March Intro: Head First

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Arrival!

It was supposed to be a routine mission. Maybe you think you’ve been here for a bit or maybe you just arrived. Either way, you know there was supposed to be a completely normal underwater mission, probably just gathering resources, unless you just arrived, in which case welcome!

Unfortunately, somehow you’ve been dumped somewhere you shouldn’t be. A woman’s voice can be heard, robotic in tone with hints of emotion. That emotion mostly seems to be mild surprise.

"Life signs detected. Life forms are non-native to this planet. They... oh. Oh dear, I wasn’t prepared after all. Please refrain from dying for a moment. Your things are incoming."

Your eyes open underwater. At least you're near the surface. But the moment you break through you'll notice one thing: the ocean, stretching out for miles around you in all directions with no end in sight and only a very distant gleaming metal structure in the far distance. You're not alone but this surely isn't what you expected. In fact, you really can't understand how you managed to get from where you were to underwater so fast.

None of your belongings are with you save the clothing on your body. And the depths below you offer no comfort, the light engulfed before it can reach wherever the sea bottom is.

Somewhere, you hear a sound shaking through the water, like something between a whale and a foghorn.

No turning back now.

Prompts!

A: WHALE OF A TALE
As it turns out, there is hope for those who can't swim or get help from someone who can. Something emerges from the depths, a massive bed of coral that makes that strange sound, allowing people to climb on top of it. Of course, that bed of coral is actually the back of a massive creature that moves how it pleases and occasionally dives back down underwater.

There is a pod of them around the area calling to each other. They're friendly, or at least they don't seem to mind any poking or hangers on. But one of their long tendrils may still give you a good whack on accident.

If you’re really lucky you can probably ride one all the way back to the base. Wouldn’t that be a fantastic entrance?

B: HELP ARRIVES
At least, some assistance arrives. Strange little robots on propellers arrive fifteen or so minutes later, rushing to the scene carrying a floating bin of some sort. They drop it into the ocean and buzz excitedly around it in the hopes of luring people over.

Inside the bin are goggles, breathing devices and knives enough for the new arrivals. The knives have a compass on the hilt that has a marker for the direction of the base. One robot will play a helpful recording from the robotic woman for those getting their gear:

"Please deposit any articles of clothing getting in the way of swimming in the bin. We will be sure they arrive safely at the base. Do not try to swim in anything that will bog you down."

A pause.

"Swimming nude is not recommended. There can be... unpleasant issues. For future reference, please consult me before going on missions like this."

C: UNDER THE SEA
Of course, there's no reason to rush right to the base. This place is certainly beautiful in its own right and has a few caves to explore - watch those stingers hanging from the ceilings - with an abundance of strange and wonderful fish eager to either play with you or dart away as fast as possible. Of course there's plenty of Reefbacks still calling to each other and a large amount of floating rocks with Floaters attached.

D: MATING SEASON
On second thought, maybe heading to the base is a good idea. Occasionally you might see plumes of dust near the ocean floor. Exploring these is a very bad idea. The moment you get close, a Sand Shark will explode out of the sand, ready to attack. They range from five to eight feet in length and will pursue you without mercy. At least they give up if you get near the surface or hide in the right caves.

Unfortunately, it's mating season. That means dozens of them can appear at any time trying to court a female with acts of aggression and skill. And you really don't want to be in the middle of that.

E: HOME SWEET HOME
You did it! You made it to the base. You are probably dead tired by now having swam quite a long distance—or somehow riding a Reefback all the way here—and the sun is beginning to set. Upon arrival, URSULA will welcome you and give you a quick rundown of the lockers (where your personal items can be found, as safe as if you stored them there yourself) and the base's layout if you’re new. She will also recommend that you put on your communication device and settling in. She will then just as quickly apologise by saying that she must finish preparing the base for the others.

"Please give me a few days to finish retooling the base. Oh, I'm so excited. We're going to make a great team, I promise. And don't go back to that biome yet until mating season is over. Sand Sharks are... troublesome."

F: WILDCARD
The ocean is yours to explore! Maybe your characters will find places to take breaks. Maybe they'll start gathering things. Maybe they'll murder fish! Or maybe they'll get lost in the dark and take a rather long time to find the base. Or just crash the kitchen for some of that delicious fish, more fish and seaweed! It's all up to you!

See the Biomes page for the currently accessible areas or details on current wildlife and the Base page for all your base needs. Direct any questions and plotting to the OOC post and have fun!

BASED ON CODE BY TESSISAMESS AND SUPERSUITS

Comments

[upturning]

[Ah.] Thanks, [she says smoothly, without missing a beat.

She checks her mouth as though inserting a mouth guard before trying out the breathing apparatus, cautious in case whatever filters out of it isn't oxygen, but something more sinister. Whatever disrupted their arrival could easily wipe them all out if they aren't on their guard. She follows Michiru without hesitation, seemingly finding nothing wrong with it.]

This thing is uncomfortable. [It's more of a dismissive complaint than a real whine, though it isn't clear whether she means the wetsuit or the breathing apparatus or anything else. This is too serious a situation for any petty complaints to be made in earnest.

She smooths a hand down her front, sealing the overlapping velcro, and makes eye contact, ready to move as one, as they do.]

[churning]

I should think it can't be much more uncomfortable than a racing jumpsuit and helmet. [ She makes eye contact now, head tilted just barely to the side, and continues: ] Things will be easier in the water.

[ The apparatus slides into her mouth without preamble, and she moves to drop into the water knowing Haruka is with her.

As soon as she has her bearings under control, she reaches out for their newer avenue of communication. ]

There were caves in an alcove not far from here.

[ Her meaning, she assumes, is clear. ]

[upturning]

[That's easy for her to say, when the jumpsuit isn't like a second skin to her. Haruka's response is all body language; her open hands part, palm up. "What can you do?"

Michiru is usually right, and she was right about this, too - it is easier once they're fully submerged, the wetsuit feeling like a more natural armor underwater. She's still better suited to the open air. She runs her palms over her skull behind her ears, adjusting to the pressure.

It's fortunate that it's Michiru's voice in her head first and not someone else's. It's a surprise, but it's followed by a quick enough adaptation. There's nothing to it, to letting her in, but her guard is up against anyone else.] Should be clear. They're all coming to shore. [She conserves some of her body mass, limbs pulled close and still, to descend.] I don't see any of those big ones anymore.

[churning]

[ Michiru kicks, and the speed with which she begins to swim away, in the direction of the cave as she recalls it, says she's waiting for Haruka. She looks back over her shoulder before she starts to move forward once more, and it's as she's moving that her mind touches Haruka's again, her thoughts clear and precise.

This is Haruka, the only person she feels comfortable reaching out to this way, but she still isn't sure what bleeds over. ]

Some of our companions are creatures that live underwater, but they seemed more interested in the local wildlife.

The larger creatures, at least, will be easier to avoid.

[ There's a feeling of laughter attached to the last of that. ]

[upturning]

[That's just like her, Haruka thinks, sensing the laughter coming from her. That's no different from normal. She'd notice it if they were having this conversation another.]

Hey, hey...you never know.

[Not wanting to hold either of them back, she pushes herself into a speed breakthrough once the cave system becomes, however murkily, visible through the water. Finally a physical activity she has to put some backbone into; she's ready to catch the flak for that one later.]

It was nice of them to give us those little knives. [Said like someone who has access to a much larger sword but hasn't quite figured out how to use it.] It's dark. Can you see inside?

[churning]

Well, I suppose not.

[ Can Haruka go five minutes without racing someone, when the option is available? Michiru suspects not.

Her partner is irresistibly competitive. Then again, so is Michiru, and it shows as she swims between pillars of leafy green plants that aren't quite seaweed. ]

I'm sure they'll be very helpful... in the kitchen, perhaps. [ There's silence for a moment as she leans into a cave's lip, hand on the arch of rock over her head just in case she needs to make a getaway. But the caves, while dim somewhat from the depth, are large enough that things become much clearer as her eyes adjust. ]

It seems nearly empty. There are - oh!

[ She feels surprised, but the reason is immediately obvious - her investigation has attracted some brightly-colored fish with wide wings. Her posture tenses, but then she reaches out carefully and slowly to tap one on the nose, and when nothing happens, she looks around for Haruka. ]

I believe we're safe.

[upturning]

Offering to cook already? [It's not competition, really, she'd claim - and she'd be about 60% truthful. A team is handicapped with a member who can't pull her wait. But she keeps it light - like Michiru, she doesn't know what thoughts will bleed onto other airwaves. Their more serious conversations about their situation will have to wait.

She starts, reaction before thought, when the little fish make their appearance.] Michiru - ! [There's a slight movement, like she'd put Michiru behind her, but the fish prove themselves to be less than a threat immediately. She leans down to get a better look, even as they lazily drift over to swim around them. Surprised she didn't frighten them, Haruka takes her arm away from her waist slowly, ending up nose to nose with a fish as Michiru "speaks."

She'd make a remark about getting self conscious in the presence of sea life, or say something else to crack the the otherwise still surface of their dive, but her good humor evaporates now in favor of sternness. They have plenty to get used to in this new environment, and a lack of privacy from the fish won't get in the way. Around the fish, she meets Michiru's eyes, and nods.]

[churning]

It needs to be settled, doesn't it? [ Haruka can do the 'fishing', if it comes to that.

She raises a hand at Haruka's sudden protective movement, concerned her own misstep is about to lead to injuries for them both-- ] Haruka-- [ But their paranoia seems to be for naught.

Her hands still lifted near her chest, a fish darts between them and over her shoulder like she's an obstacle course. She tilts her head to meet Haruka's eye despite her apparent admirer, and reaches into the pouch at her waist for the Lip Rod tucked carefully inside. Befriending these fish isn't exactly on the program for today.

Without another thought, she twists to kick her way into the cave, making for the very inside of the mouth. It isn't terribly long, but more than enough to put them both out of sight. There's no need to wait for Haruka here: she's always been the first on this particular road.

She can't call on Neptune to transform with the breather in her mouth, but she can think it, instead. She won't broadcast it, for perhaps obvious reasions, image of crashing waves may touch Haruka's mind before Michiru raises the Lip Rod over her head. ]

[upturning]

[The confirmation that the magic will work underwater like this is reassuring. To her chagrin, they'll likely be spending a lot of time down here. Haruka's hand returns to its earlier position, shaking out the identical rod she carries.

She makes the transition from words spoken to words thought with more difficulty, her lips half-molding around the words and finding them obstructed. It works, anyway, and air fissures the water around her to speed the transformation

Sailor's Uranus's boot heels hit an outcropping of cave rock as she lands from her transformation, arms extended in pose. Some residual light illuminates the deep waters for a moment, and, empowered by whatever law-breaking rules of the universe her powers bestow upon her, her eyes adjust a little better to the dimness. Of course, now the fish would be frightened of her enough, if they could sense a difference in her motivations.]