Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - Printable Version
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Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - danixiewrites - 12-09-2014
Anya rocked backward, an amused, snide smile on her lips. Seemed she wouldn't have to hurry to kill him after all. He was intent on doing it himself, mumbling inanities all the while. "Such a rush to die," she muttered.
Not that the raven-haired princess intended to let him go quietly. Even impressed at the other woman's speed and apparent knowledge in the first aid department, Anya rolled her eyes. That much blood...
...at least it would keep them both occupied and shut them up long enough for her to think.
Or not. Her ears picked out words from the would-be firestarter that didn't make sense, and again she wondered if they made sense in his world. Hell, perhaps fire wasn't even that big a deal in his world. She should let the pair kill themselves off, find a way out on her own, evade the creatures outside, and hunker down for the duration. Somehow, though, that had ceased to be the plan.
"If we're truly on another world, the rules may be different," she spoke to herself in the subvocal, grumbling at the entire situation. That they'd need each other wasn't exactly an eventuality she was prepared to accept, but Anya was slowly coming to grips with the fact that temporary survival--here and now--would mean strange bedfellows. She twirled a bit of flaxen hair with a thin streak of fire-red around her finger, loosened her grip on her hearing ability in an attempt to winnow out what was happening beyond their prison. Footsteps, churning sounds of slithering things, an overabundance of conversationally woodland sounds. She must not have been mistaken. The creatures spoke, and it was with the language of the very trees around them.
"He's delirious," she said, louder, "No one in their right mind would go by 'Toto'. I'm Anya." Although I don't see how it matters since at this rate you'll both be dead soon. She closed her lips around the rest of the sentence out of deference to her recent conclusion. Neither did she waste time with 'Nice to meet you' falsities nor ask what his name was in return. The minute one started properly naming things was the minute one began to get attached. "Give the bloody thing to me. I'll think of something. Unless...you or the princess has an objection."
An arrowhead was like a fingernail compared to her blades or to any sort of weapon made from the bone she'd pondered in her earlier frustration. It could still be used in the same manner...it would just take a great deal more time.
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - jazzhands - 12-10-2014
Zadkiel wandered cautiously through the forest keeping his eyes and ears alert. Looking at every tree and plant in case it came to life. Hiding whenever he heard footsteps and noises thinking it is another patrol of the horned natives. The detective felt less like a cop in these settings and more like a marine. His parents had pushed for him to join the Army of the Angels but Zadkiel had always felt like a soldier for justice. He was a cop first after all.
After some time wandering forwards, he came across a tropical lake and part of him wanted to stick his head in the water and take a giant gulp to hydrate himself. The Justicar knew that was a stupid idea though without knowing if the water was safe or drinkable. Pulling his Lawbringer out of the holster, Zadkiel gripped the bottle in his other hand tightly and approached the coast of the lake slowly. Sticking the bottle under, the angel saw the lake bubbling in the middle of the lake but didn't want to investigate the source. Once the bottle was full, he sealed it and put the bottle in his backpack. As Zadkiel was doing this, a large moss monster erupted from the water and the detective struggled to make sense of the creature.
It appeared to be some sort of blob beast that shifted in shape constantly and never held the same form for longer than a second. It moved through the water towards him quickly and Zadkiel quickly zipped up the backpack before backing up with the gun pointed defensively. The creature stopped at the edge of the water and the detective hoped it needed the water to survive and would stay stuck in the lake. A large part of the blob stretched out and flailed for the backpack in his hand. Zadkiel quickly leaps back and pulls the backpack away. Confused over why the creature wants his pack, the angel quickly puts it on his back and takes a few paces back to give him a good distance away from the lake.
Hoping the creature is aquatic, the Justicar walks back some more watching the reaction of the creature. Parts of the creature begin to pound at the spot where he had previously stood and Zadkiel breathes a sigh of relief. That relief is short-lived when it moves out of the water and on to land and lets out a strange high pitched screech. Figuring that can't be good, Zadkiel turns and sprints back the way he came as the creature slides forward giving chase using parts of itself to pull itself along the ground swiftly. The detective hears loud thuds behind him and fauna crashing everywhere and tries to focus on keeping ahead of the strange monster.
Suddenly, something hits Zadkiel in the back of his head and he loses control. Tumbling down to the ground, the cop does his best to roll and slides along the ground hitting a tree. Scrambling back to his feet, he notices the creature closing in with various logs and rocks held in makeshift limbs. Adrenaline was surging through his brain and flight sounded better than fight when he didn't know what he was fighting right now. Setting off quickly again, Zadkiel decides to try to weave his path between the forest trees to make himself a harder target.
A boulder breaks a tree nearby and the Justicar focuses on moving and staying calm. There isn't any time to let the pressure win as Zadkiel keeps his body heading back the way he had came. A light shines in the distance and the angel knows he is close to wherever the native had vanished earlier. Going in their home might be seen as hostile but it was better than staying out here with something he knew was hostile. Heading for the tropical flora, the detective tries to run past the flowers. However, the flora joined together tightly and tripped the detective up.
Failing to maintain balance, Zadkiel tumbled down a lengthy slope and crashed at the bottom. Coughing and struggling to his feet slowly, the angel found himself in some sort of underground tunnel. Looking around for his weapon, he spots it and begins to head towards it when strange sounds are heard behind him. Two of the horned natives pointed bows threatingly at him and Zadkiel wasn't sure if he could reach his Lawbringer in time. Magic could subdue the duo but he knew that would not help him look peaceful and so it was time to gamble on his offering.
Putting one hand up and getting on his knees to show he meant the natives no harm, Zadkiel quickly pulled his backpack off with his free hand and hastily opened it up to retrive his bottle. One of the horned things began making frantic sounds but the angel kept his appearance of bearing no ill will as he placed the bottle down in front of him. "Water. Water." Zadkiel had no idea if that word would make sense to either of the natives but he put both his hands up now and hoped they would pick up his peace offering. However, he was ready to try to roll to the side and get his gun if necessary.
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - danixiewrites - 12-13-2014
Interior defenders had been stationed at the creche entrance since the last incursion, just in case the Hornless ones who wandered the forest intended to try again. Which of course they did, and were met at arrow-point with severe consternation in the defenders' warning tone.
<You will not move, Hornless! You will pay for your un-yet crimes against our kindred!>
Except.
This one had a different sort of essence, set forward in supplication. The kind they all imbibed to further life, the kind the forest itself drank from most copiously, even before Darkness. The sound they made as they spoke to verify this between their hovering stance over him would have been much like the roar of an ocean wave, though neither had ever seen a great body of life-giving essence.
<No harm?>
<No harm.>
<This one is most loud in its wish to surrender.>
<Why did it not go to the trees?>
A brief pause, in which both defenders exchanged a look that seemed to say, perhaps all of the Hornless they'd met thus far were merely uselessly clumsy as an Ignored.
<Fetch SuElders?>
<No need. They know. We bring.>
And so one of the two-horned creatures stooped, taking the bottle with its precious gift inside, and drinking a whisper of a sip. Good, cool liquid. He passed it to his comrade, who did the same and then splashed a few drops to the roots surrounding them, the underground protectors who formed the tunnels. Then they both motioned for the Hornless to rise, and to follow. A line formed, one in front, one behind the stranger, and they led it to meet with the SuElders, who would decide its fate.
The SuElders were impressed by the offering as well, and water was passed around to the four-horned creatures, splashed onto hands, faces, feet, more roots needing the nourishment. Even the small ones, horns barely nubs, swarmed in to partake, before being dismissed to their tasks. <This is good. This one knows.>
One of the SuElders circled the docile stranger, pointing to his bag. <Hornless is friends with the attacking ones.>
Another shook its head. <It brings life. Perhaps there has been a misunderstanding. We must speak with the Elder.>
One of the warriors blanched. <No! The others will feed Darkness for days! Won't need us!>
One by one the SuElders turned to stare at the mere two-horn. <Do you think yourself privileged, to evade Darkness?>
The creature shook its head fervently, went down to one knee and sputtered in horror. <I didn't--I don't--please no--it can't--I didn't mean it!>
Someone snapped reedy fingers and the warrior was brought roughly to its feet, his bow and arrows hauled away as he whimpered.
<They both go to see the Elder.>
A brief discussion later, and Zadkiel was also searched for weaponry, then he and the mouthy warrior would also find themselves in a cage.
Which, with now five persons, was becoming quite cramped.
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - jazzhands - 12-16-2014
Zadkiel watched the two natives seem to enjoy his water and takes the moment to holster his weapon and stand up. When one of them motioned, he followed behind keeping his head moving all around to note down useful details of wherever he was. Not entirely enjoying the armed escort, the detective understood the necessity of it and focused on simply walking and observing and eventually finding himself in front of four-horned creatures that looked like the leaders of these people. The water was passed around and shared and Zadkiel felt a sense of pride that his gift was being well received. This could really lead to non-hostile and open negotiation...
...or not. One of the horned ones circled him and pointed. The cop narrowed his eyes at the gesture and hated the fact he could not understand their language at all. Another of their leaders seemed to make more friendly motions and sounds were exchanged before one of his escorts made a loud noise. Zadkiel watched the four-horned natives all turn and look at this native who made the outcry and his eyebrows raised in confusion when the one with less horns began to look afraid and kneel. A snap of fingers and the scared creature was dragged away leaving Zadkiel with the basic understanding that horns were equal to status.
A couple more of the two-horned natives approach and begin to pat down the detective causing him to try to speak up. "Wait. Peace offering. Why?" His words were either ignored or not understood at all as his Lawbringer was taken away from him and Zadkiel bit his lip at the removal of his beloved weapon. "Give." The creature holding it just shoved him and Zadkiel found himself being escorted to a cage. The angel turned and glared at the culprit holding his gun. "I will not forget this." He is then shoved into the cage and locked inside with the scared two-horned native and other people who don't appear to be native.
Zadkiel watches the one holding his gun place it in a large basket close by with other weaponry before the native stands guard with one other. He begins to pay attention to the other captives and notices that one of them is the hostile woman from earlier. "Great. Just what I wanted." However, his eyes switched to the more important scene of a woman applying pressure to a wounded man with a towel and the angel moved quickly into action. Talking calmly to them both, he knelt down and spoke. "I don't know what happened here but time is important. I have magic that can heal this wound. Just trust me."
The Justicar put his hands out and gently moved the towel away before placing his hands on the bleeding wound and began to focus his energy on the area. His hands lit with white energy and the man would begin to feel his wound healing. Zadkiel kept his spell going until the man's wound was no more before taking a seat against the bars of the cage to give himself a moment to recharge. His face looked up at the woman he had encountered before and his green eyes glared at her.
"Did you do this to him?"
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - danixiewrites - 12-23-2014
The fleck of sharp, bone-white material disappeared into Anya's palm. She withdrew, backing against the wall of the cage. At least with the round shape, she felt less like she was retreating to huddle in a corner, more like she was simply sitting back and strategizing. She was less grateful for that a moment later. The far wall opened up and a creature was thrust face-first through the gap in the vines, followed by a more familiar stranger. She growled as the gap closed, fallen fools in her way and too many guards for one arrowhead to subdue.
She sized them up. The creature cowered. What could the enemy have done to be thrown in here with them? ...Perhaps he was meant to be lunch, if one judged by the fatalistic way he scratched against the part of the cage that had opened. Sad, four-fingered brushes of his hands against the wall, soft shushing noises to the vines that surrounded said walls. Plaintive, but hopelessly so, as if he begged and knew that no one heard. The vines nearest him twitched in response, and Anya thought she might have an idea that didn't involve sawing.
She just had to figure out the right combo of sounds to make them do more than twitch.
The trenchcoated man, by contrast, did not cower. A survivor. She watched as he approached the others, heard his strange claim, and watched in an admittedly sizable amount of awe as he did, indeed, heal the dying man. Was he more like her than she'd thought? Human, but inhuman? It seemed the physicians had selected several types of people to try out their dimensional transportation method. A survival test, then? Some sick game? Or perhaps a competition, with a heavily skewed outcome for their betting brethren? All of the scenarios collided in her brain and she cursed under her breath. This wasn't home, for anyone here except the doomed creature by the wall. Anya's shoulders sagged with the weight of her decision, but she knew there was no helping it, not when their odds were both improved by a man able to heal, and hindered, by a plague of general stupidity. Her play would have to be sticking a blade through the physicians' eyes--by first making sure everyone here made it out alive, then going home and doing so in a far less metaphorical sense.
It was too bad they hadn't opted for the best and the brightest in whatever game/test/competition they'd set up here. This lot...it was going to take effort to keep them all alive.
Especially when she really didn't want to.
She watched as the light faded and the healer took a spot along the wall. He looked tired.
They all did.
But then he was casting accusations her way and Anya glared back, her blue eyes flashing. "Of course not, Firebringer. If it had been me, there'd have been nothing for you to heal."
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - tanith - 12-27-2014
Blood. Blood. There is too much. He is going to die. He is going to die!
Her mind screamed, but somehow her body moved on her own. She was determined to help him. Not long after her course she had been shopping for some new shoes when a woman had collapsed in front of her. Diabetic shock. She knew what she had to do and yet she stood there and watched the woman as she grabbed hold of a rack of sunglasses and pulled everything down with her. The first thing she did, rather than assist the woman, was to fumble for her mobile phone to call 911. Even then she was not very helpful as her hands were shaking so violently that she could not punch in the numbers. Moments later she was shoved aside by a store clerk. Now here she was in a position where she could actually help someone once more. Victoria was not going to remain idle and watch him die. Of course, at the rate things were going it would seem as if her efforts may not do him any good.
Indeed she heard the the sounds coming from the other side of the cage. While she wanted to look up to see what was going on she felt she just could not afford to take her attention off of the bleeding man. They were screwed anyway, being in this cage, at least she could make herself useful in the end. Whatever that was worth. Victoria continued to apply pressure to the wound, but it just didn't seem to be making much of a difference. She began to grind her teeth, her fear and anger clearly visible as her featured contorted into a grimace.
"Why aren't you helping you stupid bi-" Violently she lifted her head up to curse out the other woman and found herself facing someone new. ".....-itch."
Lips parted slightly in surprise. But no time was wasted. He was already removing the towel away to use his "magic" At first she tried to push the towel back, but his calm tone and gentle movements was somehow soothing and Victoria found herself backing off to let him treat the wound. Eyes flickered between the bloody mess to the healer and then back again. She began to wonder how all of this was even possible, but then gave up on it. It would appear that anything was possible.
Before her very eyes a man was healed by the hands of another. If only people in her own world could possess that skill. But would they even use it for good? Somehow there would be a price tag on it. Victoria shook her head, no time to think about such things. Satisfied that Kieran would be fine for now, she felt her muscles relax slowly. She turned to thank the healer but was disappointed to find that his attention was on that nasty woman on the other side.
"He was already hurt when we got here." She said softly, moving so that she could sit with her legs crossed. As mean as Anya was, Victoria knew she didn't deserve to be accused for such a thing. She wasn't surprised that the man would think she had something to do with it though.
"Wha-!" It was at this point that our very observant Victoria realised that there was indeed something else in the cage with them. One of the creatures from before. She pushed herself back with her feet and scrambled to stand only to end up falling back down on her backside. Her panic was short lived as she saw that no one else appeared to be alarmed by it's presence.
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - jazzhands - 01-07-2015
Zadkiel heard her give him the nickname of "Firebringer" and rolled his eyes. "Cute petname." The other woman defended the one he accused and the detective figured he owed a small apology. "Sorry for thinking this was you. But with you attacking me earlier...it isn't like it came out of nowhere." Stroking his chin, the cop tried to think up his next move. The plan to negotiate didn't appear to go that well if he wound up locked up with the other prisoners.
His eyes moved to the native that had been thrown in here with them. Zadkiel knew that if they both spoke the same language, he could pump it for information. Be it an interview or an interrogation, questions would get the group answers. But his datapad and wrist bracelet didn't serve him much use in helping him to understand the creature...that was when the angel's eyes suddenly lit up with a vital realisation and he spoke out loud to the group.
"I'm going to assume everyone here is part of the dangerous and illegal experiment. If that is true, did you guys get datapads in your backpacks too? Mine only helps with local customs and laws but one of you might have something to help us communicate better with the native in here with us." Zadkiel continued to sit to recover from healing the man but his eyes would continue to move and observe the others.
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - Panda - 01-26-2015
It was an odd feeling, Kieran decided, to be healed like that. Perhaps he was just strange, but he would hve sworn tht he could actually feel the sensation of his flesh knitting back together, his veins refilling with blood. In fact he was fairly certain that beyond even the concussion, that headache he had first woken up with had faded. With all of this you could hardly blame Kieran for allowing himself to hope, if only for a moment, that his last 'affliction' would vanish. His hope was in vain however, as even with the strange healing his memories did not return. All this of course took place while the man who healed him was accusing Anya of being the one to stab him, and being rebuffed, but as his thoughts again turned to outside his own head he heard the man who had healed him mention them being in an experiment and a bag. Like the bag he still had with him. Hmm.
He'd go back to that thought in a moment. for now he'd bask in the lack of pin for a few more seconds, before focusing on wht he considered to be the important prt of those statements. That said he carefully pushed himself back up into a sitting position, and turned to look at Zadkiel as best he could without turning his back on Anya or the horned creture that was apprently in there with them now as well. Odd. Something else to think on in a moment. Instead he spoke to the healer.
"So, nameless man with the glowing hands, since you seem to already know that this is an experiment when these damn wristbands had to give us that information, might I hope you have a way for us to get out of here? Maybe even get back home?"
He paused for a moment there, before shaking his head and muttering 'At least for those of us who remember where that is.' Then a thought crossed his mind now that he was thinking more clearly and he turned to Victoria with an apologetic look on his face.
"Oh, and I'm, uh...sorry for freaking you out, and bleeding on you, and stuff. I wasn't exactly in the best frame of mind there I hope you understand, what with blood loss, a concussion, and...other factors."
Oh how he wanted another cigarette to celebrate not dying. Except that he only had so many with no knowledge of when he might find more, and since they were still in a cage it might be a premature celebration anyways. Instead he distracted himself by waiting for replies, and digging through his bag to find the 'datapad' Zadkiel had mentioned. Turning it on, and taking a glance at the basic information and started chuckling. He just couldn't help it.
"The universe has a sense of humor it seems. This pad thing is filled with medical information."