Exaltica: Eden Awakening Saga, Sin Denial Options

[Sailerius]

Night falls on Eutocius, as if the idea of "night" as it exists planetside matters here. "Night" is an arbitrary distinction wherein most people are asleep.

The major, however, is not most people and circumstances are unusual. She restlessly paces back and forth in her office, occasionally shooting an impatient glance at the monitor on her desk to determine whether or not word had come from the supply ship. She jumps in surprise when an alerting beep sounds from her computer, stumbling over to accept the message.

"Major Jorich," the male voice on the other end began. The major's expression of relief faded.

"It's me, commander."

"Report on the status of the Venerate."

"She's dead in space, sir. We've sent a rescue team to recover Rem and the ship, but..."

"Is she alive?"

"There's been no report on her status yet. None of the survivors reported encountering her. She might not be on the ship at all. If she's on Morgan, should we--"

"Forget about her. Use one of the backups if it comes to that."

"Forget about her?! But sir--"

"If what happened on Morgan is any indication, then we can expect Andrew to show his face any time now. Rather than waste our time trying to find Rem, we should begin training a replacement ASAP. If Andrew shows up and we're not ready to fight, you know damn well what'll happen."

The major sighs and nods her assent.

"Yes, sir..."

"You look tired, major. Get some sleep. I'll see you back on base in a week's time."

---

"Morning" comes on Eutocius, although like night, it's just as arbitrary of a concept. Unless you've set an alarm or are self-disciplined enough not to sleep in, you have a hard time waking up without being roused from your sleep. Waking up when it's pitch black out and being told that it's morning is enormously disorienting.

But not as disorienting as the gunfire outside.

[Ereth]

It had been a long day. After finishing the cake and cleaning up, Aiko had waited patiently for her roommate to wake before making an offering of a slice of the simple sweet---and much to the baker's surprise and dismay, Arel had devoured it with relish and demanded that the rest of the cake be theirs (well, hers) and theirs alone. Aiko couldn't let her roommate eat what was meant for the rest of their party, so she was now stuck keeping watch over it. I hope they like it, she thought. Then she frowned. Jun would probably rather chew on an old sock. But she couldn't blame him for thinking ill of her, for she had never been normal. Her mouth set into a firm line as she heard the gunshots.

And now I'm even more of a freak.

[Nicsp]

Lars had pretty much done nothing but sleep and think ever since they had arrived at Eutocius, part of him was alredy wishing they hadn't left the ship so early and found out what happened in there first...Regardless, that little "bonk" he had received from earlier still hurted a bit and, although it had passed a bit by now, it had given him a bit of a headache. He decided to go to sleep, deattaching his mechanical arm from himself so it wouldn't get uncomfortable and then slowly resting his head on the bed.

Come to think of it, it had been a while since he actually slept in a good, comfortable, bed. The one back at that ship was too hard and back at his home he usually just dozed off in his office or in his workshop. For once, he had a peaceful sleep, until he was waken up by the sound of gunfire, that is. "Ugh...Seriously? Once all of this crap is done with, i'm going to start drinking." He quickly rushed over to his mechanical arm and attached it back to him. "I suddenly feel that it was really stupid to leave the gun on the ship..." Lars sighed.

[Tohsaka]

Five hours into his schedule sleep, Turk was called back into awareness by the sound of gunfire. "I love the sound of guns in the morning." Crawling out of his sleeping bag, Turk quickly put on his clothes, and put his gauntlet back on. He listened to the gunfire, trying to determine where it was coming from. Opening a locker, he retrieved his utility harness, and loaded some of the pockets with clean strips of cloth, and sheathed a knife along the lower side of the harness. "Let's not have too much fun today." Turk whispered to himself, hoping that the activity outside would go elsewhere.

[Sailerius]

Upon arriving at the area from where the sound of gunshots originated, you're stopped by UF military police. Because Eutocius is a Nexus Node colony, it isn't a sovereign territory but instead directly operated by the UF's Nexus Node Transit Authority (2NTA). One of the colony's main streets is presently being blocked off by the police, much to the anger of pedestrians as they're routed away. Curiously, there doesn't appear to have been an accident. In fact, the source of the gunshots isn't obvious until they're heard again -- coming from under the street.

[Tohsaka]

Turk's curiosity got the better of him, leading him towards the source of the gunshots. Seeing the UF military police, Turk stopped in his tracks and removed himself from view. This could potentially be troublesome if I don't do this right. The thought slide before him as his hands reached his knife. Unlatching and hiding it from view, Turk emerged and approached the blocked area. Hearing gunshots from below, he made a mental note to stick to above-ground paths until he had a clue of what was going on. Approaching a member of the UF military police, Turk began to ask, knowing that there were many other paths around this cordon, "What went down here? Is there a detour?"

[Ganonfrog]

More loud noises. Loud noises obnoxious enough to force him awake. Again. Who the hell needs an alarm clock when you've got a nice set of insufferable, dangerous sounds assaulting you every time you attempt to sleep?

Jun groaned and pulled himself out of bed with the same amount of mild annoyance one would when being woken up for school. At this point, the sound of gunshots was pretty much just a normal, daily occurrence. In fact, he kind of preferred it to "Emergency energy conservation is in effect.".

A quick look to Zhi prove that she was just as unmoved by the sound of gunshots as he was. Things are really weird when you can get scheduled and proper Zhi rolling her eyes in the face of danger.

"Wonderful... Jun, get dressed. We should see if the rest of our group is okay." She noncommittally ordered him as she stood up from her own bed, fixing her hair.

The morning routine was as casual as any other.

---------------

After a quick search around the building, the two of them wound up being led outside, to the streets where they thought the gunshots had been coming from. There, they met with the others, and the very strange realization that the noise was coming from under their feet.

After a quick shift of discomfort, Zhi looked to anyone else she could recognize in the small crowd. After seeing them all looking as baffled as she was, she scanned the area for anyone in uniform. If someone knew what was going on, it would have to be them.

Confidently, she approached the nearest officer outside of the forbidden area.

"Excuse me. Is everything all right? Is it all under control?" She asked him, making eye contact, and expressing just the right amount of concern for the situation.

[Ereth]

II should stay here. I shouldn't get in the way. I've caused enough trouble. Enough trouble. Enough . . .

She had put the cake in a small box to keep it fresh right after it had cooled. Now the box was on her lap, and she was on her bed, huddled over it like a squirrel protecting its winter cache. If I stay here, if I pretend nothing is happening, maybe it'll become reality, the baker thought.

Aiko covered her ears and shivered.

[Hirei]

Arel dropped to the ground upon hearing the gunshots. "I thought we were done with all of this dying business." She took a quick look at Aiko who was huddled over her cake before making her way towards the balcony on all fours. Bang! Another gunshot could be heard as she made her way outside.

It seemed that the gunshots were coming from elsewhere as Arel took notice of the crowd that was slowly gathering. Getting up, Arel brushed off her pants before running back inside towards Aiko.

"We're fine for now, but I think we should meet up with the others. Do you want me to go ahead of you or are you coming? I saw Jun and Zhi down below."

[Sailerius]

The officer turned to the civilians (Zhi and Turk) who were inquiring about the spectacle (or lack thereof). "The situation is under control. It's just fallout from the situation on Morgan." The street suddenly trembles with the muted noise of a bomb blast and muffled cries of pain come from underground. The officer with whom they were speaking grabs his radio, hearing it buzz, and turns to face away from the two to answer it.

"We need backup! Jesus, these things aren't human!" begged the horror-laced voice of the man on the other end. Before either of them could respond to the eerie message, they were approached by an officer wearing the Oraph uniform.

"Your presence has been requested at the waystation immediately. Please come with me." Individual officers were dispatched to fetch the other members of the group and they were all brought by personnel transport to the Oraph waystation, which sat at the edge of the colony near the Nexus Node. They were all gathered into a small conference room, where Major Jorich's secretary was waiting (the major was conspicuously absent). A window which overlooked the spaceport attached to the Nexus Node allowed curious eyes to catch a glimpse of important-looking cargo being loaded onto an Oraph ship with a throng of important-looking officials swarming around it. Among the objects being loaded onto the ship is the remnants of the mysterious craft they had spotted in the hangar of the ship they had awakened in.

Once everyone was gathered in the conference room, the secretary spoke.

"A shuttle will be departing within the hour for Erza and I have been instructed to ensure that you're all on it when it leaves. As it stands now, travel to and from Morgan is impossible. The circumstances are beyond my control, but you might be able to effect a change by helping out. What's in it for you? Well, employment for one. A job at Oraph comes with an appreciable stipend as well as security clearance so that you can be kept in the know regarding proprietary secrets relating to the Nexus and the situation on Morgan. The choice is yours, of course, but I'm afraid that, because of what you've seen, we can't just let you walk free. If you turn the offer down, you'll need to stay here on Eutocius under UF observation. So, what will it be?"

[Nicsp]

Lars curiously observed everything he passed by on his way to the conference room, his mind alredy making up dozens of theories about what could be happening. He then eventually reached the room to find the secretary, who then offered them a job offer, apparently. "You Oraph are a pretty problematic group, aren't you?" He chuckled and then continued, taking off his glasses and cleaning them with the tip of shirt. "I guess i really have no choice so...I'm in. Beats staying here with the gunshots, although i'm getting the feeling those are going to follow us all the way to Erza." He sighed and started pacing around. "Not like i'd ever be able to sleep peacefully again without figuring out what's going on anyways, this is all just too interesting to be simply forgotten, being curious does have it's flaws, i suppose..." He then looked back at the others. "Oh, my bad, that last part was supposed to have stayed in my head." He chuckled playfully again, turning to the windows and taking one more look at the cargo as it was loaded, he then turned his eyes to stare at the Nexus Node.

[Ereth]

So the Oraph want to shut us up, do they? Her grip on the box tightened.

Mr. Goggles---the man from before---had told her briefly about the Oraph, and the sight of their ship was forever etched into her mind. She remembered trying to stop them, trying to help Mr. Goggles take out that ship.

Aiko laughed. It was not an unpleasant sound, but it was strangely hollow, as if it were coming from a ghost.

"No amount of money in the world would make me want to work for you," she said evenly.

This post has been edited by Ereth: Apr 30 2011, 03:50 PM

[Tohsaka]

Glancing out of the window, Turk eyed the cargo being moved. Spotting an odd looking spacecraft, he made sure to note what he could remember from looking at it into his arm mounted data tool. I don't recognize that spacecraft. It's not any current or recent design.

Turning around, Turk scanned the room, making note of the collection of individuals. He didn't know any of them, and they didn't look like they were with Oraph or any scavenger faction. This would likely mean that Oraph had randomly collected individuals off the streets for some purpose, but what?

Whatever these guys are doing, it's secretive. Makes sense to choose unaffiliated randoms off the street- Likely, people that had no family or friends, people that no one would miss. Like me. Makes perfect sense. I have no family, certainly no friends, and very loose connections to anyone on Eutocius. After pushing a few switches, turning a knob, and pressing a button on his data tool, Turk turned towards the secretary. "Erza. Is that where that thing is headed?" Inquired Turk, pointing out the window at the Oraph vessel. If I'm an expendable, there probably won't be any surveillance. It's more likely that they'd assassinate me and throw me out an airlock. "I don't mind working for you, but I think you'll find that Morgan and the Nexus don't interest me. What other incentives can you offer me?"

[Hirei]

The navigator leaned against a wall with her arms crossed as she listened to what the secretary was saying. Every so often Arel's eyes would dart over to the window.The strange ship from earlier was being loaded along with other items.

" If you turn the offer down, you'll need to stay here on Eutocius under UF observation. So, what will it be?"

Arel was a little frustrated to say the least. The choices given weren't toot ideal to her at all. To her it seemed more of : Either you join us or else.

The obvious choice was to join. If they were hiding something, Arel would probably find out. She had utter confidence in her abilities to do so. ....The extra salary wasn't too bad either. If she saved up Arel could possibly buy her own ship.

"Sign me up. But I have a few questions to ask. The first is: Why can't we travel to Morgan? The second? What the hell is going on exactly on Morgan. Some of us have family and friends that we care about."

[Ganonfrog]

An offer for work? Work with a company far more interesting than an advertising agency run by his sister? Somewhere actually wanted him? He didn't care if it was for reasons of suspicion and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. This was the opportunity he never thought he would get.

With enthusiasm he hadn't displayed since he got off that horrific ship, Jun slammed a hand on the desk, and looked the secretary in the eyes. "I'm in."

-----------------------------

Zhi watched in growing discomfort as her brother jumped straight into agreement with the secretary. It was obvious that he hadn't thought through the requirements of the position at all, or what it would mean he would be doing with his life. Would he even be capable of doing what they wanted them to do?

"Are you sure about this? We don't know anything about this--" She started to intervene, only to find herself cut off by a harsh glare from the boy she was talking to.

"Yes."

Zhi looked away, still put off by his increasingly confrontational behavior. It was getting worrying. Even so, she found herself lost for a good come back for such a straightforward answer. It was obvious he wasn't going to budge on the issue.

Meaning that there was only one way to keep control of the situation.

"I'll also take the job."

[Ereth]

Everyone else---except for Nate, who was apparently still mulling the offer---had decided to join the Oraph, albeit with varying degrees of enthusiasm. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"You're all really going to take their hush money? Receive a paycheck from a bunch of murderers?" Aiko stared at the rest of the group, trying to understand their motives. For a moment, the only sound that could be heard was the shaking of the box in her arms. Then she spoke again.

"If you are . . . you don't deserve any cake," she declared, turning to leave.

[Nicsp]

Lars shrugged some, watching as Aiko was about to leave. "You're clearly misunderstanding the situation. Also, of course we're not deserving of cake we're not thinking with portals yet." He looked at the secretary and then put his hand on his chin, thinking, as he slowly turned his head back to Aiko. "We can't really affirm that Oraph is responsible for any kind of murder. Not to mention, i don't know about the others, but i am, particularly, very keen on finding out what happened and as such it becomes imperative for me to accept this offer...That and i've been kinda broke recently, anyways...A teacher's salary isn't really high...I'm rambling, sorry."

Lars slowly approached Aiko and lowered his tone, whispering to Aiko as he gently tapped her shoulder, his happy and untrouble smile never leaving his face. "Also...If they're really a bunch of murderers, as you say, i don't think disagreeing with them is a very wise path of action, hmm?" He stopped for a moment staring at the box in her arms. "Also, if you don't mind me asking, why are you carrying a cake box around?"

[Ereth]

"You're really willing to sell your soul for money?" she hissed. "You can join them if you want, but I know what I saw. And as for your ulterior motive," she continued, "it won't work. Not this way. They're obviously prepared for would-be spies."

Aiko knew very well she probably wouldn't leave the building alive, but she was prepared for that. She cast a glance behind her at the others and noted an unfamiliar presence. "Take care of the new guy," she said to no one in particular.

Opening the door in front of her, she strode out of the room. What would happen next was very clear.

This post has been edited by Ereth: May 5 2011, 08:58 PM

[Ganonfrog]

As Aiko started to step out of the room, Zhi turned to the door and followed. Instead of stopping her at the exit, however, she went out into the hallway with her, before placing her hand on the other woman's shoulder.

"Aiko, wait." She told the girl, stepping in front of her, and keeping her voice low. "I can understand why you're worried, and don't trust them. To be entirely honest, I feel the same way. Even so, does walking away and giving up your life to these people by staying here going to do what you want to? Nothing's going to happen here."

She sighs, and looks up into her eyes. "If we work from the inside, we can uncover the truth."

[Ereth]

Aiko stared at Zhi incredulously.

"You haven't seen what I have. On Morgan, back home . . . there was a ship blowing things to pieces. An Oraph ship. If you and the others really think you can stop them, then go ahead. But I can't help."

The baker's earlier seizure and visions had deepened the self-hatred already present in the most secret part of her soul. Whatever demons, real or imagined, that had threatened her then were now insisting on a takeover, and she feared the consequences.

"Let them---let them lock me up . . . kill me . . . I'm some kind of monster," she said softly. "If you don't, I cannot guarantee your safety---yours," she whispered, "or anyone else's. But at least I can trust you with this before . . . I am gone."

She handed the box to Zhi and smiled warmly, tears running down her cheeks.

"I made a chocolate cake. Oh, and Arel's had a piece already, so don't let her eat anyone else's."

Share it, and be happy.

This post has been edited by Ereth: May 6 2011, 05:16 PM