spacecoast | WEEK 3: DECOMMISSION

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decommission

WEEK 3: DECOMMISSION

WEEK 3 EMERGENCY

HOSTILE ENTITY DETECTED.

ALERT: EMERGENCY IN SIM & GRAV ROOM. 1 HOSTILE ENTITY DETECTED. LOCKDOWN SEQUENCE FAILED. SYSTEM REBOOT FAILED. LIFE SUPPORT STABLE. CLIMATE CONTROL UNSTABLE. SIMULATION PROCESSING & VALIDATING SYSTEMS OVERLOADING. WARNING: PROCEED WITH CAUTION CAU░̴░̵░̴░̵░̴ C░̴░̴TIO░̴ CA░̴░̴ION AS̴C̴E̶ND CAUTI░̴N C̴░̴░̴░̴ON EIKO̴N C̴AU░̴I░̴░̴ CA░̴T̵I̴O░̴ DOMINAN̷T̸ CA░̴░̴░̴░̴ C░̴UT░̴ON CA░̴░̴I̵O̵N̴ A̴E̴THER C░̴░̴░̴░̴ION CA░̴░̴░̴░̴N CA░̴░̴░̴N D̸R̴E̶A̶D̶WYRM... MANDATORY CREW DEPLOYMENT IN CASE OF NEEDED REINFORCEMENTS. SR. CREW DESIGNATIONS PLEASE BE ON STANDBY. CRE

As the clock begins to wind towards 1:00 PM, things on the ship are... quiet. Some of you are with the convicted in the brig, waiting, waiting, and the Senior Crew among you are just as tense. A few sit in the brig alongside you, while others wait outside. Hope against hope, right? That maybe something can be done.

A pair of pneumonic hisses, different in pitch this time—and the convicted is simply gone. The Eudora's AI calls out across the ship for a state of emergency in the Sim & Grav room. Even if you don't make your way to the location willingly, you find your feet taking you there.

The eerie, orange glow of the empty space greets you, filled with a faint, pink haze when you first arrive. You're brought to the main, largest room, used for large group simulations and zero gravity runs, where a sweet scent lingers as the pink haze fades. However, it is not empty... And it is not blank.

When the crew enters, they find themselves in the center of what looks like a massive tapered dome, spindly and tightly wound where they can't get a glimpse of the outside scenery. Its crystalline walls are a light pink in color with fiber grooves running along it. The floor is clear like glass and what they see below are threads of light and clusters of crystal stamens.

A voice echoes, "Return home, Dion... It's time to show the world the true power of Sanbreque."

Instantly, the protective shimmery barrier covers the crew in asylum when Dion appears in the arena with his lance. Only two may cross to the world beyond.

LOCATIONS

MURDER

COMMS

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[ Yuri doesn't have any time to admire the environment when she sees Dion stumble and she crosses into the world beyond. A thin red sword is in her hand. She could take the time to execute Dion right now--to give him a swift beheading, but there's something... off about this. She frowns and holds onto someone's shoulder. ]

... We should be careful.

[ there is a calm to nodd that certainly wasn’t there the last time anyone saw him. he wears a crisp, embroidered suit; ghostly pale blue, appropriate for the battledome he’s been drawn into. of course, he wears the t*vas instead of more classy footwear and his hair continues to be lopsided by design, but that’s how you know it’s really nodd. also how he immediately removes the pretty overcoat, folding it before tossing over his shoulder.

fresh dark wax around his eyes; Keys, recently applied. inside the sim room, his pale yellow irises take on a subtle glow. when he removes the bandage from his forehead, it’s repaired. he splits then wraps the cloth instead around his palms.

his nostrils flare with a heavy inhale. yuri is allowed to hold him back but he stares at dion. ]

[ It isn't just them, however, as a figure in red comes right through the barrier with a staff in hand. It echos quietly as it sets on the ground, looking briefly back until focusing on both Nodd and Yuri both. ]

I'm with you, my friends. Pray ready yourselves - and stay on your guard.

[ As they talk, changing their stance at the collapse in Dion with worry and concern, their staff glows briefly until a shower of light casts over Nodd and Yuri both. ]

I am afraid I cannot do much but sustain you with healing from here on [ it's seen in the way their body posture shows they're careful to move, their tone sounding breathless and a bit pain but they stand here nevertheless. ] so do be careful -

[ At the very least, the two of you will have your support. ]

[ The crystal shudders around them, the sound like thunder as light continues to pulse, bright and deadly. Slowly, like petals unfurling, the spire blooms into a flower.

Fun fact, something also seems to be happening to Dion. His eyes squeeze shut for a moment, and with a whisper, ] No.

[ This time, the light explodes out of his crouched form, momentarily blinding.

And in his place, Bahamut rises instead. The great wyrm carries none of the hesitation or struggle from Dion, flying high above the crystal with a beat of his wings.

Then, he faces them, light gathering in front of his jaw and his wings before he unleashes a blinding torrent down on the little ant-sized friends. Gigaflare baby.

Also, here's your boss battle theme. ]

[ When Bahamut takes to the skies, there seems to be flames in the shape of feathers that fall around Yuri. Behind her back, small wings begin to unfold until there's a small explosion of fire.

The phoenix rises.

There's no time to be confused about what happened as Yuri sees Bahamut releases a strong attack. It wouldn't be like Yuri to sacrifice herself. After all, she always wants to live. However, the phoenix stands its ground, fluttering its massive wings and shoots fire from its mouth in an effort to clash with Bahamut's attack. There's no way Metis and Nodd would probably survive this, so the huge bird is in front of him.

But how does one bird so quickly when one has never been a bird before? ]

[ two transformations take place, dion turning into that draconic monstrosity and then yuri becoming a massive bird of flame and might. he waits.

... stands there.

you know. just, kind of waiting for...

wow, nothing?

this week has not been a nodd-friendly time. however, when the blast rains down, nodd simply isn't where he was a moment ago. he's across the entire boss battle arena, a streak of blue light lasting for a blink, creating a line between where he had been and where he flashstepped. at least he has his powers back. ]

Shit--Yuri, don't just take it!

Edited 2024-03-24 17:36 (UTC)

[ Okay, wow. Monstrosity is kind of harsh? He was really feeling himself today?

Yuri might no longer be ant-sized but she did not raise a shield to defend herself, so the full force of Bahamut's attack strikes her, searing through feathers and flesh down to the bone.

And he's quick to descend, shooting down from the sky, ignoring both Nodd and Metis to focus on the Phoenix, taking advantage of her stagger from the blow to close his teeth down around her neck and

bite and break bone.

Tossing her to the side, his attention turns to Nodd. At least he's on the ground now. ]

Edited 2024-03-24 17:41 (UTC)

[ The ferocious maw chomps down on the phoenix's neck and the once flaming bird is tossed aside, no longer glowing, no longer moving.

Yuri is dead. ]

[ he hears that crunch and it rattles through his own bones.

nodd breathes.

he cannot focus on the pain of that loss, not when it is him versus dion in this form. ]

Dion.

[ the air around nodd shimmers and then he's zipping forward--somehow midstep his feet leave the sandals behind. he pulls his arms to the side, spins, and a wave flows out from his fingertips, creating a ring of water around himself. a shield of his own. ]

Come on. Hit me!

[ Alright, gay boy, bring it on. (Dion is also gay, but Bahamut is undefined.)

His claws dig into the Mothercrystal bracing himself before he's launching into the sky yet again. This time, he catches sight of Twinside spread out underneath the crystal, flickering between images of joy and ruin, and for a moment, underneath the anger and the rage, he feels a chord of despair strike through him.

—But it's brief, light gathering in front of his wings once more to send a torrent crashing down toward Nodd and the crystal. ]

[ Sometimes your passion for living comes through like friendship is magic animes.

Yuri is alive.

The huge flaming bird, once snuffed out and tossed to the side, has a brief twitch of its wings. It isn't even a second later that the bird explodes into a tall column of flames that eventually turns into a flaming cyclone that aims to zoom and tackle Bahamut down with all its might accompanied by a loud SCREEEEEEE--

Nodd also gets an additional flaming shield just in case. ]

[ the torrent crashes towards nodd who has planted his now bare dogs right onto the crystalline floor. he moves his arms in gestures too quick for the eye to follow, the orbiting water adjusting in tandem to absorb the direct impact of the blast. what gets through singes and sears the sleeves right off of nodd's undershirt. (we're all anime now.)

then a squawk of justice as yuri arises, reborn. still a bird. ]

Wait right there!

[ the water disappears in a gush of steam as nodd races toward yuri. a leap and he lands on her back, gripping at fiery feathers with hands and toes. ]

Can you take me behind his head? Please--!

Edited 2024-03-24 18:07 (UTC)

[ Yuri learns how to bird real fast apparently, and the Phoenix's flames cyclone around Bahamut, tearing another thunderous roar from him as the fire scorches his scales and wings.

He draws them in toward himself in an effort to escape, torpedoing to the side in an effort to extinguish them, momentarily distracted from both Yuri and Nodd.

thanks hei for this last minute bahamut icon you're a real one ]

[ The Phoenix nods in response to Nodd's request, refreshes the fire shield around them both and takes to the skies with the monk in tow. Sometimes, when you're reborn, you're just stronger than before. And know how to bird instantly.

It swoops in to circle around as fast as it can to get Nodd to the back of Bahamut's head, letting Nodd drop at a safe distance. ]

Hold on tightly when you get there.

[ You know what Phoenix has? Talons! Bird feet. It swerves to the front of Bahamut and attempts to clamp its talons around Bahamut's neck with a high-pitched screech once more. ]

Yes, yes, that's it.

[ nodd holds on as they ascend, scrambling up to the Phoenix's neck. ]

You keep attacking him. You can do it.

[ you be that bitch, yuri ]

Don't worry about me. Take us both out if you have to.

[ she won't feel the light pat he gives her, but that's fine. he drops onto the back of bahamut's head, near the top spine. he runs on hands and feet, scrabbling over thick plates of dragon scales. ]

Dion. Dion, I know you're-- [ he falls on his ass, slides, but manages to crab-cling along bahamut's browline ]

--in there. You can hear me. You don't want to hurt anyone! I know that! You are a good guy. I lied. Just listen to me this one time and I'll never bother you again!

[ oh god nodd is on him with his bare feet he's being toe touched

But anyway, Dion has never considered himself separate from Bahamut. They are, as far as he's concerned, one in the same. Like his anger, his joy, his likes, and hopes, Bahamut is just one other part of him.

Bahamut's strength is his strength, and Bahamut's atrocities are his atrocities.

He listens, shaking his head to dislodge the intruder, but the words fall of deaf ears, rage swelling in its place as his wings snap out once more. His teeth snap and sink into the soft skin of the Phoenix's belly before she has the chance to put distance between them, holding on tight as he sends all three of them crashing back down toward the crystal. ]

Edited 2024-03-24 18:36 (UTC)

[ There's a blend of a human scream and a bird's screech with the bite, but the Phoenix doesn't give up. It's trying so hard to wreck Bahamut's neck as it flaps its wings, trying to get its singing feathers inside Bahamut's eyes too. Godspeed Nodd, since you're literally right there.

They crash down onto the crystal, but it still stays conscious through the pain and spits fireballs at Bahamut's wings too. The Phoenix is bleeding out pretty badly. ]

Edited 2024-03-24 18:45 (UTC)

Dion!

[ clutching desperately with all ten fingers and yes, all ten bare toes. he falls along the front of bahamut's face. ]

You don't want this! You don't want--

[ the plummet is too much. he's such a little guy. nodd goes flying but once again, that shimmer and his descent seems to slow. he points his feet downwards and an invisible force lowers him at a less miserable pace onto the tangle of kaiju. he crawl-scrambles some more until he can make it to the juncture of bahamut's mammoth jaw and give it several quick hits, anything to undo the clamp upon yuri. ]

[ They crash back down onto the crystal, the entire arena shuddering and creaking as the petals start to crumble on the outer rim, crashing down in the castle and city below.

Nodd's hits hard into Bahamut's jaw, forcing his maw open and sending him staggering back from the monk and the Phoenix with a reptilian hiss. And for a moment, the wyrm stays put, eyes fixed on the bleeding sight of the Phoenix, and on the ant-sized monk next to her.

He flies up, but he doesn't fly straight (lol), his head whipping from side to side, his own teeth momentarily ripping the scales from his wings until he finally tosses his head back in another scream.

There's a moment of silence before, ever so slowly, motes of light begin to appear in circles ahead of him, growing larger and larger as he readies the attack of his esteemed colleague, Donald Duck: Zettaflare.

Yuri and Nodd have mere moments to react as the light finally gathers into something blinding, and the full brunt of Bahamut's magic is upon them. ]

Edited 2024-03-24 19:01 (UTC)

[ The Phoenix knows it has to act quick, but it doesn't have the time. It can't fly itself and Nodd away from the Zettaflare as much as it'd like to.

Live.

Live. Live. Live. Live. Live. Live. Live. Live.

Thanks to Metis's regen healing, the Phoenix has a split second before it gathers its power and energy to try and contest the Zettaflare with Flames of Rebirth. ]

[ as the zettaflare shoots downward to consume nodd and yuri both, in the very nick of time, nodd transforms into--

fucking nothing. haha.

he was thrown to the side when bahamut relinquished the phoenix's throat and has enough time to kip onto his feet before that final attack bears down.

nodd spins in a full circle on one heel, summoning the water ring once more. he circles his arms in the air and it widens as it drifts off of nodd to orbit yuri.

the phoenix's flames have a better chance of matching the flare. this might help guard her when they're worn.

nodd comes back to his breathing.

it's some distance, there likely is no eye contact possible, but he seeks bahamut's gaze all the same. he clenches his hands together, and holds them tight in front of him. ]

[ He thinks back to a similar scene, a voice he barely remembers hearing: He would burn the world.

And sometimes he thinks that he would. There has only ever been wars to fight, the Blight to fear, and snakes in his house vying for his father's throne. Sometimes he does wonder if there is any redemption to be had, and good left to save. If there was any reason left, after all that he had given his life to had been reduced to nothing.

Perhaps. Perhaps not.

But the Flames of Rebirth are brilliant when they rise up to meet his light, the magic of Nodd's water much the same, and he watches them from the sky. Watches them struggle to live and to reach out to him all the same. He thinks too, of all those that had faced him the night previous. He as feels though it's long past the time of his surrender, and yet...

He hesitates, ] I—

[ And the light of Zettaflare reaches its crescendo, exploding where they meet the Phoenix's flame before continuing undeterred, crashing down on the area, and turning the entire horizon a brief, brilliant white. ]

[ After the light is gone and everything is visible again, Yuri is there, human again, lying face down on the ground. Her wounds aren't healing.

Yuri is ▓▓▓▓ ]

[ nodd watches the most brilliant light he's ever seen descend upon him. he stares into it, hands clasped, as dion's flare engulfs them all. yuri as a phoenix, then yuri as a woman. metis, who'd only wanted to help, now another victim of bahamut's wrath.

his skin burns, his hair fries, his nails bend and crack. ]

I forgive--

[ Nodd is ▓▓▓▓ ]

[ Bahamut remains in the sky, his head falling back to let loose one last cry before he descends, figure growing steadily smaller as he approaches the crystal.

Until it's just Dion, there on his knees. ]

I...

[ The bodies of Yuri, Nodd, and Metis lie there ahead of him, and he closes his eyes to block the sight, words forming on his lips, ] F—

[ Forgive me.

... But he can't ask for what he knows he doesn't deserve.

So he takes his lance, holds the blade to his throat, and cuts through.

Dion is dead.]

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dropoffs - 2024-03-24 20:09 (UTC) - Expand

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