In Case of Emergency... IV! (Open, Read First Post!)

[Semparia]

They gathered as much of the purple gel as possible into a plastic container while preparing to saw the next container open. Plans are made to bring out the rat container in the purple gel container, but that can be finalized once the gel has been tested on for what it is and if it’s safe. As much of the gel is gathered that is estimated to still be safe for the creature inside, to make it easier to bring it out of the container and into the gel.

Meanwhile, an idea is hatched. While the “blood” is more of an inconvenience than anything else, the nano gel of the first container is quite useful. A bit is used on some dirt on the ground to see if the gel will clean it up, and attempts at producing more of the gel using the gel itself or just basing it off the gel are attempted

[Sunset]

Shwe Tu Colony...

The blade flicked and there was two screams, one a strange half-second echo of the other though from appearances only one had come from the woman now cowering at his feet. The other remained curled up in a ball, coiled into the very corner of the couch. For only a half-second there was a flicker, a shadow in the air, and something passed from second to first. Two small triangles near-joined at the middle and one might excuse them for a spectral butterfly until fur-backed hands clutched at her head to discover them missing but more-so. Not a drop of blood flowed from the cleanly-sliced trapezoids that clung to the sides of her head and neither did the slightly trace of hair drift on the still breeze.

It was as if what once was was no longer.

"You..." she stared up at him, her lips trembling, "Why? I did nothing wrong!"

Next Up:
----
Genomita
Sterkistan
Semparia...

[Shwe Tu Colony]

The blade flicked and there was two screams...

Assassin's Guild
"I'm sorry!" D'aillisioux shrieked, his blade's gleam swinging madly in the darkness, while the other half of him crumpled to the floor as though dead, his amber eyes — now red with tears & with rage — opening, taking in what he had done. Then, his eyes shut again. "I can't look at you anymore," he yelled out as he began to stand, & for a moment a flash of light burst through the room like a bolt of lightning. The other two would see pink strings stretching from his limbs & body into the air above him, being held by a gigantic metal claw, while his hair & clothes seemed to be fluttering upwards as though some draft was blasting him from below, showing his wide-eyed expression & frown. His katana was pulled back, but with only one hand holding it. Just before he could thrust it forward, the lights suddenly turned on.

"D-Deli?" a young man in a pink & white-striped outfit with rabbit ears suddenly said from the entrance to the living room, carrying a pair of ornate grocery bags that he dropped to the floor in order to begin a slow walk to the other, "What... what are you doing, who are these people?" Instead of a response, the boy's katana fell to the floor with a clatter, deafening in that brief moment of silence, followed by him. "Deli! I-it's okay, I'm here, I'm here," he said as his walk became a sprint towards the boy, who he crouched down towards & embraced tightly, letting him sob into his shoulder, "Shh, shh, we'll be fine here." The man reached into a pocket that evidently existed, taking out a pink crystal that he glanced into, continuing to try to comfort D'aillisioux, but he seemed inconsolable. "I'm sorry!" the boy repeated again & again, stopped only by his hiccups, "I couldn't... control myself!"

His crying abruptly stopped for a moment. "I failed," he said, his tone growing panicked, "I... failed! I-I can't s-stay here, I n-need to clean up!"
"Shh, it's fine, Deli, it's fine," the other held him tighter despite how the boy struggled, desperate to push him away & indeed practically fighting for his life, his tears having returned & his expression now one of abject terror, No good, he's really panicking. I wonder if maybe he'll be a bit better if I start singing, he thought, silent for a moment as he felt D'aillisioux's hands & legs continue to thrash at him. Eventually, he began, his voice soft & almost like a lullaby as it began to echo through the otherwise silent room. It was the voice of one who had dealt with this many times before, the voice of someone whose suffering was by now their energy & their inspiration, the voice of someone who knew empathy & kindness, & whose voice was now able to reverberate into the hearts of the damaged, as it was right now.

Lay out the past, pretend that your time has come again.
D'aillisioux's sobbing paused for a moment as he listened, just a little bit entranced.
Give back the world you made to restore the mess you're in.
His thrashing began to slow, & he simply stood there, now transfixed by the man's voice.
Oh it's a long way forward, long way down, helpless shelter and the open ground.
D'aillisioux's voice synced perfectly with the other's, as though this was a familiar song.
And she knows belief alone can't make it better.
The boy gasped, & his grasp tightened on the man while his tear-stained face seemed to grow angry.
Let us pretend it doesn't matter.
"N-no... That's wr-wrong, " D'aillisioux muttered out as he suddenly sprang away, his katana flying back into his hands as his eyes became glazed over & seemingly unaware of what he was doing, the small ponytail on his head curling up. For a moment, the pink strings appeared again, & the man's expression grew from confused to shocked as the boys bangs covered his eyes, leaving only the hint of an evil amber glare. "Deli! What are yo—" he yelled out before the strings then surged forward.

& suddenly, he was impaled on the katana, spraying sickly green blood & clouds of fungus spores behind him, but thankfully not onto anyone else.

"Hazel would never say that, she would never say that, she would never!" the boy screeched in fury, his expression one of complete rage as he thrusted his sword forward, causing his friend's body to fly off & suddenly be engulfed in a tornado of fire that twirled for a brief, blazing moment. Then, it became a spiral of flames that began to throw its balls of fire outward, whereas a large tentacle spike erupted from below & impaled the man. Both began to decay, but just as quickly as they rotted, they recovered; their necrotizing wounds were filled with a new layer of flesh that would bulge outward & then burst, leaving a gash that would then start the process anew. "D-Deli... what have you...done?" the man groaned out, & suddenly the other's rage melted into fear & regret. It seemed that he finally realized what he had done.
He finally realized what he had done, that foolish child, that emotional mess! Indeed was he correct when he said that he was a complete failure, indeed were his actions unbelievable! & now?
"I-I'm... sorry," he said, his legs shaking as he then collapsed to the floor, having to use his blade to support himself, "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have let this happen!" He stood up & sprang away towards his room, which he rushed into & slammed the door shut, leaving behind the other three to the silence & to the rot.

But only for a short while. Their brief respite was interrupted by the whirl of a portal, followed by a pale succubus with cyan hair & a white lab coat over a brown dress shirt entering through it. "Ao'sclari Ta'zshana here!" she called out, her eyes closed as she entered, "What's the problem, today?" When she heard no response, she began to take a look around at the crime scene, putting on gloves & letting a white snake hold onto her crook, which ended with a lizard-like crest. "Let's see... ah, Pâté Chaud, allow me to fix your right up," she said as her staff began to radiate with magical energy. She began to lift it upward, & as she did, the man's body floated up as well. "Well, that's really weird!" she said in a chipper tone, "But no worries, no worries. I can fix you right up!" When she had finished extracting him, her staff began to glow with an unholy purple aura.

She thrusted her tool towards the man, sending out purple beams that pierced him, only to instead heal him completely. "There we are, all better," she said, tuning towards the earless Brynne, "Mind telling me what happened?"
"I'm not sure myself," the fellow evidently named Pâté Chaud began, "I came back to D'aillisioux... he was standing over the one next to us with his sword in hand. I'm guessing he felt threatened & wanted to try to kill them, but I don't feel any auras or anything like that." He turned & gestured towards them, eliciting a nod from the woman. "You got it!" she said as she focused on her staff again, this time generating a light purple aura, "They aren't threatening, but allow me to see what happens..."
The restorative spell was Temporal magic, intended to revert the effects of injury by reversing the timeline in a small area — in this case, the injured Brynne's ears.

[Sunset]

Genomita...

"The temple guards are a good lot, if a bit overzealous at times, and they'll want answers. As do my colleagues."

Uh, what? Lae looked up at the Agent and then past him, golden eyes racing over the whole collective - especially the hazardous materials team. Something squirmed in his throat and he ran a purple tongue around his mouth before heaving forward onto his hands and knees and emptying his stomach all over the ground at Qas' feet. Falling back onto his haunches, he looked up at the androgyne, nausea painted across his bronze features. Wiping his lips with his sleeve, it looked for a moment like a speedy recovery until his eyes pinched closed, his lips twitched, and he turned to the side and heaved again.

"...tastes like rotten egavas," he groaned, once again wiping his mouth with his gloved hand. A few deep breaths and a goblet of spit and he pushed himself to his feet. "I don't know what answers I'll be able to give you but," his hand went to his mouth again and for a moment he looked as though he was about to chuck again but it was less pure will than lack of ammunition that kept his stomach in place, "I get the window seat..."

----

Whatever hope he might have had withered and died as his heart fluttered to a stop, blood pulsing out of the open wound that had been his lone eye. There was a last stuttering beat and the body went stiff, relaxing after a moment as whatever strength remained in his knotted muscles drained out. After a moment she became away of a shadow falling across them both and looked up to find herself surrounding by a ragged band of prisoners, rusty tools still loosely clutched in hands, tentacles, and pseudo-pods. One in particular - a large biped with an even larger head, dull green skin, and triangular black eyes - stepped forward to prop a pair of over-sized shears up against the remains of the cage and kneel next to her.

Placing a hand on the dead man's chest he waited for a moment before turning his head nearly completely around on his neck and finishing with a near-Human shake, "Ufile. Kodwa wena..." Standing again, he took up his implement and looked down at the shaman, his three nostrils flaring wide as he breathed deeply of the stone-dry air, "Ubulale Kutdli..."

Next Up:
----
Sterkistan
Semparia
Shwe Tu Colony...

[Monfrox]

Fort Amber, CBRN Threat Compound

Allison was nonplussed with Vir's attitude, but she guessed that the feeling was mutual. No need to drag things out, so she nodded with a sigh and started to lead him to the area they had kept the capsules stored. Anyone who tried to approach her was immediately blown off with some half-ass excuse about food or facilities or whatever she could come up with. They reached the capsules before Mariah and Kaul'i. The area was empty, as no one seemed to be interested some weird capsules that seemed to just be a delivery system from outer space. Well, that was the general consensus, so the only one still around was Katka.

Allison walked Vir over to his capsule and then looked down at him.

"I'm not sure but...if this thing brought you here, maybe it can take your back too."

Mariah, well, it was hard for her to conceal all of her surprise. Sure there were weirder things in the Zone, but it wasn't every day you got to meet a shapeshifter. Her mind briefly entertained the idea of guessing which was Kaul'i's actual form, if that was even her real name, or if she was even a "she" in the first place. But she walked with Kaul'i, who was now a man named Dutch it seemed. She looked at him, almost apologetically. Like she knew what he had said, but she put a hand on his shoulder.

"Well, sure we can leave. Sure we can just up and disappear to a place that has none of this to deal with. But, what would happen then? What would happen if all of us just up and left? Our whole region would soon be subject to the same horrors as they continued to expand their reign of territory throughout the whole world." She stopped him and walked around in front. "And that's why we're here. We are the gatekeepers. We are here to keep everything locked away behind the barricades, and make sure that it stays there. Because such is the motto of the Monfrox National Defense: If Not Us, Then Who." She did make sure to walk next to him now, though.

Within a few minutes of her friend Allison, Mariah had led Dutch into the capsule room. Allison looked over, and her face screwed itself up when she saw Dutch and not Kaul'i. Mariah shrugged, then tapped her nose twice and drew a pinched thumb and index finger from one side of her mouth to the other. Allison shrugged back with a tilt of her head.

[Sunset]

OOC Thingus:

So, I'm a terrible person and as you can see that means I haven't been keeping up with my posting duties. That all ends now - sorta.

I've got the scenario ready for ICE V and I intend to get the first post together and get it up inside the next week. Hold me to that if you want. However, for those of you who still want to continue this particular episode of 'In Case of Emergency', I will then work on getting wrap-up post(s) up as soon as possible. Got a few free days coming up, etc, etc.

That said, those of you who are interested will of course be invited to join the next episode when it is posted and I will link it here. If you do want a reply in ICE 4 - this thread - please post below and I'll get right on it.

~Sunset

[Semparia]

E y y

[Sterkistan]

V e r y c o o l

[Sunset]

Sterkistan...

In the Hangar Bay, With the Disembodied Arm...

Merissa forced her blood to form a large blade, bringing it down on the wrist of the disembodied arm...

...passing through it as thought it was made of nothing more substantial than slightly stale air. If her blade had left a mark it had already disappeared by the time she swung her head around to look. A moment later she was knocked sideways by the concussive blast as the Battlesuit fired, the round splattering against the outside of the pod as though it was suddenly made of far strong stuff than previously indicated.

"Don't worry," the disembodied voice continued, its tone now somehow soothing, "I'm not going to hurt him. Did I hurt anyone else? No! Well, maybe that four-armed furry girl. Her fault, really. But you," the voice was now directed at Kallum, "You'll be okay. You're a survivor!"

The hatch yawned behind him and then there was darkness. To those outside the pod was there one moment and gone the next, as cleanly as though it had never been there in the first place.

Medical Examination Room...

Images unfolded themselves inside her head; An open grassy space, family. But it was a strange place. Lights hung overhead though trees grew here and there. The grass - no, it was the floor - ran into the distance and began to curve up and away. There were memories there of a place where this was opposite of what it now was - where walls didn't border its world on both sides. There was sadness there - a recent loss - but also relief. It was the relief of a heart that no longer beat rapidly in its chest, thoughts that did not border on panic every time a shadow moved. Something left behind, but something to look forward to as well.

...Back In the Hangar Bay...

...you know, that third pod is still sitting there.

Next Up:
----
Semparia
Shwe Tu Colony...

Monfrox?

[Sunset]

Semparia...

They gathered as much of the purple gel as possible into a plastic container while preparing to saw the next container open. Plans are made to bring out the rat container in the purple gel container, but that can be finalized once the gel has been tested on for what it is and if it’s safe. As much of the gel is gathered that is estimated to still be safe for the creature inside, to make it easier to bring it out of the container and into the gel.

Meanwhile, an idea is hatched. While the “blood” is more of an inconvenience than anything else, the nano gel of the first container is quite useful. A bit is used on some dirt on the ground to see if the gel will clean it up, and attempts at producing more of the gel using the gel itself or just basing it off the gel are attempted.

It worked? Sorta. What had been your average garden variety dirt was - moments later - a very thin gray powder. Dirt being dirt, it was really composed of small pieces of organic material, fine minerals, and other bits and pieces. Analysis of the gray power showed that it was now of the middle variety with whatever organic material had been mixed in now fully consumed by the gel.

"Let's try it on something larger."

Like, say... Musca domestica. The common house fly, which was used the world over in laboratories for various things that one might want house flies for. Or not want house flies for. A sample was obtained, the gel applied, and... Nothing. It certainly seemed as though the micro-machines had a specific size or taste preference.

"The applications are..."

"What?"

"Actually, I'm struggling to think of... Surgery wards. It could be used for keeping out infections while patients are in surgery!"

"Oil spill clean-up?"

That one didn't pan out.

----

Meanwhile in the second pod...

"Vahenxe hasele tondalo so?"

"Did you hear something?" the first operator said, looking up at the second. They were in the slow process of cutting the pod open - one dull blade after another - when they both thought they heard something other than the squeal of a carbide blade against whatever material the capsule was constructed from. Gel still dripped from inside and per orders it was being collected in a large tub below before being whisked off by a pump towards... Well, wherever it was going it was unlikely that their bank accounts would reap the rewards.

"!Vahenxe hasele tondalo so?!"

"Yeah, I definitely heard something there - check the camera."

The second leaned over, expecting to see what he saw only to see that the rat - thing; whatever it was - had moved and was now staring at the camera through a slit yellow eye, a clawed finger tapping on the exposed end of the cable.

"Vanaheli. Zaveit. So. So? So?!"

Next Up:
----
Shwe Tu Colony...

Monfrox.

[Piethrixia]

OOC : https://youtu.be/Ke_AkJC92IA?t=12

Unkown Location | Reitsma System | Piethrixian Space

Suddenly a Massive Warship Comes out of warp, its massive cannons turn to aim at the beast. The ships maneuvering thrusters turn the ship to a spot where a full-on broadside is possible.

PAFDDD - 0182542 | Bridge

"[DATA REMOVED FROM LOGS] open a hail on all frequencies." The captain stands up. "This is captain [DATA MISSING] Of the Piethrixian Dreadnought 0182542. We have detected a distress signal and a large temporal Anomaly in this area, we will open fire on the large creature attacking you." He turns to his right to face his Tactical Officers. "Fire."

The massive ships Cannons and torpedo Tubes open fire on the beast. Thousands of Railgun Rounds fly through the space between the State of the art dreadnought and the old Deucalion class destroyer. The ships massive hangar opens to launch a bomber squadron at the Creature.

[Sunset]

New Dornalia...

Detective Kournikova stared at the rat-person-woman-thing, Jolene stared at the Detective, the rat-person-woman-thing stared at the cheese, and Doctor Ambrose slid behind an antique dressing partition before emerging a moment later adjusting his tie, "Yes, well - perhaps a drink?"

A practiced eye slid over the Detective and he took a handful of strides across the room to retrieve a bottle from the mini-bar and empty it over a handful of crisp, clear ice. Another followed and a moment later he was pressing them into curious hands while ignoring the questions that lingered in the air. Taking his own glass, he raised it and considered the contents for a moment, "A toast - to the hair of the dog that..."

A second went by and then a minute and with a glance shared between them the two women stepped forward, one waving her hand in front of the Doctor's face while the other plucked the glass from his hand and drained the contents with an ease that might have been remarked on if they were not too busy trying to figure out just what the hell was going on. Behind him there was the sound of whiskers twitching and the rat jumped down from the table, scurrying forward to dash between the three and then out the door but it was the Doctor to which all attention was paid. With fingers still curled around a glass that was not present it seemed that he might have suffered some kind of attack until Jolene reached out and with a pair of knuckles rapped him on the forehead.

"Wha... What was that for?!"

"He's not there," the mystic declared, taking a step back to close her eyes. "He's..."

"DEAD?!"

The Detective reached out and grabbed the sleeve of the Doctor's impeccably tailored white linen suit, jerking on it with every expectation that he would either collapse lifeless or suddenly spring back into motion to regale them both with some humorous anecdote. Instead there was a jerk of a different kind as his arms and legs went straight and he stood tall. Or at least as tall as an otherwise gangly old man should otherwise stand. His eyes went clear and both stepped back as his features flowed away first to baby-faced youth and then to gray androgyny.

"Thank you for using Celebrity Protection Service's Life Model Decoy Service!" a voice originating from someone on his body said, though the lips and face did not move. "Your limited service contract has now expired, Doctor Stephen Ambrose," it finished, the last sounding just slightly more fake than the already-recorded message. "For additional service time, please activate the customer service interface by saying 'Contact CPS Customer Service!' Otherwise wait and this unit will return to its cubicle in five minutes. Thank you for choosing Celebrity Protection Services and our newest Life Model Decoy Service!"

"Shit."

In an instant Kournikova was sobriety and motion and she jumped forward, knocking the dressing partition aside. Behind it was just what she'd suspected - a hatch formerly concealed behind the suite's decorative paneling and from the lights next to it it was clear that the escape pod beyond had already been jettisoned, "Shit, shit, shit!"

"What?"

"He's getting away - or at least he's trying!" she turned and dashed from the room as Jolene followed, a question unimportant in the moment but of critical importance to the fate of the galaxy following the Detective as she sprinted up the hallway; "But... What about the rat?!"