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apocalypsehowcomm2023-06-16 07:57 am
Event - The 25,000 Light Year View
The atmosphere in the lower level gym at ADI headquarters is… tense, to say the least. Nia, Neil, and Rae are present with the rest of those remaining at the organization (or willing to come when called by Neil and Rae for a final statement) seated in benches and chairs that have been dragged in. It's not the usual, orderly meetings that some might have gotten used to for mission briefings.
Neil speaks first. "Thank you, everyone, for coming in. Lot's been happening, but we've come to… an understanding about where we need to go. The artifacts that were in the Vault have all been accounted for or noted as destroyed in some manner with a few exceptions. We're still chasing- ADI is still chasing those down with help from anyone who might want to give it. Won't pretend this is going to be a kumbaya moment, so let's get down to brass tacks. There's an apocalypse on. Whatever this organizations stands for now, its original mission was to uncover and stop those. That's still my mission."
"Mine, too," Rae chimes in.
"It's one we all share," Nia adds.
Neil nods before continuing. "So, we stop this, and we go our separate ways. I'll be leaving ADI and starting my own organization. We've seen a large number of threats in the Appalachian region and a lot of folks heavily impacted by decisions ADI's made. I'll be taking my organization there. Already been in touch with our- with ADI's field agents in the region. Some will be joining me. Along with a certain newsperson who keeps sniffing around. We'll do what we can to do right by the people who've been hurt most. That's going to be our focus. Support and security. We're not feeding the Hunt anymore by running down threats."
Rae steps up next. "And I'll be going where I need to. Lot of threats out west. If you're looking to do some good that won't be working for the Hunt… maybe think about heading that way."
Nia is the last to speak. "And I'll be staying here in Gloucester. ADI will be staying. And I will be its final Warden. We're stopping Zyrian, then we're figuring out what the hell is going on with Dogtown to get all of you people from other worlds home. Or at least stop anyone else coming in. After that? I'm out. What happens after that is still in the works. But Neil's agreed to stay in touch to help with everything… once I'm gone." There's a flicker of emotion across Neil's stoic expression. Regret, frustration… grief. "But right now, we look to Wolf Trap. I-"
There's a pause, and Neil and Rae look to Nia in concern as she puts a hand to her temple. She recovers, though. "Huh… We look to Wolf Trap, Virginia. We'll have buses to get everyone down there. We'll be arriving just as Copernicus' launch of the New Horizon's project is underway. That's where Zyrian Steel's going to do his ritual. We need to find the server rooms at the event. Those are important."
Rae squints at Nia, "You sure?"
Nia nods. "Yeah. I'm real sure about that. It'll be dangerous, though, and that's not the- it's not the only threat that's gonna be there."
Neil's looking wary. "Nia?"
"There's something else. The Web? It's not just the Vast that's involved in this, I don't think. It would make sense, right?" She shakes her head. "We'll be facing multiple Entity threats down there, not just the Vast. And I'm sure Zyrian's gonna kick the ritual off on the last day, once he's had time for-for something… not sure what. But he's a dramatic bastard, if nothing else. And timing's everything."
Neil and Rae exchange uncertain looks before Neil speaks up again. "Coming is voluntary, like always, but we'll want boots on the ground to cover as much ground as possible. They'll be holding the biggest events and productions at the Filene Center stage. But we're expecting tech booths scattered all throughout the park. Be on your guard."
"And bring a gun," Rae advises.
(click the map for a larger version)
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As for the robot...Elias frowns, looking at the thing and holding it gingerly, like it's something disgusting.
"The Entities are never cut and dry. Something supernatural can have traces of multiple Entities. Is being trapped in a cave the Dark, the Buried, or both? Is picking at a scab the Corruption or the Flesh? It all depends on what you find terrifying. For these little things? I would guess either the Stranger trying something new or the Web being surprisingly unsubtle."
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“Experience? What kinda experience?” It could go either way at this point, because he certainly knows that anybody could have experience by simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time one day during some nonsense, honestly half of Gloucester could probably claim experience at this point…
“Huh. I mean, that makes sense, I just never saw it that way. And makes things more annoyingly complicated…”
He pats his distressed droid, which seems to make it more frantic.
“The existential horror of a possibly newly sentient being in pain, that’s my fear here…” A beat. “But is it real or just programming?”
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"Real or programming...how far are you willing to go to find out? Because that's what you do, isn't it. You and Nia. You chase. Prey or answers, it doesn't matter, what matters is the thrill of it."
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There’s only a few people who really know the truth—and some who suspect, but since Nia knew what he was, it’s possible word could have gotten out. Somehow.
“I have plenty of experience from everything I’ve seen in Dogtown,” he snaps, sullenly, even though he knows that Elias is right. He’s still barely scratched the surface of what these things can do, and his knowledge is lacking.
“And if you’re suggesting what I think you’re suggesting, I’m a lot more complicated than that.”
He really isn’t. He can feel it now, the desperate pull to find out, to figure it out, to find answers.
“Did Nia say something about me?”
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"Do you want to know your potential? Not every person of your nature ends up a feral bear monster in the woods."
Elias might have arrived after Hickey's time but he heard the rumors and buddy, stop giving the rest of Team Avatar a bad name.
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“What do you know?”
His voice is a little stiff, a little strained, suspicion and curiosity and mild annoyance all rolled into one.
Also how do you know this information, pal…
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"You're an Avatar of the Hunt."
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Okay. Fine.
“I guess that’s pretty blunt.”
He fiddles with one of the robots arms for a moment, not quite looking him in the eye.
“What do you mean, my potential?”
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There's a moment's pause before, "What all can you do at the moment?"
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"Well, let's see." He frowns, counting off on his fingers, ignoring the robot that whirs pleadingly next to him. It's weird, talking openly about this with someone. But he seems a little proud of his superpowers...he's always really wanted superpowers.
"I can turn into a big cat...monster, thing. So there's that. Extra speed, strength, agility. I can usually turn on the claws and teeth by themselves when I want without Hulking out the whole way. The instincts are probably the worst part, they're hard to shake." I.e., if you have a laser pointer he's done.
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"And I suppose you know how this works already. The more you feed your patron, the more you indulge in the Hunt, the stronger your abilities will become. I'm glad you're able to manifest the claws and teeth by yourself, by the way. There's always a gray area between 'normal human' and 'complete monster,'" says the man who saw 'complete monster' and ran head-first into it. "The more you get used to your abilities, the more you use your claws, teeth, strength, the more likely it is you'll be able to regain control should something go horribly wrong."
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But there’s a thoughtful look on his face. His priority is getting control so he can avoid hurting people (namely Rodney), and he looks absently at his fingernails.
“I guess I’m lucky I can feed the Hunt real easy in my line of work. I just thought it would make things worse if I…indulged.”
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He sighs, as if this is a damn shame before, "Which meant that when she needed to draw upon that power to protect her friends, there was no turning back. She was consumed by the Hunt and was never herself again. Her closest friend had to kill her. I doubt you'd want to befall the same fate."
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He listens, frowning a little as the story continues.
"That's the second instance I know of a Hunt Avatar losing it. I get what you're saying, but how do I know that being consumed by the Hunt isn't what's gonna happen anyway?"
He seems a little troubled though, and if what Elias is saying is true...then he has to embrace the Hunt, and what he can do. He doesn't have a choice.
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Granted, said older man and daughter, Trevor Herbert and Julia Montauk, aren't exactly the best examples of 'stable people who works for the Hunt.' But Elias is keeping that to himself!
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“Huh.”
He kind of hates the connotation of ‘serving’ an Entity even though he knows that’s exactly what’s happening here, and that he does serve the Hunt.
“So if I play well with the Hunt, I’ll get what I want.”
He can feel the beast in him prowling, eager. If he could keep it under control, but by embracing it would mean the beast lurking just under his skin at all times, rather than something that he let out once in awhile when necessary.
Surely nothing bad will happen if he does that…
“Sounds a little too good to be true.”
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“I can’t afford to be weak.”
Not here. Not with the people he wants to protect.
As long as it’s for a good cause, and he doesn’t lose himself, it sounds like a plan. The beast purrs under his chest, settling in like a contented cat.
“So how about your world? How’s it deal with the Entities? You got anything we can use to our advantage here?”
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Granted, that Entity was the Eye and the person who plunged the world into a hellscape was him, but John doesn't need to know that!
"Really, all I can give is reasons why we need to work on keeping Steel from accomplishing that himself."