Second Life -- The Monsters Are due On Maple Street [Stage 3]

[cityship]

They had all changed back. They had their memories again, although they still remember most of their fake lives, but those memories now seemed as hazy and false as they were.

They were themselves again. The problem with that is that it meant much of the group transformed back into draconians, Vikings, mutants, and other people that just generally did not fit into Fairplay at all. Even those that looked normal, their families and the people they interacted with every day now realized their minds have been altered by something and that the meatcrew hadn't always been there.

While some of their fake families still wanted to help, others recoiled in horror, and the townspeople had started to turn against them, terrified of the strangers in their midst. These people were something other, something that had been planted in the town right under their noses, obviously aliens or some other horrifying thing. Shot guns were being grabbed out of cabinets, people were snagging flashlights, and the night air around the town rang with cries of anger and panic.

The authorities had been called and the police were amassing the entire town police force to try to control the situation while they waited for the National Guard to come in--yes, the National Guard.

All the while, the group was almost drawn by instinct to a place in the woods, that could be reached by crossing some fields, a clearing, that somehow they knew would lead the way home. They might straggle in by themselves, or paired up with others, but in any case, somehow they all knew that was where they were supposed to go...

And then they got there, they found a fire burning right in the middle of the clearing, ringed with blue, and with no source of fuel, just floating the in the air, spreading a glow through the clearing. On the one hand, it was a horrible floating, deadly fire. On the other hand, some instinct they all shared, some indistinct notion was telling them this was somehow the way home.

Whatever they decided to do, they had to do it soon, because the angry voices were getting closer.

[ooc: More subthreads will be added, but since the reaction of the townspeople kinda depends on what the group is like when they arrive, I'm letting those subthreads happen first.]

Comments

Arrivals

[cityship]

Everyone got there about the same time, mercifully. If anyone got there any later, they'd all be in trouble. They had just a moment or two to talk to others, or check to make sure they're okay, but not much more time than that.

[ooc: Multiple-threads. Brief entrances/talking to others, etc. Really brief. This is just mostly establishing your guy as there and themselves again, have them gawk at the time-space rip, and if you're inclined, a chance for them to quick check on a friend to make sure they're alright. Thread-hopping is encouraged--they're all in the same place.]

Re: Arrivals

[icanhashat.livejournal.com]

Jayne was angry.

This was not all together unusual for Jayne but after a month of being a sniveling simpering pathetic shell of a man cowing down for both his employers and his "daughter" the anger burned through him fresh and hot like a warm bath washing away the layers of lies and falsehoods.

Crashing through the brush he glanced around the area sizing up the others. Even though they were on his side he felt ready to knock anyone's block off if they so much as looked at him funny.

[starbolts]

Starfire stumbled into the clearing, looking rather worse for the wear. She was caked with mud from head to toe, carrying bits of bush on her plantsuit and in her hair, and looking more exhausted than she could remember feeling---even as a cheerleader in that lonely life.

She slowly stood and awaited her orders, a rigid expression on her face. This had to be set right.

[livingontheweb.livejournal.com]

"Man. Why couldn't I have brought my thermals? Even if it had ended up like 100 degrees out here, slowly roasting to death still would've been better than freezing my keister off." SPider-Man complained. He likely looked just as exhausted as Starfire, but his mask concealed that from view.

[starbolts]

Starfire recognized Peter's voice right away, even if the costume had only been seen once before. He was all right.

"You are unharmed?" she asked, wiping enough dirt to keep it from falling in her eyes. "We must talk later on."

Yeah, she felt awfully guilty over the stunts Corinne had pulled. What kind of a life was that?

Re: Arrivals

[governorkang]

Of course, they would be shoved into this place when it was cold and everything was covered in snow. Kang cursed his luck and pulled the thick blanket that had been converted into a cloak tighter about him as he made his way into the clearing, even though he knew it'd be futile; being a reptile, he had to rely on outside heat sources.

Good, the others were showing up, too. He moved to within ten feet of the floating fire, willing to risk it if it meant that he'd be warm. Unfortunately, it wasn't producing any heat. Damn.

It was clear from the high set of his wings, hidden from view by the cloak, and how his jaw clenched, that he was dealing with a mix of emotions. Anger, of course, relief at having his real memories and body back, unease, and guilt. Everyone else was shaken up, too, and as the leader of this team, he had to regain his composure. He wasn't supposed to show weakness.

Re: Arrivals

[daemonomicon.livejournal.com]

There was a slight shuffling sound as the massive, hooded figure of Cargn made his way into the clearing.

His knuckles were covered in blood, for some reason.

As he walked by, he paused, looking over at Kang and giving him a short nod before taking a place near the strange fire.

Re: Arrivals

[governorkang]

It was probably noticable to Cargn that Kang was moving a tad sluggishly as he returned the nod with a wry smile and glanced down at the man's knuckles curiously.

Re: Arrivals

[riseupnchargem.livejournal.com]

The sound of the Geno Saurer's heavy, plodding footsteps and the piercing blue of its illuminated optics reached the group before the Zoid itself did. Jamie made weary note of the assembled crew as he brought the Geno to a halt on the periphery of the little knot clustered around the unearthly fire, the vents on the armor covering the Zoid's ankles steaming in the cold night air.

"What're your orders, sir?" Jamie's voice, issuing over the external speakers, was subdued. Noticing Kang's proximity to the fire and the blanket thrown around his shoulders - though he was unsure if the latter was for warmth or camouflage purposes - he added, equally listlessly, "Boosters're still warm, if you wanna stand near 'em."

Jamie you are officially Kang's favorite person right now

[governorkang]

Oh, thank the lost gods. Kang gratefully moved closer to the Zoid, "As of right now, just keep your eyes and ears open. We're still waiting on the others to show."

Re: Arrivals

[neverwastenaya.livejournal.com]

Tenaya's eyes glowed briefly as she ran a quick scan on everyone gathered. Good, it looked like they were all there and all back to normal.

Granted, it was Kang and Fate's job more to keep track of everybody, but Tenaya needed to run a visual scan, if only to reassure herself that she still had her vision. She'd told herself that if she went blind again, she'd be okay, but with this...

...It wasn't her. She had to push all the other memories away. She was Tenaya 15, Venjix/human hybrid, and so far the only one from her world on Stacy. She wasn't that girl she'd just been.

[bonnypiperlad]

A faint crunching of footsteps on the snow heralded Jamie's arrival, clad in a borrowed coat that was a touch too large for him. A quick glance around reassured him that others from the crew were there. Frankly, he was relieved. It meant they could figure out a way to get out of here.

His attention was drawn to the floating fire - it was rather hard to miss, after all. Even with what he had been through recently, it was still something that was new, and different, and he couldn't help looking at it with a touch of wonder. Finally, he spoke, although quietly. It still hurt a little to talk.

"Hey, would ye look at that..."

Re: Arrivals

[birthmural]

Since he had transformed back to his natural self, Daimon's body was coated in a faint shimmer of soulfire. The Son of Satan did not frequently agree with his darksoul but for once they were in complete agreement- whoever was responsible for this tampering, this- defilement would pay. Preferably with his life.

Arrivals

[psi-flames.livejournal.com]

Jono arrived on his own, still using the cane to keep himself upright. The power dampening hadn't gone off just because they'd remembered, after all.

There were advantages to living by yourself, even if Fairplay. One of those was that nobody was screaming when he went 'home'. It wasn't like he stayed long. It was just that, for the short time he'd been in Fairplay, there were a few things he didn't want to go without.

Which was why he showed up with a guitar case across his back. Since he had a real, honest-to-goodness guitar here, he wasn't walking away. Especially since he'd gotten new strings for it.

And the pocket of his trench coat might have been moving, but that was probably figment of the imagination. Really.

He paused at the edge of the clearing, looking at the fire and giving a low 'whistle'. Flippin' Nora, he muttered. 'At's different.

[thunder-ace.livejournal.com]

Fate was another one who looked completely exhausted. Everything that had happened lately brought up memories Fate just wanted to forget. The loneliness, her mother's abuse... having to deal with all of that again was hard, and Fate just wanted to go curl up somewhere until the memories went away for now.

But, like Kang, she knew she had to keep herself composed for the rest of the crew. So she stood close to the fire, red eyes constantly sweeping about to make sure all of their crewmates were arriving and okay.

[starlightace]

Nanoha stood close besides Fate, rolling Raising Heart between her fingertips. She'd felt like she'd almost lost the girl before, and she wasn't going to lose her now.

But otherwise, her normally cheerful face was somber as she thought.

[thunder-ace.livejournal.com]

Fate frowned a little as she turned to face Nanoha, noticing the other girl's expression.

"Nanoha..." She stepped closer, taking her hand. Fate's voice was soft, so she wouldn't draw too much attention from the others. "I'm sorry. I can't believe I would push you away like that..."

Re: Arrivals

[i-saw-myself.livejournal.com]

There was a crashing sound through the trees, whuh oh, what could that be--

Oh wait, just some Vikings on the back of a dragon. Nothing to look at.

"Is everybody here?" Hiccup called out, now much less derpy-looki--

Okay, so he was just as derpy-looking, but definitely back to his old self again.

"If not, Astrid, Toothless, and I can make a run for anyone else who hasn't changed back yet. If we have to drag them, we'll drag them."

Gathering Together

[cityship]

So, uh, they have to figure out if that's a portal or a horrible void of flaming death or what. Before the townspeople arrive.

Luckily, they're not entirely disorganized. Kang is the ranking away Team Leader for this mission, with Fate as his second in rank, and now they remember what the mission was: Making contact with an extremely powerful alien entity, on an artificial construct built around a star, in an attempt to implore them to join the war effort.

They landed, then there was a bright flash and then...Fairplay.

It's time to figure out what to do next--and whether or not that hissing field of energy in the air is the way out or not. Can they trust their instincts or is this yet another trap?

They don't have much time to figure it all out.

[ooc: Keep it all in one thread and make sure you're always tagging the most recent post. It'll be pretty crowded, but it's really the only way to handle it.]

[thunder-ace.livejournal.com]

"So, what do you think we should do?" Fate asked as she approached Kang. She was staring at the floating fire with a small frown, but after a moment, turned to him.

"We could try to find some other clue to a way out of here, but if the townspeople are becoming hostile, that would be a bad idea. Splitting up would only do more damage than good."

[governorkang]

Kang was silent for a moment, thinking, "We don't have much time, and I don't think the townspeople will be inclined to listen to us, especially after what happened with Jamie and his Geno. Hell, I had to cast Invisibility on myself to keep them from trying to shoot me."

He stared at the fire, frowning, and pointed at it. "Batin corak sihir saya."

"...well. It's not magical in nature. Nothing happened."

[i-saw-myself.livejournal.com]

"Okay, we were all...drawn here, right? And we all had to get here, to this world somehow, even if we don't remember how. And that looks like--well, it looks like a hole in the air is what it looks like. So maybe it's the way out, or--"

Or...

"Or it's a trap. Something trapped us here and made us forget them doing it, so that could be a trap, too, if they've been toying with us like this."

Hiccup picked up a stick.

"So I think we should poke it with a stick. If it chops the stick in half or sets it on fire, we probably shouldn't try to go through it. If nothing happens to the stick..."

So who agrees with the "Poke it with a stick" method?

The Bet

[cityship]

Suddenly, the entire town froze. All the townspeople, everyone there but the meatcrew. Leaves caught on the wind even froze in place, as if they were all caught between a moment in time.

There was a slow clap.

"Bravo! Marvelous! This was the pièce de résistance of this prosiac little small-town drama!"

It was a man, in a red Starfleet uniform, a man that had shown up once before, back when Picard was captain. Some of them might have seen him then. Others had never seen him before.

Re: The Bet

[livingontheweb.livejournal.com]

Peter stared blankly. "...we got mindscrewed by Q. And not just any Q, but the Q. Suprisingly enough, that little factoid doesn't make me feel better about this at all."

[governorkang]

Kang turned to look at Peter, "You know who this is?"