⇨ POLARIS 3.0

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: Day 115
Where: Polaris
What: On the morning of day 115, a couple hours before the technicians would come to pick up the test subjects, the escape plan will officially come into effect. If your character has been left out of the loop up till this point, feel free that someone hastily explains the plan during the initial phase! The meat of everything else will be played out via megathreads and any private toplevels people want to make.
Warnings: Probably violence.

PEER REVIEW↴ The plan starts with getting everyone out of their cells. Childermass is going to be using his Gilded Mark to enhance his shadow movement abilities, unabling him to teleport himself and other people out of containment. If your character has other ways of escaping they are free to pursue that, but on a base level, it can be assumed that everyone gets out thanks to Childermass. (Thanks Childermass!) Once everyone has been removed from their cells by some means or another, they will be forced to split into teams as swiftly as possible, as the moment people start breaking out, negative attention from the staff will start building. The area is poorly guarded at first, but as people become aware of the breakout, more will arrive. Gild, speaking on behalf of her inside plant, will say that those that 1) want to get their stuff back, 2) want to find Ignatius, should get the assistance of their allied Deltas to access sector A5. From there, they will have to access Polaris's storage in A3, a neighbouring sector, and find access to C2, the station where Ignatius is being held. They should expect to be met with armed resistance, but with any luck allies will be there to assist them. In general, characters will be most effective if they back one of these major objectives: ► TEAM LOOT: This team is trying to get back the items and pets that were confiscated when the group was brought into Polaris. Their objective, according to their allies on the inside, is to get to A5, and then make their way to A3. The important thing is being able to locate their stuff among a sea of other items, and to make it through security in order to reclaim it. Gild's plant has said that they will assist with this. After getting these items, Team Loot may wish to merge with Team Rescue. ► TEAM RESCUE: This team's primary focus is to get to A5 and then make their way to C2. If desired, they may wait for or join with Team Loot, or they may strike out ahead in order to take advantage of the element of surprise. The key factors are obtaining a way to access C2, as well as being prepared for armed conflict with the technicians guarding it, as well as possibly the Mother of Invention herself. Though, the ideal is that Gild will be distracting here at that time. ► TEAM DISTRACTION: This team can do their thing wherever they please, as their main intent is to sew general discord and distract the staff from the teams doing more important things. They should be prepared for armed resistance, but what tactics they pursue beyond that point are highly variable. ► TEAM FORTRESS: This team is attempting to set up a protective base of operations in the original sector in order to survive the conflict and protect their noncombatant comrades. How they accomplish this is also highly variable. Other objectives may exist, of course, and can be made with their own separate top levels. Chunks of these megathreads will have to be played out in summary form, so when characters are simply trying to get from place to place and specifics aren't necessary, feel free to stick to that format. Assume that everyone is already out of their cells for the purpose of the megathreads. Here is a shitty map of how the sectors connect, from a side view of the central Polaris hub.

Comments

Syrlya | OTA post megathread

[chronosynthesis]

[Closed to Steven]

By the time Yuusei brings Steven to Syrlya, he's fallen quite still, almost deathly so with his eyes closed. He tries to focus just on breathing through the pain, taking short, faint breaths against his broken ribs.

But when he gets a sense from his arm of him closing in, he opens his eyes and tilts his head to look at him.

"Ah, Steven," Syrlya offers him a strained smile. "Did you ever find your gem?"

[Bedrest]

For the rest of the day, and the day after, Syrlya will be stuck laying with the other injured, maybe (hopefully) with a blanket. Steven's plant and healing magic, and Syrlya's biology being quite predisposed to magic, mean that the worst of the internal damage--broken ribs and spine--are mending without leaving him physically crippled. It's still inadvised for him to be up and about, though, given the weakness of recent damage to his bones on top of bruising and mild bleeding. And as much as he hates to admit it, it still hurts to try and stand up anyway.

But he's not good at rest, and often when someone stops by the room or walks too close to the door he lifts his head to call out. "How are things out there?"

[soft_focus]

By the next morning of things, Reira- being destined for the duty of sticking around the apartments while all of the settling down goes on- is nicely showered, cleaned up, and once again wearing her cut-apart beta shirt. It's nice, in her opinion.

Reira even has a bit of a job with the injured- just little things, like asking how they are, or getting them water, or something. Stuff she can do.

Naturally this also means that while she initially grins and prepares to call Syrlya's name upon her entry, the grin quickly drops as she blinks. "...I don't know. I just came here. ...It's probably okay though."

Reassuring...

[chronosynthesis]

Well... he supposes they aren't telling her that much about whatever organization and clean up they're doing? He actually doesn't know, but there's no point pressing if she's ignorant.

"Better than before, at least." He absently flexes his crystal hand. "You've been helping Doctor West, haven't you?"

[soft_focus]

Of course they aren't. They'll have said they're fixing things, it's fine, and gone on their way. That's just how it gets to be with her- she's been over this, Syrlya.

Reira nods though. "Yeah. Doctor Herbert and Yukio are showing me how to do some things, like help with bandages...for if they get too busy," she adds. It's not a bad idea- between those two, and Steven for that matter, things probably get stretched rather thin. Someone to handle the minor things is handy.

[chronosynthesis]

"I am sure they appreciate it." Because it's a small medical team, and a bunch of people got their shit beat in that fight. He glances around the area absently, but since he's really one of the worst off most people have probably found some mobility by the second day.

"I take it you were not hurt, then?" Reira's one of the carnival civilians, and those he's usually more worried about being an unfortunate casualty.

[soft_focus]

She shakes her head. "...I've been in here the whole time. I talked to some of the technicians we tied up, and told them it would be okay too," she adds conversationally, moving to take a seat somewhere, "But mostly they didn't believe me. I think they believe me now though."

She thinks. Thinks. Anyway. "Umn! Do you need stuff though? Like water?"

[chronosynthesis]

"They will need time." Much like those in the Manor needed time to grasp and come to terms with their sudden, newfound freedom.

Otherwise, though, he shakes his head. "I am all right for now, thank you."

[moonfang]

It's much later that day when a certain ghost shows up to check on Syrlya. His clothes seem miraculously repaired and cleaned.

"Oh, you know. A mess," Zangetsu says, striding into the room. He pulls up a chair to sit next to the bed. "There's still the torn up shell of a giant robot woman out there and a bunch of broken glass. I think we've managed to track down all the soul pieces, though."

But his good humor fades quickly, and he frowns. "... Listen. I'm sorry I wasn't able to protect you. You and Peridot got hurt because I wasn't strong enough."

Even though the odds were stacked high against them, Zangetsu still considers it a failure.

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya's expression twists wryly... although it drops when it does for Zangetsu, faintly surprised.

"We managed to kill one of the Fae with no fatalities." Syrlya moves to prop himself up just a little with his arm, being gentle not to bend his back too much to be slightly more level with Zangetsu. "I would call that an impressive success. This is a risk I will survive. You've done well, Zangetsu."

[moonfang]

Zangetsu still looks a bit put out. He and his master are one in the same, after all -- and they always put too much on themselves. Expect too much, aim unreasonably high... and then suffer all the more when they can't meet their own ridiculous expectations.

Zangetsu tries not to be like Ichigo, especially in that way, but it comes out regardless in moments of weakness.

"... The person I am meant to protect isn't here. Forgive me if I... take my assigned jobs a little too seriously. You're right, what we did was incredible and unheard of," he offers a wry grin, "Some might say it was impossible."

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya starts to chuckles, although it gets a little muffled in a choked breath as that's a little too much on his crushed chest.

"We are quite good at accomplishing the impossible." That's what always been expected of Syrlya, anyway. "I trusted you because you take it seriously. I am only reminding you that you did more than enough that you made a difference... especially with regards to rescuing Ignatius."

There's a pause. "That's quite a far cry from how we met him in the Athenaeum, isn't it?" The irony isn't lost on him.

[moonfang]

Zangetsu leans back, smiling a bit now. Impossible. Yeah. They do make a habit of defying all the odds, don't they?

"Well. I'm still sorry she smushed you like a bug. Just accept it so my brain can move on from this."

Ah, Ignatius. How his relationship with the Carnival has changed...

"It's completely different. Maaa... I guess it's a good thing we kidnapped him, in the end? Who would have thought. Now he's the strongest ally we have. Without him, the idea of taking on the Huntsman is... whew. Scary."

[chronosynthesis]

"Apology accepted." He settles back against the bed, giving his arm a rest from supporting him. It didn't get him very high up, anyway.

"I admit, I am a little surprised he's chosen to be our ally after everything." Syrlya isn't complaining, of course, it's just... it makes him wonder how they actually earned his sympathy. "But if that is the case, I suppose we will treat him like one. How is he?"

[starseedling]

Steven looks very apprehensive as he comes upon Syrlya - he can already feel his pain. This is bad. Very bad.

"Yeah," Steven says, worry thick in his voice. He sets down his gem on the ground beside them, as its apparently still separated from his belly. The hole it left behind is now out in the open, a concave hole in his gut that comes to a point like the base of a diamond. The perfect match for the gem beside him.

"I'm... I'm going to heal you, okay? It's... it's gunna be okay," he tries to reassure him, even though Syrlya isn't the one panicking.

Steven gently places his hands on Syrlya's arm, feeling with his plant magic to see if anything seems broken there. He's never done this before, but maybe he can do this like he would with any other plant.

[chronosynthesis]

"I know, Steven," Syrlya assures as the one between them who isn't panicking. The biggest thread is dead, after all, so things can only go up from here.

Luckily for them both, Steven is absolutely able to sense along Syrlya's body like any other plant. He's certainly of the more magical, creature-like variety, but that really only lends to his responsiveness to magic interacting with him.

The damage is deep. Shattered bones and bruises running deep into his flesh. Syrlya looks aside, watching everyone else mill about.

[starseedling]

It feels really bad. Like a crushed flower. Steven winces.

He licks his palms and sets them on Syrlya's arm, letting his healing magic flow through while also shifting the damaged plant material back into place. Like he could repair a broken branch or stem, he will intuitively feel out where his interior parts should meet up and grow. It will take him a little while, but eventually he will shift things into a configuration that feels healthy and right.

"Did that hurt? Does it feel any better now?" he asks. He's starting on the normal arm because it seems less risky in case he screws up. He just wants to know if he's on the right path.

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya sucks in a sharp breath so he can hold in any further reaction as his bones shift and start to mend back together. There's a definite flash and feeling of pain, but he gives Steven a slightly strained smile all the same.

"It's--helping, thank you. I can feel it." Painfully so. And slightly dizzy with pain, he can't stop his crystal arm as it reaches over and his hand settles over Steven's. There's some sensation from the Blue Rose, but it's distant when Syrlya just can't bring himself to pay attention to it.

[starseedling]

Steven is confused at first, but then he feels the buzz of the Blue Rose in Syrlya's touch. He can see the greater extent of the Rose's effect now, and feeling that hand against him just cause his empathic sense to tune into the flower's formless cries of need.

Steven picks up Syrlya's hand and holds it between his, frowning. He can feel Rose will acting within in, just like it does inside if his own body.

"Sorry," he says to the hand. "I need these to work." He politely sets the Rose hand back where it was before, and starts to work on Syrlya's chest. Of course, the closer he gets to the Rose infected areas, the stronger the resonance gets. It starts to get so loud it interferes with his hearing.

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya blinks slowly in confusion, and there's a second before he registers that his arm is doing the Thing again. He jerks suddenly, and flattens the arm quite forcibly to the ground.

"I--sorry." He glances the other direction sheepishly. "I am finding myself contesting its will even now."

Which is a problem in general, but especially when it amounts to 'grab the child'. Is he going to have to live with this for the rest of his life?

[whattaprick]

Syrlya won't even really get a chance to say anything when Lambert brushes in with aggressive cheer, wearing the Gamma's disguise again in lieu of trying to squeeze himself into actual clothing. Syrlya is unlikely to recognize the face, but he may recognize the faintly mocking cadence that even the technician's smoothed-over tone can't hide.

"You sure you don't want to be the Nightrider after all? I think I like not ending up in bed after every big fight."

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya just looks bewildered at Lambert, taking a moment to recognize him through the disguise--which is only because he knows about the ring and that he's been using it already.

"I think I'm all right." He answers slowly with a crooked smile,not quite taking the offer seriously. That's just a joke, right?

[whattaprick]

He’s only half-joking, Syrlya. Lambert steps over and drops himself heavily on the seat closest to Syrlya’s bed, wincing faintly.

“Damn. And here I was really hoping you’d go for it.”

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya snorts. "I take it that means you are holding up better than me--" He stops, raising a brow at his wincing.

"With the exception of what they did to you. Is that going to be worse for you?"

[whattaprick]

“It’s just bruising from getting hit by one of those damn arms. I’m not the one she flattened like a fly on her bosom.” Yeah, he went there.

“What they did actually might have kept me in one piece. I’m pretty sure I should’ve broken something.”

[chronosynthesis]

"Good thing I can survive being squished." He pauses. "Steven took care of healing me after."

He looks the disguise over, able to read the magic of the illusion but not at all in a state to try and piece it apart to see through it. So after squinting he just sighs.

"I was more worried about how your body is going to adapt to the changes to it. Is it improving?"