after all this, but I have no idea what spiders even smell like.

[He's wearing a green plaid button down over a grey tee shirt, maybe the space cows just hate green? Who even knows, man.]

Not sure what pissed it off, but the messed upness is probably the result of too much exposure to radiation. Like, we could be looking at the result of several generations worth of genetic mutations.

[ Even though he is joking about the smell and colors, Ben is a little alarmed in the back of his mind that Peter was the exclusive target for some reason. He'd only come here to help keep Peter safe, but he hadn't realized Peter might be in some kind of specific danger like this. But maybe he's overthinking it. One fixated cow does not a pattern make. ]

Yeah, that makes sense. I guess. I don't actually know shit about radiation I just pretend. Anyway it's more the rage I was worried about.

[ But worry doesn't accomplish anything, and so, after a few more moments of carefully checking the surroundings, he motions Peter to lead the way again. There is a mystery to be solved, after all.

Ben is listening hard for any further danger, but asks, quietly: ]

Do you have any idea what this energy drain might be? I mean - guesses? Theories?

[Yeah man, maybe if they attract more cows, they'll try to trample both of them! that'll be fair right]

Could just be in their territory. Maybe we're close to a... a cow... nest. Of radioactive baby cows. Which is literally the stupidest thing I've ever said. Ignore that. Theories, okay. Either there's damaged wiring or equipment in here somewhere sending power where it doesn't belong, or someone is deliberately siphoning power for... something. Once we figure out where it's going and what it's being used for, it might be easier to figure out who's doing it.

[He hopes. Peter takes point again, eventually leading the way to the back wall, where nothing is immediately obvious. Well that's frustrating, huh.]

Do cows do territory? Man, I really don't know shit about animals.

[ He laughs at Peter's theory that they might have been near a cow nest, and a little portion of that heavy weight of worry is lifted off his shoulders. They had dealt with the first one; they would deal with the next, if it came.

The theories both are sound, as far as Ben can tell, but he presses: ]

Yeah, but do you think it's a damaged wire, or do you suspect someone here is using the power for something unsavory?

[ The real question is who Peter might think is doing this, because it would never occur to Ben to be suspicious of anyone other than the small group of them all captive here together. And if he needs to start worrying about some kind of threat or danger in the ranks... well that's information he'd like sooner rather than later.

And even as Peter is progressing, Ben can't help noticing they are getting closer and closer to the wall. Perhaps there is wiring in there, and it is nothing more than some old copper causing a fuss or who knows... ]

[Peter can just shrug like MAN, he doesn't know anything about cows either. Other than they are delicious. They most definitely don't have nests, though. Then again, these are mutant space cows, so who even knows man.

The rest of this though, Peter's less jokey about.]

If you want my honest thoughts on this? I think that just judging by the amount of power we're losing, this has to have been deliberate. Whether or not it's for unsavory purposes, I have no idea. Nobody I've met so far seems like the sort that would actively go out of their way to screw the rest of us over, they either seem like good people or... y'know, they're just lazy in some cases.

[ And that's why Peter is the best.

Ben listens through his explanation, nodding along as he does. It sounds reasonable enough to him - although unlike Peter he doubts anyone would secretly be draining a significant amount of power for any savory reasons. If they were, wouldn't that person have responded already to Peter's post on the network to give some explanation?

No, someone is up to no good. ]

Good people can make really really bad decisions, sometimes, when they feel like they haven't got any other options.

[ And with that little bit of pessimism, they hit the actual wall of the Anchor. A dead end. Except... ]

What is that?

[ And Ben points to what looks like a ... gap, in the wall. But that can't be possible, can it? ]

[We keep saying "savory" and it's just making me want steak.

But anyway. Yeeep, Peter knows all too well what that's like, in that "doing a bad thing for the greater good" sort of way. Maybe some day he'll tell Ben all about how he helped annihilate an entire race of robot people back in Hadriel, but for now he's just going to silently nod in agreement.

And then Ben points out that nice gap in the wall, and Peter's heart sinks a little.]

That's... exactly what I was hoping we wouldn't find. Look, I think I can see wires coming out of it.

[He doesn't get too far ahead of Ben, but he's definitely picking up the pace on his way over to investigate.]

[ Ben hadn't noticed the wires, but he does when Peter points to them. And... yeah, even without being a tech guy like Peter that's a pretty bad sign. That wouldn't happen accidentally, it looks like someone has fed them inside. It's not just some access point, either... ]

Is that, like... is there something through there?

[ The gap had looked smaller from further away, but once they reach it Ben sees it is person-sized. Not comfortably, but he could get through, and he sees the wires continuing on, into the dark. He unslings his back from one shoulder, searches around inside for a little flashlight. When he pulls it up and aims the beam into the wall, he frowns. ]

Yyyyep. That's for sure a confirmed creepy tunnel.

[ And he looks over to Peter, a mute what should we do? ]

I am so going in that creepy tunnel.

[There, that probably answers Ben's question. He also probably sounds a little more excited about this than he should be, but there's a MYSTERY, BEN!!!!!]

Okay, I'm thinking no flashlights. If there's someone in there creepin' around, I wanna get the drop on them.

[ Ben gives a fond, exasperated little shake of his head and rolls his eyes because of course Peter is going in that creepy tunnel. Ben hadn't expected anything different, and he can see why it's necessary. Ignoring whatever the hell this is won't make it go away and they could be preventing some kind of real threat here. It's what has to be done, and he is curious, himself. But... ]

Do you have to be so stoked about it?

[ Grumbling and helping anyway is just the Ben Hargreeves way. He doesn't hesitate to shut off that flashlight, tucking it into the pocket of his hoodie rather than putting it away, so he can get at it in a hurry. ]

Okay. I'm right behind you. Just - go carefully, okay?

[ And the two of them move into the tunnel together. Ben doesn't know if Peter's powers help with the dark, but he keeps one of his hands on the wall of the tunnel, feet feeling carefully in front of him even though he's not in the lead. Fortunately, the dirt floor is smooth, its angle is sloping steadily downwards. Ben can actually feel the air getting a little cooler as they walk, no sound but their breaths for a while. Occasionally, he feels himself stepping on one of those many wires leading them further and further.

After a bit, he dares a whisper: ]

Just how far do you think this goes?

[Peter just shoots Ben a mischievous grin in reply. You bet your ASS he's gotta be stoked about it.

He's maybe a little less cautious as he makes his way deeper into the tunnel, of only because he's relying on his spider sense to warn him if danger is coming. He doesn't let himself get too far ahead of Ben, though, because that would be rude. And probably dangerous.]

If there's someone down here trying to avoid getting caught, I'd guess pretty far.

[Which is vague, but hey. Eventually they do come to a wider spot in the tunnel, which is apparently the end of the line. I mean it obviously is, there are all kinds of viewing screens that are very much on. No other people, though. Which is a shame because Peter kind of wanted to punch someone, but hey.]

Holy shit! Ben, look at this!

[ They see the light for a little ways before they actually reach that small control room. Ben follows the wires, sees them plugged into that array of screens. They've found the answer to their mystery of where that power drain was coming from. But this answer is only raising more questions. Like a fuckton more questions. ]

Whaaaaaat.

[ Ben moves out from behind Peter, coming up to the screens, eyes flicking through them. Some locations are indoors, others are not. Some he recognizes, some he doesn't. The feeds are continuous and judging by the time that is given in small numbers in the corner of every screen, these are live feeds, not recordings. But they are being recorded, Ben thinks. They must be. Why else have all this.

Which is when he notices... ]

Wait.

[ His voice is tight, tense, all the humor from a moment ago gone. Ben's heart is beating hard as he moves in closer to one screen in particular. He recognizes the book that is laying on the desk just in view. Recognizes the distinctive mark on the corner of the desk where Klaus had spilled his stupid nailpolish and then not cleaned it up in time to not leave a mark. He recognizes his own jacket draped on the back of the chair. ]

That's. My room.

[ Ben taps the screen with his fingertip, feeling frozen and... completely numb. The kind of completely numb that comes just before feeling very, very, very bad. He looks around, sees other bedrooms on other screens, eyes taking in the way the numbers on the timestamp are constantly rolling, shifting. His limbs feel cold, all at once. ]

How long do you think this has been...?

[It would have been one thing if someone had just been spying on them in public locations, but these are also straight up people's private rooms. He recognizes his own, not that he really spends a lot of time there, but it's hard to miss with the glowing kitten sleeping in the middle of his bed. Poison's room is easy to recognize as well thanks to her freaky octopus cat.

Peter's reaction is less of a creeped out numbness and more of a quiet, seething rage sort of thing. He doesn't say anything for a moment, but he does rip the screen showing Poison's room off the wall and toss it on the floor. That's about all the fit throwing he does before he manages to reel himself back in, though. When he replies, his voice is calm. Like just ignore that ok Ben.]

Just... judging by how intricate this set up is, I think it would be safe to assume that this whole set up was here before we even arrived. At the very least this tunnel would have already been here.

[He goes quiet again, studying the screens more carefully. Aside from the creepy spying-on-people's-rooms feeds, there are others he recognizes from around anchor, but there are others that he's never seen before. He taps one of the screens showing a mystery outdoor location.]

Whoever set this up has access to cameras that the security stations don't, I'm gonna reroute these ones to the security stations. The rest of these... shit, um. We need to tell people that their rooms are bugged, get the cameras out of their rooms.

[ Tense and upset as he is, Ben doesn't quite hide his flinch when Peter suddenly rips one of those screens from the array and throws it down onto the dirt. He hadn't forgotten about Peter's super strength, of course, but he'd done it so suddenly, and the whole thing is just - uncharacteristic and very jarring.

But Ben doesn't blame him for it. It seems apt. He doesn't know it is Poison's room, or any of the context there. For all he knows, Peter just chose a screen at random to vent his emotions on. The anger makes sense and the rest doesn't seem to matter right now.

He hears Peter's reply, but it takes a while for the words to actually sink in. He can't parse them at first. His thoughts have gone sluggish and icy and thick. Belatedly, rather numbly, he nods. Here longer than they were. Watching the whole time. Ben swallows. It's not a big deal. It's a problem they need to deal with, a mystery they need to solve. But it isn't a huge deal. Definitely not worth the amount of nausea roiling in his guts right now.

('Cause he ought to be used to this, right?).

Peter is talking more, and Ben catches bits - security stations and reroute and Peter sounds like he's got the situation well in hand. Ben crosses his arms tightly over his chest, and manages a tight nod. He's pretty sure whatever he's agreeing to is a good plan. Peter's smart and good. It must be a good plan. A plan he will help with as soon as he can shake off this... whatever and just. Be fine.

But he definitely doesn't look fine, isn't acting fine. He's standing well back from those monitors, hands gripping his arms, jaw set, completely silent. Ben tends towards the quiet side - less so with Peter now that the two of them have gotten closer - but this is way beyond the norm for him.

Finally, a thought manages to push its way through the haze and he actually articulates it, words coming out stilted and a bit odd: ]

There could be tapes. Archived. Can you - find out?

joe dirt

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