Lt. Haukea-Willow: Oh the places we’ll go
Aly Drolet
((Sanctuary Districts - Virtual Lifescapes - Starbase 118))
Further afield, yet within earshot, another verbal argument between a resident and a guard was becoming heated, the guard calling for further back-up, more uniformed officers arriving. Said officers, upon arrival, surrounded the arguing individual, which under non-holographic circumstances would likely lead to several of the quartet intervening, Sash and Haukea included. Yet, as they walked onward the alleyways, streets narrowed, darkening. The quartet perceiving many gloomy faces.
Wethern: Not quite the San Francisco district on the base is it.
Kreshkova: Response
Ross: Fine. I guess we need to start interacting more in order to find a storyline.
Wethern: ::Gazing at a map on the wall:: We should be close to where the beer is according to the computer.
Kreshkova: Response
Ross: Look, over there. The house's door is wide open!
Ross, arm out, gave notice to one shabby house front, several individuals gathered on the steps, silent, faces gloomily turned away, coming and going, unbothered for being noticed.
Wethern: Maybe a covert bar like a speakeasy.
Willow: Speakeasies developed because of liquor being illegal. I don’t think that’s the case here. Yet, you may be right. They do not want a good thing running out.
Kreshkova: Response
Ross: Well, even if it is a trap - what's the worst that could happen? We might trigger an event and get to know something.
Wethern: Maybe even a hidden story line.
Willow: You never know until you find out, give it a go.
Kreshkova: Response
Ross, ever confident, stepped forward, expecting to easily enter. However, entry barred, a lean, worn-out individual, face painted in shadow, gave face. Haukea, herself, half expected as much, keen on the idea that residents of the districts were hard pressed, territorial for the little private space available or afforded to them.
Stranger: Private Party.
Ross: Oh, I think we're invited.
Wethern: The name is Freely, I.P.
Willow: Ms. Willow. Pleasure. I’m with him. ::She gestured to Wethern with her thumb::
Kreshkova: Response
Stranger: You're new, huh? If you're smart you turn around and leave right now.
Ross: ::Sighing in frustration:: Look, I don't have time for this. Make way, will ya?
Ross, playing into the narrative, accompanied Wethern, sidling up towards the nefarious individuals present. Haukea, quip on the top of her tongue, waited with bated breath.
Wethern: Hey Ugly, my friend is talking to you. We have an invite to the party.
In this instance Haukea opted to play into Wethern’s insistence of an invitation.
Willow: ::Hamming up a “fake” damsel in distress attitude:: Oh Freely, how would I ever get into that party without you? I could have sworn they knew.
Kreshkova: Response
Corey laughed, while Ross, precautionarily moving backwards, evaded the shine of a knife, presented ominously by the occupants of the house. Haukea, in response, instinctually dropped her act, all seriousness returning to her face, limbs shaking, heart rate spiking. Never in all her experience with holodeck technology did, safeties on, she sense genuine unease at common dangers. Furthermore, unregistered with her own mind, did she ever previously have such a physical reaction to emotions such as unease, or fear.
Wethern: Why does everyone want a fight here?
Ross: Calm down, alright?
Stranger: ::in a weirdly monotonous voice:: I will comply. Physical confrontation will increase the experienced thrill. Thrill is a crucial part of a challenge.
Willow: ::Matching eyes with Ross’s narrowed pair:: I…I ::The words stuck. Haukea cleared her throat to rid herself of the sudden hoarseness:: I believe, if the safeties are on, the danger should not increase.
Kreshkova: Response
Wethern: Fine have it your way.
Stranger: Thrill is a crucial part of a challenge.
The motion was quick, blurred before the eyes. Ross jumped backwards off the front steps, away from the lean individual, voice echoing, resonating off the bones of Haukea’s skull. However, in the same instance, many individuals listlessly turned away, the lean, imposing figure jamming the knife into Corey’s side. Haukea herself only screamed at the sight before her eyes.
Yes she had seen colleagues bleed before, yet during missions. The holodeck, with safeties on, as they should have been now, was a place, ironically, of safety. The juxtaposition had caught the typically cheerful Risian off guard, the action by a holographic individual unexpected, heart already beating wildly out of control. And in retrospect she had been letting her defenses go lately, the past several missions, if you could call this that, making her feel less at ease than usual.
Stranger: Thrill is a crucial part of a challenge.
Wethern: Uh, Ross, guys maybe a little help here.
Corey, having spoken, had all eyes on him. The medic was supporting his body weight against the wall, complexion pale, shaky. Nearly as shaky as Haukea’s own limbs, screaming having ceased. Still Corey was actively oozing blood, not typical for a casual holodeck adventure.
Ross: Sh##! Are you alright?! ::rushing to Corey's side, trying to support him:: Is this real?!
Willow: ::Face expressionless:: It can’t be.
Kreshkova: Response
Ross, unlike Haukea, had adrenaline rushing through his veins, spurring him onward into action. Haukea on the other hand, brain absolutely in the wrong headspace, if not mindset, to deal with a mission level crisis, her body unprepared for the myriad of possible dangers they could encounter, slipped.
Typically, post mission, the Risian merely moved forward, dwelling not on previous misfortune. In this case, Solaris, the pair sat side by side, wrestling with a Borg consciousness forced its way into her mind. It was the life and death situation that appeared to sting deeply.
Ross: Computer! End program!
Stranger: ::Continuing to stare in unnerving indifference:: Thrill is a crucial part of a challenge.
Willow: ::Mouth full of saliva:: No one challenged you.
Kreshkova/Wethern: Response
Saliva filling her mouth, stomach rolling, Haukea placed the back of her hand over her mouth. Her throat too felt clogged, an unknown substance moving to evacuate out the wrong end.
Ross: ::Grasping Corey’s shoulder, attempted to lower his companion to the ground:: Come on, sit down, pal. Try to breathe, alright? ::to Sash and Haukea:: Try to contact the other team! We have to stop the program now!
Gagging, avoiding eye contact with Corey, Haukea fished the cellular device out of her pocket, pressing buttons wildly, until, by some miracle she found Tito’s name.
Willow: ::Shoving the cellular device into Sash’s hands:: You’re… ::Voice sticky:: going to have… to talk … don’t think I can.
Kreshkova/Ross/Wethern: Response
Willow: Think I might be sick… ::Swallowing harshly:: Combadge or not, don’t think they want… want to hear that.
Kreshkova/Ross/Wethern: Response
Willow: The blood… ::Gag, swallow:: Keep firm pressure.
Kreshkova/Ross/Wethern: Response
OOC: You know when your PC seems to automatically tell you what is going to happen? Yeah that happened here with Haukea. I found a connection to Frontier day/Haukea told me this is what’s going to happen and why, so I went with it lol. >3
