Event - The 25,000 Light Year View

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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.

➥ Links

• General Setting Prompts - Part 1 & Part 2
  
• NPC/Mod Response Prompts - LINK
  
  

Wolf Trap Park
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Comments

[worthallthis]

Winter grabs, back, clutching at his elbow so they're locked together. He's not hopeful that they weren't noted. "We were making enough noise it didn't have to see you. Get behind me."

And he pulls his gun out with his glitchy left hand, and hopes it doesn't twitch at the wrong moment.

[punched_hitler]

Steve doesn't want to get behind Winter, he wants to stay in front of Winter and make sure he doesn't get any more shocks.

Instead, he kind of awkwardly steps sort of to the side but certainly not fully behind Winter. And then he reaches for the gun as Winter draws it - he doesn't grab it from him, but his hand stops an inch or so away as he hisses, "Let me."

He's not as good a shot - by a long shot - and they both know it. But if Winter's arm is malfunctioning...

[worthallthis]

Winter makes a frustrated little noise, but he does tilt his hand enough so that Steve can take the pistol from his grasp. "Don't miss," he warns in an undertone, as the wire-snake slithers around the server shelf with an electric hissing.

[punched_hitler]

Steve just nods tightly, fitting the gun into his hand and planting his feet, even as the thing spots them. Of course, it's long and thin and moving, which makes it hard to hit. But he's got a good eye, and a steady hand.

He squeezes Winter's hand a split second before he fires, as if in warning. He doesn't miss - even if it's not the cleanest shot, hitting the back end of it in a spray of sparks. He's already cocking the gun again, but the snake seems to be flopping around, unable to keep going in a straight, steady line.

[worthallthis]

It's good enough. Winter has good, strong, heavy boots, and he moves the step and a half forward to stomp on the electric snake several times with the heel of said strong, heavy boot. If perhaps he uses more force and venom than he necessarily has to, well, he's making very sure it's dead.

He's protecting Steve.

So there.

[punched_hitler]

Steve does not mind the use of force - better safe than sorry with these things. He lets out a slow, quiet breath that is definitely relief when the thing goes quiet, still, and flat under Winter's boot.

There's a moment of silence, of stillness, while he tries to hear if any more are coming. But, "I don't hear any more," he says, quietly, after that moment. "We should get going, try to do a little more damage and then get the hell out of here while the coast is clear."

He disarms the pistol and offers it back to Winter, grip first.

[worthallthis]

Winter reholsters it firmly, expression grim. "We have to find the power source and stop it. Or Steele, if he's the source." He can't give up until the danger is over. That's why he's here.

[punched_hitler]

Steve nods, looking around the dimly lit server room, thinking about their options. "Well, always better to deal with the source of the problem," he points out. "But no harm in causing as much trouble as we can along the way out, right? There are people trapped here - we should try to get them out."

He doesn't like the idea of leaving them.

[worthallthis]

"That'll be easier when the power's off," Winter says, and starts moving again, keeping a firm hold of Steve's hand. "Getting people untangled is hard. The cords resist being pulled." He may have tried a little when he first got in here and panicked a little at the sight.

[punched_hitler]

"Damn," Steve mutters. He hates that feeling of everything actively working against them saving people, even though it's very familiar by now. "I don't want to leave them, even to do that."

But it's clear he will, if it's the only way to save them. He looks out over the rows of servers, expression unhappy, but determined. "We'll get them out," he decides. Like a promise to them. "I'm not going back to ADI until we do."