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ximilialog2023-05-09 09:27 pm
MISSION: A MATTER OF IMPORT, PART 2
● ● ● M I S S I O N 1 3 . 2
For a few days after the fateful meeting between the two mercenaries working with Zandr and the two Orbers posing as mercenaries, the atmosphere is tense and thick with waiting — but sooner rather than later, Fyna gets the message to Yelena to pass on to those who might be able to aid in the making of anti-matter that Zandr has been immersed in; instructions for how to get to his hidden laboratory amidst the peaceful idyll of Nuhiri. While access to the lab is restricted to “necessary personnel”, as Fyna puts it (with air quotations included, making it clear she is quoting Zandr on this), those going can be accompanied up until the entrance… just in case they need to get there later.
So, at a time so early even the birds are only just waking up, you may find yourself following Fyna’s deft footsteps after landing the aircraft in a clearing in one of the quiet forests towards the mountains.
1.0 As you trek through the dense, lush forest, the sounds of birds and wildlife fill the air. Sunlight filters through the thick canopy of leaves overhead, dappling the forest floor with soft, warm light. A gentle breeze carries the scent of wildflowers and fresh earth, and the path winds its way through the forest at a steady incline, twisting and turning around ancient trees and over babbling brooks. The rustling of leaves and the occasional snap of a twig are the only sounds that break the serene silence of the forest.
As you continue on, the sound of rushing water grows louder, and though the path Fyna leads you on becomes steeper, almost blending into the surroundings (as a path to a hidden place should), but the beauty around you only intensifies. Vibrant green ferns and exotic flowers dot the sides of the path, their bright colors popping against the rich, earthy tones of the forest.
Finally, you reach a clearing, and there they are — the Cymmera Falls. The water cascades down the rocks in a torrent of white foam, plunging into a pool below. The mist rises high into the air, creating a rainbow that dances across the surface of the pool. And then, you notice it: a small stream running beneath the waterfall, leading to a hidden laboratory beyond.
2.0 Access to the laboratory is only possible by wading through a small stream that runs beneath the waterfall. The water is icy cold and rushes by at a furious pace,
making it difficult to maintain footing. Once inside, the true nature of the laboratory is revealed. The walls are made of cold, grey metal, and you notice that the crashing sounds of the waterfall cleverly drown out any noise that might escape from within. The laboratory consists of many — adjoining rooms, connected to what seems to be Zandr’s living space. From the half-open door, Zandr sticks his head out, hair messy but face split with a grin.
And indeed, it is only some five seconds before he’s pushing through the doorway, hand running through his hair as he comes to greet those who are to help him with getting rid of ghost matter once and for all. There is an easy charm to him, a kind of gravitas to his presence that speaks in part to why the Federation might find him such a threat.
There is no doubt to his voice, only a steely certainty — that he will succeed, be it in ten days’ time or then thousand days’ time.
3.0 Little time is wasted on chit-chat, however — anti-matter is the most pressing issue, of course, and you get to work as soon as possible. Zandr explains that he has been trying to create it through
a process called particle acceleration, in order to create high-energy protons that can then be split up into subatomic particles, including anti-protons. However, the process of extracting anti-protons is a delicate one, as the negatively charged particles are attracted to anything positively charged in the surrounding space. Once isolated, the particles must be chilled to absolute zero, in order to stabilise them. The part Zandr is stuck on is combining this stabilised particles with positrons, the idea being for the two anti-particles together to create something that would attach to ghost matter upon being released into the atmosphere, changing its particle structure enough to neutralise its effects.
However, even with the lack of success with the last part of the process, the entire research is a dangerous one to go through — any deviation from the exacting parameters
could result in catastrophic failure, causing the anti-protons to destabilize and potentially trigger a catastrophic explosion. So caution is of the essence — and so is all the knowledge the Orbers possess in helping make the process a success.
Meanwhile, the planet Naephus is abuzz with a different kind of energy. Today, businesses are either closed or close early as Federation employees and civilians alike observe one of the few government holidays of the year: Foundation Day, commemorating the day the leaders of the planetary systems of the Zeta Alatheia galaxy united to create the Interstellar Federation. While the citizens enjoy an extra day of rest and relaxation, all those associated with the Federation are looking forward to the evening’s gala. Equal parts fundraiser and celebration, as one of the Federation’s biggest parties of the year, there is sure to be plenty of fun to be had.
4.0 Of course, not everyone is so lucky to receive an invitation. Despite the planet being largely Federation-run, there are still quite a number of private citizens who have never even set foot into a Federation building, let alone have any business with them. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the forgery business sees a considerable uptick around the time of Foundation Day, and if you so happen to be one of the unlucky ones without a way into the gala, your best bet is consulting one of the better known forgers of the underground market. Perhaps you even meet a fellow Orber during your visit, prompting your forger to proclaim your good fortune — as it turns out, it’s far easier and less suspect to forge an invitation for a couple than several separate individuals.
If being part of the guestlist doesn’t sound as enticing, why not consider being part of the gala itself? A party of this scale requires many moving parts, from the catering to the waitstaff to the entertainment.
5.0 Speaking of entertainment, it’s obvious that this year the Federation spared no expenses. There is the usual lineup: a menagerie of exotic animals from the outer corners of the Zeta Alatheia galaxy, each held in individual gilded cages that line the expansive ballroom’s walls; a live 12-piece orchestra that only ever seems to play the same song over and over (though if a local is questioned about this, they’ll make no complaints about it; apparently classical music in Ndiera is Just Like That); and a performance from famous pop star Tula, singing her big hit, “Lunar Halo,” while accompanying herself on her musical ribs. Yes, her ribs.
On top of all that, there is a special performance involving masked or veiled dancers, who all flit among the crowd to coax bystanders to join them in their deeply evocative, sensual dance.
6.0 But if you find yourself more of a wallflower, there are plenty of refreshments available for sampling. Long buffet tables filled with foods both savory and sweet flank the front and back of the ballroom and round tables line the perimeter for guests to sit and eat or take a rest from all the dancing. Floating around the room is a seemingly never-ending chorus of waitstaff with trays filled with every kind of drink imaginable.
(CW: mind-altering alcohol) Be wary of one drink in particular, known by the locals as a Citali’s Revenge. While those local to Ndiera only feel the potency of its alcohol content, foreigners like all orbers will find themselves either extremely susceptible to suggestion or quick to aggression.
But the gala is not all drinking and merriment. At around the second hour mark, the ballroom will fall into a sudden hush as Commander Brennan of the Federation suddenly takes a stand in the middle of the stage.
In order to make our Galaxy even safer, I have the great honour of announcing the Harvester Initiation Protocol — an initiative to protect all of our other Complexes from the dangers of ghost matter. Our scientists have found signs that ghost matter is migrating slowly outside of the Ndiera atmosphere, but we are prepared, and through this program, we will build harvesters in every Complex to prevent ghost matter from spreading, or at least slow it down.
There is a ripple of gasps among the crowd. Should any orbers be paying attention in that moment, they might notice a genuine look of alarm on both Kaeya's and Emerton’s faces.
As the crowd erupts into applause and Brennan reclaims his spot on the floor beside his Chief of Security and Science Department Head, you — and every other orber with access to the network — hear it loud and clear: the sirens in Zandr’s lab going off in warning.
The sirens are sharp and loud, shattering the initial tension of what had been a time crunch and quickly replacing it with panic. The alarms blaring through the sterile space behind Cymmera Falls are joined by blinking red lights that fill the lab as the regular power immediately shuts down and switches to the emergency back-up systems. It drowns out the sound of the falls just past the fortified concrete and steel structure. It might even drown out the sound of ship engines not far away, hovering just above the atmosphere as Federation ships move in to land.
7.0 Wherever you might have been stationed if you’ve decided to help to develop the anti-matter, you’ll be familiar by now with the layout of the lab, and the research developed here. You’ll also know that the Federation drawing near to this place could mean the end of anti-matter, the wrongful arrest of a scientist deemed a dangerous criminal, and the possible doom of the Zeta Alatheia galaxy. Before you can be buried in your panicked thoughts, or you decide to do something rash, you hear Zandr’s voice breaking through the cacophony.
He can be seen moving between rooms, gathering what he can from shelves and drawers, nothing big, nothing that seems to have any value — aside from a blaster gun he hooks onto his hip — and saves data files into chip-sized drives.
At this point, you’ll have no choice but to do as Zandr suggested. Through your communications devices and signals sent between other members of your team, you’ll want to call for help — and execute your exit strategy from the lab too. Whether that’s concluding the work you’ve done here with a hike past the falls to some safe shelter on Nuhiri, finding a flight off the planet entirely, or more importantly: continuing your task on Deumia for the harvester codes, you won’t be able to do it on your own.
8.0 Perhaps you get the call from Nuhiri to come to your fellow orbers’ aid. As it turns out, it isn’t as easy as flying by and picking up your teammate like a space-taxi. Those of you with piloting skills and access to a flight-craft of some sort will find your skills and abilities have become invaluable. Better yet if you’re familiar with space and battle, your ability to yield weapons and defend your ship and others will help keep some of the Federation ships at bay. And with the way they’re starting to surround the planet of Nuhiri, your teammates will need all the help they can get.
If you’re coming in from Naephus, there are many ways to acquire a spacecraft. Being a Federation employee is the easiest, of course, but knowing one is an option as well. It might be best now to go as pairs or small groups to hijack as many ships as you can while the chaos and adrenaline from the alarms has most of the Federation distracted from the excitement.
Even before you’ve made your way past Naephus’ atmosphere and crested above it, you may already have noticed the exchange happening across the Federation’s comms systems. Shouts between commanders and pilots, captains and traffic control indicate that they’ve caught on to the Ximilia crew’s sudden shift in alliance. Words such as ‘traitor’ and ‘arrest’ and ‘Zandr’ can be picked out through the anger and orders to bring you down. Blooms of red and bright white fill the sky amongst specks of stars and the backdrop of the magnificent blue and green planet of Nuhiri as Federation soldiers in their fighter jets begin their pursuit. Their mission is to stop you from entering Nuhiri’s atmosphere — and yours: well, what will you do now?
It becomes clear that the only way to stop the ghost matter from dooming the galaxy is to put an end to it at its source — and Zandr’s access codes for the harvesters in Deumia will be key in doing so. If you happen to be one of the last ones to leave the lab, its sirens still blaring their alarms, you may come across Bracken who determinedly heads towards the main space.
He may meet your eyes without any expression as you pass by but he doesn’t stop to chat. And if you decide at the last minute to follow him back into the main room, you may catch a glimpse of Zandr and Bracken as they seem to fade out of existence, particle by particle. Zandr glances at you, offers a salute, and the two of them teleport away.
You have your orders. It’s time to put an end to this.
F Y I
• If you have questions about any of the prompts or the mission in general, please direct them HERE.
• A voting post regarding the conclusion will go up on May 23. The voting will include for example the access codes, the harvesters, gala distraction, anti-matter.
• And finally, your soundtrack for this log: ♪ ♪ ♪
no subject
Just Derek it is. [Where Ophelia adjusts to the steps, Wei Wuxian is a good lead, mindful of their inexperience together and guiding her with easy finesse.]
It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Brownston. With your interest in the flute, are you a musician as well?
no subject
Well, so long as we're on a first name basis, 'Derek', then Ophelia is perfectly... （ a mischievous little wrinkle of 'her' nose. ） cromulent. As to music, well... I dabble a little here and there, but I wouldn't dare call myself a musician. I play the harp — poorly, mind you — but I've always had a great appreciation for the art.
no subject
[It's not the sort of instrument he'd been familiar with before arriving on the Ximilia, but it is one of his favorites that he's learned about since.]
I'm sure with some practice you'd be just as wonderful. Talent in music really does come down to practice. And I can't encourage it enough. Music is a language all on its own as you must already know, allowing us to give voice to feelings that words fail to express. It can be...healing. [He finally settles on even though it isn't exactly the word he wants. It's nice though, to speak of his love for music with someone who shares it.]
no subject
I'm not sure I've ever heard someone speak so beautifully on the matter. It must truly be a passion of yours.
no subject
Aha, I don't know about that, but it really is inspiring. I didn't expect to become a musician. In fact, even though I learned as a child, it wasn't until years later that I took it more seriously, and even then only out of necessity—I needed a job. [He grins, and Ophelia won't find any hints of the lie nestled in between those truths. It was out of necessity. It wasn't for need of work.]
That was a time in my life when things were...difficult. But music was a balm for me then. [The smile that had softened brightens again.]
Aiya look at me getting all serious! I only hope others can find the same joys and freedoms in music whether they play or listen.
no subject
For what it's worth, I don't believe there's a soul among us who could listen to your playing and not be affected. You're a rare talent, 'Derek' — and hearing all about the music you love so dearly is considerably better than how politely you're taking me stepping on your shoes!
（ haha, clumsy 'her'. ）
How about your husband, hm? Can you speak with equal poetry on him?
no subject
My husband, hmm? [He lets out a soft chuckle and his gaze catches on Aleksander in the distance. His feelings for Aleksander may be complicated, but they're hardly worth composing poetry about. That wouldn't do for a man deeply in love with his husband though. Unbidden, an idea springs to his mind and his gaze returns to Ophelia, affection clear in his eyes as he begins to tell a story.]
My husband is the kindest man I've ever known. That was what drew me to him to begin with, his kindness. Well, that and, hmm. He was quiet. Reserved is a better word for it. He kept to himself and I couldn't help myself, I just needed to make that man laugh. I wanted to see him smile. [He lets out a soft laugh himself, shaking his head.]
In the process of working on that, I learned more about him, and the more I learned the more I loved. [He huffs softly under his breath and lifts a hand briefly to push some hair back behind his ear. Maybe it should feel strange to use his friend as a stand in like this, but the words come easily because not a single one of them is false.
Fellas, is it gay to wax poetic about your best friend while pretending he's your husband.]But if you'd believe it, there was a time shortly after we met that I hated him! [He laughs.] I won't bore you with the details of that though. Suffice it to say, we worked through it.
no subject
itachi knows immediately that wei wuxian is not describing aleksander. the look in his eyes, of that soft, arrested affection is not for a man that itachi knows him to alternatively sympathize with and dislike. he's simply not that good an actor, to foster that expression, to speak of him thusly when the man is none of those things. in fact, he assumes he's simply substituting his own feelings for lan wangji — the depth of which itachi has surmised over the course of their long acquaintance — until that final statement sinks in beneath his skin like a blade. a cold starbust of shock wends its way through each vein and along every nerve, and it is only training, only discipline that sees he does not stumble.
i hated him. not untrue. he remembers, how keenly that hatred had bitten. he had borne so much of it that its teeth could scarcely break skin, then. yet it had worried at him, the way a dog might worry a bone, and it had ground him down to dust with time. hatred had killed him once, but it was not a fear of death that saw him shy away from its sowing. he was — he is — tired of it. the endless cycle of violence that is begot by it, and loss, and revenge. of feeling trapped, of having no way out. and so he had let himself occupy a space where he could offer amends, though it had felt so much like selfishness, the presumption of deserving something unearned.
(he never has apologized for it.)
he is too skilled where wei wuxian is not to give anything away. there is no telling flicker to his expression, no flinch that finds his hands where they are so gingerly placed on wei wuxian's shoulder or cradled gently in his other hand. 'ophelia' simply laughs, and gives aleksander a curious look as 'she' sweeps through the complicated steps of their dance, craning an elegant neck in a way that draws attention to the golden glint of 'her' hair in the light. ）
He does look like a bit of a scoundrel, I'll grant you. （ the acting is happening on autopilot. the words are not borne of conscious thought. ） But it's nice that he's so kind. The world would be a more peaceable place if you could say the same of everyone.
（ what began as a bit of teasing play with a friend — itachi had even intended to tell him the truth of his identity near the end — has arrived at an altogether different conclusion. there is a leaden weight in his gut, and nothing to do but carry it forwards. his father's last words, echoed on the tongue of one other he has come to care for —
it's too much.
but 'ophelia' stays smiling. ）
no subject
Mmm, I think so too. [As the music rises into a swell, he twirls her slowly, careful to make sure she's comfortable with the steps, and then reeling her back in, that same warmth still radiating from him.]
But I've been talking and talking, haven't I? I haven't even asked you about your Carl.
[As much as he finds he could continue on about his "husband" for quite some time, Wei Wuxian has never been the type not to listen as well as he speaks.]
How long have you been married?
no subject
（ 'she' does seem to take a moment to navigate this new part of the dance, looking down to be mindful of 'her' steps. but once 'she's is drawn in against him, 'she' plants both hands on wei wuxian's chest and gives him a cheeky little smile. the song, having hit its crescendo, winds down to silence. ）
I'm afraid I'll have to be properly mysterious about the rest! May I beg off, dear Wei? My feet are killing me, and I should see if Carl needs any rescue from those ruthless investment bankers. But you're welcome to find me later, if you don't think you'll mind me after another glass or two of wine.
no subject
Of course. Thank you for the lovely dance, Ophelia, and the even lovelier company. I hope you and your husband enjoy the rest of your evening. [He gives her one more winning smile before stepping away, off to reconnect with Aleksander lest they spend too much time apart and look suspicious.]