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thegreatspacerace2022-09-28 07:29 pm
space_aces) wrote in thegreatspacerace2022-09-28 07:29 pm
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TEST DRIVE MEME #1
WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD
Your journey only happened because of your benefactor, so it begets that it starts at your benefactor as well. SUPERBIA, which is as much of a location as it is an entity, is where everyone's search for Fortuna begins.
There's not much of a welcome party: shortly after their fateful encounter with SUPERBIA, in which they swore to join the quest to find Fortuna, the new Privateers will find themselves afflicted by a sudden change in perspective. See, teleportation is a tricky process, so from SUPERBIA's point of view, why not make the target destination none other than itself? One highly disconcerting moment later, and the Privateers find themselves inside the belly of the beast.
The vast mega-structure is shockingly lonely, void of anyone other than the Privateers. Those who look off the metal satellite and to The Network for intelligence (or take a skim at the Space Wikipedia article) will find out that the surrounding space is clear for lightyears; rumors have it that the place is cursed. It won't take long to understand why.
There's not much of a welcome party: shortly after their fateful encounter with SUPERBIA, in which they swore to join the quest to find Fortuna, the new Privateers will find themselves afflicted by a sudden change in perspective. See, teleportation is a tricky process, so from SUPERBIA's point of view, why not make the target destination none other than itself? One highly disconcerting moment later, and the Privateers find themselves inside the belly of the beast.
The vast mega-structure is shockingly lonely, void of anyone other than the Privateers. Those who look off the metal satellite and to The Network for intelligence (or take a skim at the Space Wikipedia article) will find out that the surrounding space is clear for lightyears; rumors have it that the place is cursed. It won't take long to understand why.
1Overclocked
The innards of SUPERBIA are that of an impossibly scaled up computer, and the Privateers start right in the middle of it. You are the spider living in the dusty PS4. Literal rivers of coolant, transistors the size of mountains, landscapes made entirely of circuitry. The sky, bounded by a distant metal ceiling, is constantly alight with coursing electricity that cracks the sky with lightning storms. It can be assumed that the Privateers are the first living things to set foot here, because such a place is not ever meant to be traversed by delicate, organic, mortals that worry about things such as "temperature" or "voltage". SUPERBIA needs not lifeforms to continue its operations; why design for them? Traversal itself is difficult: unscalable walls and perilous drops are common to encounter. The only company the Privateers will find are oddly adorable maintenance robots, which sadly seem too occupied by their directives of maintaining the massive machine to offer any assistance (or even acknowledgement of their new guests).
It is immediately clear that the most urgent priority is to get the hell out of here. Before your adventure ends at the starting line.
It is immediately clear that the most urgent priority is to get the hell out of here. Before your adventure ends at the starting line.
2Skeletons In The Closet
If one stays inside SUPERBIA, either by getting horribly lost or losing all common sense, one will notice a peculiar pattern emerge as one gets deeper into the bowels of the mega-structure. Passages shrink and become more level, and the incredible hostility and danger of the surroundings fade away, until one comes across areas which were definitely intended for humanoid organisms to use at one point.
The construction of these areas is cramped, unfurnished, and dreary; they are reminiscent of artificial environments meant to handle harsh external conditions like a submarine or bunker, but they are entirely livable. One can eventually find distinct rooms, but everything in them has crumbled to dust and their original purpose is nigh impossible to discern. Deeper investigation may reveal the few items that have stood the test of time. While it is more plausible for life to have existed here, that doesn't seem to be the case now. What happened here?
The construction of these areas is cramped, unfurnished, and dreary; they are reminiscent of artificial environments meant to handle harsh external conditions like a submarine or bunker, but they are entirely livable. One can eventually find distinct rooms, but everything in them has crumbled to dust and their original purpose is nigh impossible to discern. Deeper investigation may reveal the few items that have stood the test of time. While it is more plausible for life to have existed here, that doesn't seem to be the case now. What happened here?
3The Shipyard
In the opposite direction, when one finally reaches the outer edges of SUPERBIA, they will be rewarded with the place to pick up a spaceship and a stunningly beautiful view of outer space. The outside of SUPERBIA has no atmosphere to get between you and the stars, and they shine brightly, like a beacon calling one out into the first steps of adventure.
The shipyard is already filled with countless space ships of every size, form, and function, all autonomously constructed by SUPERBIA's factories over the countless years. What's the harm in taking one or twenty out for a spin? Even if one has no intentions of permanent ownership of the vehicle, it's not like SUPERBIA will miss it. For a Privateer with a more specific vision, however, there are kiosks around the yard which will allow one to design their very own space ship down to their exact specifications. When the process is done SUPERBIA's matter printers will have it out and space-ready right before your very eyes.
If a Privateer has a ship, vehicle, or large item that they intended to bring with them, they will also find them here, neatly parked in the Shipyard. Why didn't SUPERBIA extend this courtesy to the pilot's themselves? The answer is revealed as soon as the owner makes a closer inspection: the inner contents have been rearranged, like a whirlwind was unleashed inside and assorted loose items thrown around. Now aren't you glad your transportation was given special attention, and the same didn't happen to your innards?
The shipyard is already filled with countless space ships of every size, form, and function, all autonomously constructed by SUPERBIA's factories over the countless years. What's the harm in taking one or twenty out for a spin? Even if one has no intentions of permanent ownership of the vehicle, it's not like SUPERBIA will miss it. For a Privateer with a more specific vision, however, there are kiosks around the yard which will allow one to design their very own space ship down to their exact specifications. When the process is done SUPERBIA's matter printers will have it out and space-ready right before your very eyes.
If a Privateer has a ship, vehicle, or large item that they intended to bring with them, they will also find them here, neatly parked in the Shipyard. Why didn't SUPERBIA extend this courtesy to the pilot's themselves? The answer is revealed as soon as the owner makes a closer inspection: the inner contents have been rearranged, like a whirlwind was unleashed inside and assorted loose items thrown around. Now aren't you glad your transportation was given special attention, and the same didn't happen to your innards?
4Hot Crewmates in Your Area
But how will a single Privateer man an entire space ship? No worries: when one steps into a ship, the strangely endearing maintenance robots will suddenly take acute interest. The robots will follow inside and immediately start assuming the duties of a spacefarer, eliminating the need for extra hands on deck.
Even still, there's just no eliminating the want for a human touch, though. Thankfully even that dilemma has a contingency plotted by SUPERBIA.
Communication devices are easily available on every space ship. They come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from huge stationary consoles to portable smartphone-like screens. But whenever a Privateer attempts to access the Network, a pop-up will appear, obscuring the whole screen.
The device will be rendered unusable until one relents to the pop-up's demands and provides answers to its questions. What will these be used for? The mystery will be solved when a social media app mysteriously installs itself on the same device, with profiles preemptively made for every Privateer. Each Privateer's profile consists of their given answers, paired with embarrassingly candid photographs. SUPERBIA has eyes in many places it seems.
Even still, there's just no eliminating the want for a human touch, though. Thankfully even that dilemma has a contingency plotted by SUPERBIA.
Communication devices are easily available on every space ship. They come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from huge stationary consoles to portable smartphone-like screens. But whenever a Privateer attempts to access the Network, a pop-up will appear, obscuring the whole screen.
The device will be rendered unusable until one relents to the pop-up's demands and provides answers to its questions. What will these be used for? The mystery will be solved when a social media app mysteriously installs itself on the same device, with profiles preemptively made for every Privateer. Each Privateer's profile consists of their given answers, paired with embarrassingly candid photographs. SUPERBIA has eyes in many places it seems.
no subject
Oh good. [ Duo pauses for a moment to validate, the reflection of Heero’s face in the monitors telling a different story.
He’d thought for a moment that things had been a mess, considering that severe expression, but now breathes a little sigh of relief. ]
Why’re you lookin’ at the screen like it offended you, then?
I thought it was ten kinds of fucked up when I saw ya.
sorry for my shitposting duo
SUPERBIA must have made repairs.
[ That's the only conclusion that makes sense. Deathscythe is running better than Heero has ever seen it. Now, it's easy to imagine Duo half-assing the explosives and keeping the remaining bits and pieces of his big gundanium baby around for a rainy day, but Quatre and Trowa? Heero had expected them to detonate the suits like they meant it: to the point of no return.
He looks back to Duo. ]
What did you use to blow them?
no subject
‘Scythe didn’t need repairs, ‘Ro.
[ Duo says it in that quizzical way that isn’t sure whether he’s insulted or confused. It hasn’t even begun to occur to him that they may have come from different time periods.
Instead he shoves at Heero’s shoulder, nudging him out of his seat so that he can get his hands on the controls himself. ]
Get out. I wanna check the calibration.
no subject
He doesn't expect Duo will do anything better, but individual pilots do know intimately the idiosyncrasies of their own suits. With as many different machines as Heero has piloted into life-or-death situations, he's come to know that well. ]
I don't understand. You, Quatre, and Trowa agreed to destroy your suits.
no subject
[ Duo slides into the seat and goes right to work, clacking away at the controls and double-checking everything that Heero probably already has. He trusts Heero, but he also wants to make sure that everything is up to his specifications, too. It occurs to him that there are possibly a few items to make sure he still has tucked away in a few places in the cockpit, but...
Not while Heero is right here, anyway. Instead he's raising his head as Heero brings up destroying Deathscythe - brows raised in both concern and mild wonder that Heero thinks he would agree to such a thing in the first place. ]
Uhhhhhh... when the fuck did I agree to that, exactly? And was I high at the time?
no subject
[ How the hell would he know that. But anyway -
Quatre had mentioned in his communications that Duo had been the most reluctant, Heero recalls, but they had all willingly done it. ]
After the skirmish in Brussels and the sanction on mobile suits. You'd decided keeping weapons as powerful as the Gundams was a liability.
[ He knows Duo is absent-minded at times, but why does he have to narrate this information like Duo wasn't there? And now that Duo is up so close and personal, with both of them squeezed into Deathscythe's cockpit - why does Duo's face look... every-so-slightly rounder than Heero remembers it? ]
no subject
Oh, I'm better at covering than I thought on your end. [ Granted, he doesn't want to hear what Heero will have to say about it, either, so he generally only partakes when he doesn't really have to be around pilot 01, or when they're apart in general. Things are easier out with the Sweepers writ large, when it comes to these things.
But then Heero says about a skirmish in Brussels, and Duo squints at him, looking as though he's debating whether Heero's lost track of their battles or something somehow, lips pursing for a moment. ]
Yeah, man. I'm not sure what the hell you're talking about with Brussels. I wasn't in a skirmish in Brussels, and I sure as shit wouldn't call Deathscythe a liability.
no subject
[ And it isn't like they are few and far between, right? For someone so smart and socially capable, Heero still isn't sure how Duo can lack so much sense. Like right now, in apparently needing his own history narrated to him... but something seems off.
Time travel obviously isn't anywhere close to Heero's first guess. ]
Did you gain weight?
no subject
Oh fuck off. [ Duo’s eyes roll, a hand lifting to give Heero a little one finger salute before he’s back to checking everything. This is normal, sure, but he isn’t just going to take it, either.
Heero asks about his weight and Duo fully comes to a halt, turning to give Heero a very long stare.
He isn’t even close to sure about why Heero is asking this, to be fair, but this only gets more and more weird. Of course, in classic Duo form he throws up his hands to say he isn’t sure. ]
Hell if I know. I’ve been in fuckin’ space, man. So probably not.
[ either from muscle mass loss or forgetting to eat. Who’s to say. ]
no subject
Instead, he's looking Duo over with obvious scrutiny. It's hard to tell with Duo sitting and himself at an odd angle, but is Duo a little shorter?
That doesn't make sense. If he'd just come from space, he should be gaunt and perhaps just a little taller - before gravity got the chance to do its handy work on his intervertebral discs - not the other way around.
It's strange, though. He'd thought Duo was still on L2, trying to make his junkyard - his relationship? - work. ]
When did you launch?
no subject
Why’re you so interested all of a sudden in what the hell I'm doing?
[ it wasn’t like they’d had much contact, if any, since the war had come to an end. He’d gone to L2 and the scrap yard and Heero… well. Had been Heero, and basically disappeared. Despite that being what Duo had expected, it still rubbed him wrong, obviously, by the wrinkle between his brows at all of this questioning.
Yes he’s being difficult and he knows it, but he isn’t exactly interested in rehashing what he’s been up to now that Heero apparently suddenly cares to catch up. ]
You suddenly show back up and act like I exist again after the war and now you want my personal fuckin itinerary?
no subject
What is even the point of bringing this up now, when they're both here? There are some things that Heero will never understand, he thinks.
His back straightens, and one thick brow might be twitching subtly beneath the heavy fall of his bangs as he stares 02 in the eyes, the patience rapidly draining from his. ]
Duo. When did you go into space.
no subject
[ Duo meets Heero’s impatient stare with one of his own, though the dogged determination to be a pain in the ass is also far too obvious. Heero will likely know before the words leave Duo’s mouth that he’s intentionally not answering in the way he wants, now.
Regardless of the repercussions so far as Heero’s temper with him at the moment. ]
A couple’s times, whenever I felt like it.
no subject
[ That's it, that's the extent of Heero's temper - at least in this context.
But now he's in a mood (because of the temporo-spatial displacement and apparent sole lack of mobile suit) and Duo's in a mood (because ??? he's a brat) and Heero has gathered enough experience to know when he's wasting his time.
After rising fully from his half-lean onto Duo's cockpit seat, Heero turns to leave, reaching for the lever to ride down back to ground level. He's still got a ship to find and commandeer. One big enough to transport mechs. ]
Find me when you want to talk about the plan here.
no subject
Aren't I always? [ Duo is well aware of what he's like, or how he's behaving, most of the time. After all, it's all an elaborate set of acts to do his best to weedle his way around any and all situations that he can come across in the course of things. But when it comes to Heero in particular... he struggles to keep up a face.
Especially when he's off on tangents about Duo blowing up Deathscythe, after already being in his cockpit and running his diagnostics...
They're both fed up with each other in their own ways, to sum it up. ]
The plan we can talk about anytime. But we need Chang, too, or he'll be all wound up we didn't include him.
[ As long as Heero isn't asking about what he's been doing... it's on board for talking about, apparently. ]
no subject
[ Heero is already descending, but he doesn't bother to raise his voice, so Duo will just have to strain to hear as he disappears past Deathscythe's hatch on his way down. ]
I threw out your cigarettes. They were everywhere.
[ SUPERBIA's doing, probably - Duo's belongings were too haphazardly strewn about to have been left there by the pilot himself. Duo's a slob, but he's a slob with a system, as far as Heero's observed.
Anyway, you're welcome. ]
no subject
Oh, so you two have already come up with a plan!? [ This is a great way to end this conversation, absolutely. With Duo mad about multiple things, now, of course. He doesn't want to just follow a Heero and Wufei plan without his input on it, god damn it, and then -
And then he tells him he's thrown out his stash, and Duo....
Well, Duo is well and truly screaming now. ]
God damn it Heero!