Mission: Fertile Ground

[somnioergosum]

Who: 2B, Daryl Dixon, Jason Todd, and Ronan Lynch
What: A team assembled by force is volunteered or voluntold to go collect soil samples and test them. They’re surrounded by predators. Things, predictably, do not go well.
When: April 17th
Where: Outside of the perimeter, in a fertile land surrounded by wild boar
Warnings: Violence against (and probably death of) animals

Ronan appreciated the chance to explore beyond the perimeter. He did not appreciate that he was doing it under supervision or the class they’d made him take. Soil samples? Jesus. But there was a chance of getting chased by carnivorous creatures of which no one had given him a clear description. That probably meant no one knew. Now that was exciting.

For once, Ronan was waiting at the perimeter early. He did his best not to look like he had been there long. Arms crossed over his shoulder, he examined the huge truck they’d loaned them for this mission.

He rapped on the metal. “Made to take damage,” he commented to himself.

If the others didn’t show up soon, he might just hop in and take off before no one noticed...

Comments

[batbullets]

[Jason shakes his head and sighs. Bat-gadgetry. He sometimes forgets just how privileged he was with those at his disposal.]

Yeah, because people don't drive off cliffs on their own. I realize this is uncomfortably becoming my catchphrase here, but don't knock it til you try it.

are we in tag order right now or just tag in whenever until the fighting starts?

[dirtyredneck]

And if they can't fucking talk for some reason? Or say a word it don't recognize cause you got a weird accent? Had to put up with that stupid shit on those automated phone calls. One of the only good things about the world going to hell was getting rid of that crap.

[There was a long list of good things, actually, and every petty annoyance he'd ever had about sales calls was on it.]

[somnioergosum]

[OOC: We'll stick to tag order but skip 2B until they get to the place or Sunday, since the player is away until Sunday and gave permission to be skipped while they're gone.]

[Ronan looks ahead, urging them to get there faster. But he tilts his head to look back at Jason, wry grin on his face.]

I'll be the instrument of my own destruction.

[He points at Daryl briefly before letting his hand fall to rest on his thigh.]

He gets it.

[He emphasizes his Henrietta drawl there, which is more a mix of Appalachian and the Carolinas than a Virginian accent. It's clear that Siri would have a hell of a time distinguishing the vowels and syllables.]

I'm back

[howlongiwonder]

A finer level of control lets you exercise more precise maneuvers. This could be important if we find danger.

[The woman speaks up and she says some pretty weird things. Especially for someone who mostly relied on issuing voice orders to her pod (the pod is not here though). Or someone who doesn't really know how to drive for that matter.]

But, whatever gets us there.

Re: I'm back

[dirtyredneck]

[Daryl snorted, quietly pleased everyone else seemed to have a sensible head on their shoulder, but didn't say anything further while he focused on getting the vehicle to where it needed to be.

He wasn't much for idle talk anyway. And as long as no one tried to talk down to him about his driving he'd be good.

He'd been given loose directions to the location and assumed everyone else had as well. Part of a small packet of info he'd been handed when he signed up to help out and get his ass out of the city for a day. Didn't seem like the kind of 'mission' that would see much trouble, either. And if it did go well, maybe he could let them all drive back together and take the long way back. Do some hunting.]



[[ooc: My apologies for taking so long, work handed me three all-day split shifts the last three days because of no call-no shows and I had no time until this morning. Will be around this evening if others are!]]

Onward to adventure

[somnioergosum]

[Ronan hated the whole drive there. His feelings don't change when they make it to the location. The trees are all wrong here, not like they are in Virginia or his dreams. Worse, the area to collect samples from looks like a fairy ring to him. It is, objectively, a beautiful expanse of field hemmed in by a forest, the only side not ringed by trees the way they'd come.

If anything had been there, the sound must have scared them away. Ronan sees no sign of anything living, but it sure smells like something calls it home.]

I'll tell you when I'm done.

[He unslings the satchel that contains everything he needs for soil collection. Not waiting for anyone to verify that he won't be gored by something unpleasant, he walks off to find a good spot.]

Re: Onward to adventure

[howlongiwonder]

[2B stayed mostly quiet for the ride. With a focused expression on her face, she was trying to ignore any further rough moments and prepare for a possible attack. An attack that never came.

Now that they're at the destination, she doesn't stray too far from the truck, but that expression of focus is gone - replaced by curiosity. Her hand touches a tree's bark as she looks up at it. She's no stranger to nature and yet...]

Everything is different here.

Re: Onward to adventure

[dirtyredneck]

Tree's still a tree.

[He said it, but he didn't say it harshly as he followed her over to give the tree his own inspection. His hand touched it differently, like he was testing it a little before he gave it a quick thump with his knuckles to test the sound. How thick or hollow it might be. The bark wasn't kind to him and it left him having to shake his hand out after while he looked up an and then moved off to half to follow after the kid and half to wander a little further up the tree line while he examined them.

They certainly weren't any kind of trees he was familiar with.]

[somnioergosum]

You'll hurt their feelings.

[Ronan sticks a short measuring stick into the ground, then takes out several more instruments. If whoever sent him wanted precise, they'll be disappointed. He works hastily. There's something here that has him on edge.

Probably the smell.]

[howlongiwonder]

Nature doesn't care much for what we think about it. Even if humans are gone, it will just reclaim places where they used to live.

[2B shifts her weight from one leg to another and then back, as she looks around, her gaze capturing more curiosities despite seemingly being blocked by the blindfold.

Unlike Ronan, she finds this environment calming. Well, maybe except for the smells.]

[dirtyredneck]

Yeah, nature doesn't give a shit about us.

[Daryl agreed as he continued moving at a slow pace that ended up more of a loose circle around Ronan's chosen spot. He had been hired to guard and patrolling came pretty naturally as it was. The smell wasn't exactly pleasant, but from all external appearences it didn't seem to cause him any discomfort.

After a couple more moments, he flipped his crossbow up and aimed down the sights toward the trees to the northeast. He gave a quick, low whistle to grab the attention of everyone before lifting one hand away to wave it slowly and then point.

When he spoke next, his voice was loud enough to carry to the group, but only just.]

Somethin's moving out there. Somethin' big.

[somnioergosum]

[Ronan smiles at their comments and his own private joke playing in his head. Although he knows very well these trees probably aren't sentient. Probably.

He looks up at Daryl's warning. Swearing under his breath, he deposits the soil into the container. For him, there's no need to examine it with anything more than his eyes: its remarkably fertile. As for the exact composition to match what plant would do best, that's neither his field nor his interest.

He starts to stand but he's in little more than a crouch when he spots something out of the corner of his eyes. Away from what has Daryl's attention.]

More than one.

[Say what you will of Ronan, he knows when it's essential to keep his voice hushed.]

[howlongiwonder]

... Maybe it does.

[2B's body tenses, her stance dropping lower, her legs spreading wider for better balance. She's already not a very loud person most of the time, but she's careful to be exceptionally quiet here altogether.

She gives Ronan a quick side glance.]

Done with the samples?

[dirtyredneck]

Yeah, I see it.

[Daryl edged backwards, closer in to Ronan and with him the truck and 2B.]

You got what you need yet? Ain't exactly cover around here.

[somnioergosum]

[Ronan seals the sample as he stands. If they want more than one, they'll have to send out another team. He may even volunteer.]

Let's go.

[Ronan doesn't move right away. Backing away from a fight isn't his style, even and especially if it could get him killed. Before reason overcomes instinct, the first creature barrels out of the woods.

The first impression is this: it's massive.

The second impression is this: its tusks are as big as Ronan's arm and his arm is not inconsiderable.

Before a third impression can be made, the creature's friend comes crashing toward them as well. A third joins in, each from a different side.

Ronan tucks the sample against his chest as he rolls out of the way. He's on his feet again in a moment.]

[howlongiwonder]

Get out of here!

[The creatures are not only clearly hostile but also huge. Still, 2B is an android made to fight and kill, and reacts as one.]

Ha-aaah!

[Her low stance was already in preparation for a lunge, which she executes right now, simultaneously leaping at the hostile closest to blocking access to the truck and grabbing the hilt of her heavier sword with both hands. She spins mid-air to add extra momentum, and brings the blade down with an overhead swing into the monster's face.

There's a spray of blood - but the tusked beast is still standing. Worse yet, even if it was stopped for the moment, this assault only made it angrier. And worst of all: the sword is now stuck in its thick hide.]

[dirtyredneck]

[Daryl's first instinct is not to take out the one rushing toward him, but to duck to the side and avoid it's charge while he whipped around and fired a bolt at the one going straight for Ronan. He didn't have anything nearly as big or intimidating as 2B's swords (and the force she brought them down with? shit, mental note not to take her on directly), but he was an expert shot even in a fast paced fight. And those beasts, whatever they were, had eyes just as soft as any other thing he'd ever shot at.

The bolt landed and the thing stood there stunned for a second, as if surprised by it's own death, before it just collapsed in place.

Unfortunately for Daryl, he had only 7 more bolts on him and he wasn't sure he could get another shot off like that. Now when they ducked their heads for the charge and especially not when a fourth one he hadn't seen joined the fray and shoulder checked him, sending him rolling the other way.

It was enough to ring his bell right good and make him see stars for a moment.]

Sorry for the delay, have a long tag

[somnioergosum]

[Ronan doesn't move directly toward the truck but circles around, putting some distance between himself and the dead pig-thing. All the while he keeps his eye on the very pissed off creature. The scent of the blood coursing down its fur has not improved the general smell of the place. Given how enraged the thing is, it seems to agree.

Ronan stops when it turns toward him. He can't be less than forty feet away. In the end, it makes little difference and he knows it.

He can see his tombstone now. Ronan Lynch: killed by wild pig.

When it barrels toward him, he casts himself to the side fast enough to escape that fate. Unfortunately, when it whirls around, one of the tusks broadsides him. His body hits the ground a few feet away, then his head snaps back.

His memory stops.

What doesn't stop is the passage of time and the working of Ronan's brain, disjointed as it is. In a few moments of unconsciousness, there's something in him still together enough to be aware of danger.

He wakes up a few seconds later. He can't move.

What can is the form slowly drawn into existence beside him. The size and shape of a full grown komodo dragon, it has feathers instead of scales. There's something inherently wrong about it, aside from the fact that it stands upright to reveal talon like claws. The wrongness is how unformed it is-- half thought out in creation, it looks blurred around the edges. The skin beneath the feathers starts to split before it even leaps for the creature that incapcitated Ronan.

Ronan's memory starts again to this scene: dazed, head throbbing, and still going through his own fashion of sleep paralysis, he thinks one thing very clearly: fuck.]

[howlongiwonder]

[This is bad. This is really bad. Seeing her allies in trouble, 2B decides to disengage the current target and abandon her main weapon - sure, she still has a backup, but that negatively impacts her fighting ability.

Still, no time for regrets. She leaps to the side, almost kicking off the enraged and wounded boar-like beast, before making it towards Daryl as soon as possible. The monster is soon to follow, yes - but this is not as important as making sure others are alright.]

Can you move?!

[She draws a smaller blade while positioning herself between the archer and the creature that put him in this state.

This is when she catches a glimpse of... whatever is happening with Ronan. And she can't help but stare, dumbfounded.]

What... is that?

[dirtyredneck]

Looks like Godzilla...

[Daryl muttered as he blinked away the disorientation and pushed himself back onto his feet. A lot slower than he liked, but that thing hit hard.

He squinted, looking for the kid and let out a curse as he spotted Ronan on the ground not that far from the strange half-formed monster.]

Shit. Can you get the kid? I'll cover you.

[somnioergosum]

[Ronan sees himself from above. His eyes are closed. He's lying on the grass, the others not too far away.

Oh, and the creature from whatever his concussed mind dreamed is unraveling. Cracks on its skin open to reveal white muscles beneath, the feathers melt, yet through it all it attacks the beast. Bearing all its attacks, it has no mind toward defending itself. But then, it is doomed anyway.

Ronan snaps back into his body. He lifts his little finger, then opens his eyes and moves the rest of his hand. Once he can stretch his arm, he reaches back to check if his scalp is bleeding. He can't feel anything so it's just a headache to deal with along with a ring of color in his field of vision. It soon fades.

That's good, he thinks with some effort.

He stumbles to his feet.]

[howlongiwonder]

[Something really weird is going on here. 2B decides it's time to evacuate. At least Daryl seems to be in a mostly alright condition.

She has no idea what Godzilla is, though.]

Right. Break off the first chance you get.

[Not waiting for confirmation, 2B springs into action. The new, furious monster seems to be on their side and taking care of one of the hostiles, so she focuses on the other two. Sword in hand, she delivers several quick cuts towards one of the beasts as she runs next to it, just enough to get its attention. As for the other, the one with the blade in its head - she already has its attention, and it charges just as the first one is turning to gore her as well.

This is when 2B switches to evasive tactics. The monsters attack, but in a burst of superhuman speed she is no longer there, side flipping above one of them and landing behind its back. The boar-like hulks are momentarily confused - a perfect opening! Which she uses to dash around and away from them and towards Ronan.]

Can you hear me? We're getting out of here!

[He's getting up, which is a relief. She was ready to carry him if she had to.]

[dirtyredneck]

[Daryl wasn't nearly as fast as her, so while she made her way into the fray to cut across Ronan, he set himself to skirting the fight as best he could. About half-way back to the truck, as 2B got the attention of a couple, he darted in to the one dead one he'd managed to get lucky on. Was no way he was leaving without that bolt currently buried in it's eye if he could help it.

It wasn't worth anyone's life, of course, but it wasn't that much lower on his short list of priorities, neither.

[somnioergosum]

What?

[Ronan turns, his stomach churns when he hears his creation scream. He starts to look back at it, then refocuses and looks at 2B again.]

Yeah. Yeah, you don't have to shout.

[No longer spewing acid, Ronan sounds as dazed as he looks.]

Wait.

[He looks down at his empty hands. There should be something--

Despite how slowly his mind works, he moves fast as walks in a circle. His eyes dart back and forth.]

Shit! The sample. Where is it?

[howlongiwonder]

[The sample? She doesn't see it around either!]

Oh no...

[To make things worse, the beasts know where she is now and are charging again. 2B can't afford Ronan to get trampled by them.]

It can't be far. Search the immediate area!

[Not very useful advice but that's all she's got for now. She won't wait for the boars to get close to her and her allies. The best course here is to meet them head on!

She rushes forward, her sword held up horizontally - it clashes with a monster's tusks, and miraculously 2B manages to parry the creature and stop its progress!]

Khh... aah!

[While she struggles though, the second one moves from the side, its huge head swinging and hitting her - sending the android flying. Her short aerial journey ends as she crashes into the side of the truck.]