Reverie

[ Six days since the music started. Six days since the station began the slow descent in to whatever sleep deprived madness it is currently in. Apollo doesn't technically need to sleep but even he is feeling the effects of 144 hours of non-stop power/shower tunes, judging by how he looks on the video feed. Tense. Worn. Considerably more haggard than his usual sunny self. It's not a good look. ].

Six days. Six days. [ He repeats himself through gritted teeth; there's almost an edge of pleading in there (won't somebody give them a break?). Nearly an entire week with no break from the relentless noise and it's making everyone on the station fall apart more than usual. ]

Has anyone figured out where it's actually coming from yet? Consider this an open call for ideas on what to do to stop it. Before we kill each other.

[ Although truthfully Apollo wouldn't mind a bit of casual violence right now given the familiar intro of the latest song that plays in the background... ]

[ this ever so slightly mangled super soldier had a slight mishap during the anti gravity—slash—space walk excitement a couple of weeks back. took an inordinately hard hit to his inordinately hard head, and he's been in a quasi mini coma ever since. though his vitals never seemed to sink too low, that was probably a worry for his pals when there isn't too much in the way of medical treatment on board this ghostly husk of a ship.

exactly how many times is this jerk going to pull a snow white in his lifetime, anyway?

now that he's struggled sluggishly awake, bucky honestly wouldn't blame someone for punching him.

first thing's first, though, as he silently pushes the tendrils of monsters and their ephemeral claws back from the dark corners of his mind —

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he's the worst of all

— there's the hunger. ]

don't suppose anyone's found any source of food on this hunk of junk besides the replicators? seriously anything. really stale protein bars. rotten fruit? i used to eat MREs like a fine delicacy, promise i ain't picky.

just not too keen on falling back into the hallucination side effects right now.

[The camera is set a few feet away, so both Mike and the Command Deck video screen fit in view. He speaks with an easy authority, a man used to leading meetings.]

As many of you have probably heard, after the door to the Command Deck was breached video logs of the previous crew were discovered. Many of them are corrupted, and a lot of them that aren't don't seem to have any real substance - they're just the day to day operations of the station - but we have found one that's different.

[He leans, reaching out to something just out of view, and suddenly the large video screen comes to life. Mike turns slightly to watch with the camera.

A woman orders one crew member to contact mission command. She then informs mission command that they are about to begin test zero-zero-five and to stand by. The crew clearly knows the protocol for running this test; various crew members call out their tasks, from slowing the rings to a stop (after which gravity ceases on the command desk and presumably everywhere on the station) to initiating drive.

There is a tense moment. A crew member keeps calling percentages: “Drive at five percent. Drive at ten percent.”

Eventually: “Drive steady at 60 percent. Steady -”

Several consoles beep. “Drive failed.”

The woman contacts mission command again: “Be advised. Test zero-zero-five failed after a climb to 60%.”

The video comes to and end and the screen winks to black. Mike looks back at the camera.]

As best as we can tell, the woman giving the orders is the same "Ghost" recently recorded and posted to this same network. Clearly, they were running experiments here. For what end? The videos don't say. But given the state of things.... Bets are they didn't end well.

Three things.

1 -

I have a network-based service for task coordination up and running as of now. It's a BBS-style system hosted on a spare communicator. Project leaders can upload files, maintain contact lists, issue automated alerts to individuals or groups within the project, etc. Project members' permissions are set by the leader, but they can access the main board and receive alerts from the group by default, and have options to use the contact lists to send messages through the service, download and upload certain files, check in to report what they've done, etc.

Send "DOCS" to @bulletin for the manual. If you want to host one, send "NEW" and it'll take you through an automatic setup process. Right now it's set so each account can run one board, to keep traffic low, but if you need more I can manually set them up.

Credit to Haru Okumura for user experience feedback. It was designed for the garden, but should be customizable for any project.

2 -

There's a calendar running on the garden board, but I didn't want to implement calendar functions across the service yet...because we don't know what year or month or weekday it is. The comms don't have dates, but there's a decently reliable timekeeping system based on computer ticks. Should the station reactivation be Day 1 and calendars just count up from that? Seven-day weeks? This is all a UI question, not a system one. I need some input.

3 -

I found a manual for the VR hardware. The sets are still NOT confirmed safe for use. There's a lot to look through before that, probably more than checking over the sets themselves would cover.

But if there's anything from this you're interested in, I can look into it. Checking this against other device standards, salvaging useful parts, etc.

If there's any chance of modifying these so they're sure to fail to safe, and getting into the controlling computer, I'd like to make a zero-G training simulation. That's a lot of ifs, though. And it's a way lower priority than opening more doors and gaining control of the station control systems, so this won't cut into work for that.


[[ooc: if you have any questions about how this thing works, hmu, my technical knowledge is wobbly but i can at least say oh yeah it can/can't do that. It's a network-based system - like, you send a text to @bulletin with your project login info, it sends you a text back with the current project board in full ASCII glory and the keywords for viewing specific info, getting files, etc. Messages sent via the service come from @bulletin with the sender's name and the project name front and center. Alerts can be set up to be automatic but come in as texts. It's a BBS service by way of email groups by way of a massive stack of scripts running on one poor little communicator.

Also the security on it is diamond fucking hard.

If you want to lmk when someone sets up a board, so that I have an OOC tally of IC knowledge, that'd be swell.]]

Alright, I won't waste anyone's time with pointless questions about how or why we got here, but there are a couple of things I'm looking for information about:

1. How many minors and noncombatants are aboard this station? Note, these are separate categories. I don't care how powerful or skilled you are; if you're under twenty, I consider you a member of the former.

2. It'll be helpful for us to have an idea of each other's Quirks. I'm not under the illusion that all of us have reason to trust each other or cooperate, but presumably none of us want to be here, so. If you're willing to provide information on any abilities you might have that could be considered "supernatural" in any way, I intend to compile it for our collective use.

[yes, you read that right. guess who doesn't give a shit which device he grabbed this morning. it also probably doesn't help that he has almost hit double figures for the number of times he's ended up falling out of the bed during the night. they really need to move to a family suite soon.]

One door open. A couple of hundred more to go. Till the techs manage to get through all the systems we got access to on the command deck, the rest of us are stuck sitting on our hands.

I got my own ways of staying busy. Kind of wondering how long it'll take before one of you decide to do something stupid to keep yourselves occupied too.

[okay, no. this isn't what he wanted to use the network for. he has a question to ask, whether he likes the answer he gets or not.]

While I've got your attention, anyone here got any experience with computers? Ones that aren't necessarily made of metal and plastic.

[no he's not going to explain why. helpful, right?]

[ The camera filming is the one from the console in the wall of the garden, the one that Haru put together. It shows Amos, fingers brushing along the plants hooked together along the wall. He has a smile on his face, and his touch seems incredibly gentle, his lips parted as he looks at the greenery. ]

Have you ever seen something more amazing? These plants are keeping us alive. Literally. Scrubbing up the air we breathe, putting it back out as something we can use. They take so much work, so much patience, so much knowledge. To keep them alive, help them grow. So amazing.

[ He stops, his face closing up all of a sudden. His jaw ticks with a muscle under the beard, and his hands turn into fists. He pulls away from the wall. It seems like a sudden change in mood, something like a switch has been flipped, all of a sudden. His posture tenses, his eyes start stinging. ]

This place is killing us. It's - it's killed my friend, already. He's more than a friend, really. He's my brother.

[ If you've met Amos, had a chat with him, you might realize that this video is pretty... well, unlike him. He doesn't seem to really recognize that fact, though, looking straight at the camera with his eyes slightly teary. ]

Be careful. This station does shit to us. [ Pause. Amos wipes at his eyes. Sniffles. ] Oh and by the way, guys, it's a station, not a ship. Don't make me say it again.

[ He doesn't sound angry, even when he says this, tired of having to repeat himself. There's a suspicious complete lack of anger throughout the whole entry. ]

Seriously, we need to get off this barge. All of us. If you think there's nothing you can do, I promise you, there is. We gotta work together.

[On waking up, Black had panicked. This wasn't the One Concern, these definitely weren't her clothes, and her stuff was gone--no, wait.

She still had her pair of white tickets. That's good. Metal fingers clutched the paper in an attempt to anchor down to it. The repeating message was tuned out for the most part for several minutes, until she got her bearings. However, it wasn't quite...useful.

She shuts the message off after some fumbling, and further poking about brings her to the network and a bunch of shit that doesn't make sense. So lacking any other obvious option, she utilizes it.]

okay i have several questions

1. where the hell is this

2. who the fuck took my clothes

3. how do i get back to the one concern

4. how do contact specific people

5. white, chrome, if either of you are out there, you better be answering these questions asap!!!

[The call registers as video, but displays only a geometric mess of blue. Those who recognize the logo won't be too surprised by what comes next.]

<Welcome to Domesticon. Working together today, for a more efficient tomorrow.>

[Cheery and automated, like a call center recording... and replaced, immediately after with a much more human range of tone.]

Hey. Me again.

So, your friendly local techs took a crack at system access the other day. Most functions are still locked, but we're reading big electrical spikes along the shaft and behind the sealed area on Deck Two. Something to think about, if you're the type to pry at doors.

[If, unfortunately not the only thing.]

This also, ah... showed up on the camera feeds.

[The AI's "face" vanishes from the video display, replaced with a view from one of the consoles. It shows a young, fair-haired human making his way down one of Reverie's many halls: Snake, for those who knew him. He doesn't do anything unusual. But after a moment, the human's outline distorts... shimmers... and melts away, leaving no trace of flesh or clothing.

The video reverts, and Hank's voice picks back up, tense with concern.]

He's not the only one. Run a headcount with your friends?


[[ooc: The tech collaboration he's referring to is here. While not OOCly planned in conjunction, the Deck 2 spike is the same area Team Door will be ICly going for on the 15th—so feel free to have your characters connect the dots!]]

hey, did that pet directory ever get made? there are at least four hamsters running around the observation deck. so far they're staying kind of close to me, but if they're yours, please come get them.

[Briefly, a video feed turns on. There sure are three hamsters sitting in front of Hajime, almost posing for the camera. The camera pans to show Hajime's incredulous, perpetually tired face, showing one hamster asleep on his shoulder.]

Whoa-! Wait, wait!!

[The camera pans back quickly to the three hamsters, except now they're all running for him. He lets out a yelp and the video feed turns off.]

Being here reminds me a little of the time I spent working in Kowloon. The walled city is an old Song military outpost in Hong Kong, that everyone poured into some centuries ago. Instead of sprawling out the town went dense, some thousands of refugees pouring their way in and cramping in tight up against one another. I was there in '63, well after the fires and before the police started bothering the cathouses and opium dens.

[Ricki's voice is low, and close to the communicator. The hour is late, and he sounds tired, like he's sitting alone with a drink. His accent is fuzzy, too, British-Australian via Penang, Singapore, others. Indistinct, impossible to place, and cultivated over the years into something level and hypnotic.]

There were thirty thousand people in less than three hundred buildings, piled so tall and crisscrossed with laundry and walkways so thick that sunlight seldom reached the lower levels. You stepped from single cobblestone to cobblestone or else splashed through shallow puddles by the light of the few flourescent bulbs that had been wired in to light the lower market stalls.

[There's pause, and then a quick breath, like he's shaking himself out of it. He doesn't quite chuckle, but you can hear that it's a near thing.]

I'd take that over this if I could. We're just as flourescent and barely lit, but the food was better. My Cantonese is shit, I can order tea and apologize sincerely, but I still think I understood more there than I do here. Better bars, too.

There were people here before, right? So where's all their stuff? Even if they all got chest-bursted their belongings should still be here, but I didn't find so much as a toothbrush in my cabin.

Has anybody found anything useful?

[ What up Reverie Terminal, it's your glowy superdad back on the network again. Apollo is looking pensive today and not quite his usual sunny self. Next to him is someone who's making his first public appearance: Kaldur'ahm faces the camera, gills at his neck clearly visible, a reserved smile on his face. He gives a nod. ]

As you all know, several areas of the station remain inaccessible to us. I believe several people have been talking about ways to open them or attempting to do so already. Brute force may be a means to gain access to a central command deck or something similar. If enough of us work together, especially those of us stronger or superpowered, we may be able to get through.

[ Here, he glances at Apollo, who adds after a beat: ]

Dirk raised a good point: what if those doors have been locked off for a good reason? What if there's something on the other side that needs to be locked away like, I don't know, a pathogen? Or whatever it is that's wiped out the original station crew?

[ Apollo lifts a hand, as if to stem an imaginary silent protest: ]

I'm not saying we shouldn't still give it a go, because after that video Henryk received it's been made pretty clear to us that we need to get off this ship as soon as possible. But it's something we should maybe be prepared for.

So what we're asking is whether or not there's anyone out there who's good at forcefields? Or might have some insight in to how we should tackle this? Just in case we open a door and, uh. Regret it.

[ Apollo frowns a little, determination replacing the pensive expression from before. ]

So there you have it. I know Amos has some good ideas about creating an airlock in case we open a door to an unpressurised deck. But has anyone else got any ideas? [ to which Kaldur adds: ] We would welcome your thoughts and input.

So uh

I see everyone got this bullshit list of bullshit. Or at least numerous people.

So here's the deal. You got this shit here that don't mean shit, like "Geoscience"? Is that even relevant to us right now? "Comms Officer". Yeah that sure as hell doesn't mean shit to anyone here. Sounds like some military crap, first of all. Here we are, everyone using the comms and I can't see anyone figuring out how to stop someone yet. "Quarter Master"? Who the fuck even cares.

Now "Chief Food Supplier" is something we direly need but seeing as all we have are those crappy food dispensers, I'm not entirely sure what you would even do. I think that could be reworded to "Head chef" too, unless one of you fuckheads want to fly your happy ass down to that planet over there and try to catch some real meat.

Anyway, that's all just unnecessary garbage, but what I'm trying to get at is that we HARDLY have what could pass as a society here, and I don't know about you, but ain't none of you paying enough to get me or like anyone with a shred of self-respect to be a goddamn "Waste Disposal Chief". We don't even have an economy here.

So, how 'bout we just set this shit aside and don't even think about it, honestly? If you want a roster so bad, take one of those books and write everyone's names down.

What language are you speaking? What language do you hear?

Do you speak other languages, and when you switch to them, do the people around you understand each other?

What script, glyphs, or alphabet do you write with? Do you see them on your communicator? Do other people see them as the icons you touch? [She means keys to type with, but doesn't quite have the turn of phrase.] If you write them by hand can the people around you read them?

I'm experimenting with written word. I'm in the bar drawing glyphs, if anyone volunteers to come try to read.

so, i can't be the only one wondering where our stuff is, right? because i don't know about you guys but i don't usually use a jumpsuit as pajamas, even if i'm taking an impromptu space nap. and even though i'm trying super hard not to think about someone playing nasa barbie while i was unconscious, i can't help but want to know what they've done with everything else.

( Her stele is the thing she's most eager to get back, if she's honest. But she'd take her knife too. Hell, even her actual underwear. )

has anyone come across a closet? or like, a sinister collection of momentos.

Hello.

As several before me have noted: given our circumstances, it is more crucial now than ever before that we cooperate and share any relevant information that could be of benefit to us all. However, the accessibility of this knowledge is also essential. If we have no sense of organization, then we add unnecessary frustration at least and risk at most.

I've accumulated a list of known locations and some general statistical information, which I encourage you to add to at your discretion. I believe it would be in our best interests to know the following about each of you as well:

1. Please list your name and ID.
2. Do you have any medical, technical, or mechanical skills?
3. Do you have any advanced skills in another area that you think would be of assistance?
4. Would you be comfortable using these skills if asked?

Also, I've taken the liberty to sort out how to increase security protocols. If you wish to know how this works, feel free to contact me here or privately.

Thank you.

[ ooc: So, head's up! Permission was granted to have Ryo fix up these filters for you all, but here's your catch (if you're interested): Ryo will be leaving a security loophole or "backdoor" as it were for himself (with your permission) to easily exploit so his ability to eavesdrop will be maximized. Please refer to his permission's post here if you're fine with him doing as much.

Also, if your character wouldn't agree to this? Please refer to the permissions anyhow if you eventually might be interested in this kind of technological eavesdropping. Thank you! ]

CW: MINOR BODY HORROR AND SELF HARM MENTIONS

My name is Daisy Johnson.

I know I'm not the only one this has happened to, but, has anyone else found something literally crawling under their skin? I'm not sure how it got there, maybe it was done when we were unconscious.

It stopped moving when I got it out, and it looked like a small wire. I don't think it's some sort of tracker, or of it's something else entirely. Check yourselves and if anyone might have an idea of what this could possibly be, please get in contact with me.

This morning, I received a message on my communicator from the username m.muller. When I tried to message them back, all I received was an error. I don't recognize her, but maybe someone else will.

[So Mako attaches a video file. There's a woman with frizzy red hair and freckles on screen, looking slightly panicked. "My name is Martina Muller," she says, and her voice is calm and slightly accented. There's a sudden crash behind her, and she cuts herself off with a gasp. "You have to warn the others! There is a traitor on board. Wherever you are, there is a traitor on board, you have to–"

And then the message cuts off.]

It seems like not everyone received it, so it wasn't a network wide broadcast. As far as I can tell, it came from the station, but I don't know where.

I also tried to unlock one of the doors. I've figured out which wires control the locking mechanism, but nothing I did to override or overload them seemed to work. Has anyone else had any luck?

Hi everyone. Apollo here. I don't think I've met even half of you yet but I thought I’d share this:

IMG TRANSFER COMPLETE: exterior.jpg

Just in case anyone wanted to see what our new home really looks like.

Has anyone had any luck opening the locked doors? This place looks like it’s way bigger than what we have access to so far. Please do share with the rest of the class if you find anything interesting...