Mission: the Time Dragons

[cityship]

||Attention, Attention. The following crew members must report to the Observation Deck...||

All over the ship, Stacy's voice continues to repeat the announcement until the summoned crew members have reported to the Orbs Deck. Once there a dossier appears on the screen, and a mission that many of the crew members have been waiting for - one that can save the people affected by the Melting Clock.

Planet Designation: Era
Status: Terrestrial, T-class.
Non-sentient life: Medium levels of flora and fauna, most of which are partially comprised of clockwork.
Semi-Sentient Life: No.
Sentient Life: the Time Dragons
Water: 15% of the planet's surface.

Climate: Similar to Earth's Mediterranean regions. [Click here for cultural equivalents for non-Earth cultures.]
Landscape: Mostly comprised of metallic, industrial-like landscapes, with various clockwork-based flora scattered over it.
Air: Normoxic concentration: 28% oxygen, 61% nitrogen, 3% xenon, 8% trace gases, such as hydrogen, krypton, and argon.

Air Pressure: 15.021 pounds per square inch.
Sky: Rust coloured, with pale clouds that mysteriously arrange themselves into the shape of clock faces.
Sun: A class E5K, yellow star.

Mission: Negotiate with the Time Dragons and convince one of them to destroy the Melting Clock.

[[ooc: The OOC post for this is here! Keep in mind that due to the Time Dragons messing with time, all of the threads with them will happen simultaneously]]

Comments

Arrival

[cityship]

It wasn't long before the summoned crewmembers were brought down to the planet's surface - a peculiar place, where the ground seemed to be constructed from bolted metal sheets and strange plants made of cogs and clockwork parts grew from cracks in the metal, their parts whirring away. And up ahead a large, metallic mountain rose towards the rust-coloured sky. There, at the base of that mountain, they would find four caves - the homes of the Time Dragons they had come to meet.

[[ooc: The guys can just mingle here, discuss possible tactics, look at the clock-flowers, whatever]]

Re: Arrival

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

Nathan immediately took a look around to get his bearings. This was going to be tricky, and he hoped these dragons could be reasoned with.

[encourage]

"So how much do we know about these guys?" Sakura asked, focusing on the caves in the distance. "Four caves, four new dragons." At least four chances to set this thing right.

[hullo-sweetie.livejournal.com]

River Song seemed to be preoccupied with glancing around at her surroundings, taking in the strange plant life made of miscellaneous clock parts. This place looked like something right up the Doctor's alley. Up ahead, she suspected, were the homes of the dragons. "You know, I've never seen a dragon before. Funny how I've seen just about everything else during my travels, but never a dragon."

[governorkang]

Kang couldn't help kneeling down to take a closer look at one of the strange plants, watching the parts move. He'd been around living machines enough over the past months to not be too shocked by it, but it was still fascinating to see them in plant form rather than animal.

They were on a mission, though, and he was acutely aware of the danger of dallying for too long, so he quickly stood back up to face the mountain. He hoped it wouldn't be too difficult to convince one of the dragons to destroy the clock.

Turning to face River, he snorted, "There's a couple on the ship I'm sure you'll run into at some point. I'm sure Lord Bight wouldn't mind the help of one of them on this particular mission."

[makeherblue]

Up his alley, corridor, hallway, hallway-ish things: River’s right. He couldn’t resist something like this, even if this wasn’t a life and non-death situation. The Doctor materialized at River’s shoulder, leaning over her slightly.

“Really? Well-traveled woman like you? I’m shocked, River,” the Doctor said, giving River one of those almost private smiles. “You haven’t lived until you’ve seen a dragon or two!”

And provided they didn’t try to chomp off your head, which would make things decidedly awkward, wouldn’t it? The Doctor had his hands in his pockets as he gazed up at the mountain, taking in the cogs, the gears. It almost reminded him a bit of the TARDIS, if the TARDIS decided to turn inside out and throw out all the cushions while she was at it.

[psi-flames.livejournal.com]

Jono had his hands in the pockets of his duster, looking around with interest. 'M sure I saw a paintin' like this once, he said aloud, though it could have mostly been to himself. Reckon it was on the front of some sci-fi book or somethin'.

[morphitudinous]

Billy's heart had filled with dread when he'd been called up for another mission. So soon after he'd gotten himself very nearly executed and incinerated, and with a large portion of his close friends currently on the verge of death. He hated to leave them.

The string of mumbled curses stopped when he saw the mission screen, though. They were called to make an attempt at saving the affected crew members. This was his chance to do something about it.

With a quick goodbye message sent to the caretakers of his child-sized friends, he was off. Time to channel all the wisdom Trini had imparted to him over the years. He'd sometimes wished he'd gone with her to the peace conference before, but now he really longed to know her secrets.

For now, though, all he was left with was a knack for observation. Machine parts...something he was familiar with, at least. He made a few hypotheses at how it all worked as he walked, hoping it would be useful later on.

"...this is it. We succeed or they die." His voice was as heavy as his heart at the moment, but it was a calm sort of melancholy.

[encourage]

"We'll succeed," Sakura said, catching her fellow crewmates words, turning toward him. "It's not the only possibility, but it's the only option." To be this close, to have found those who could break the clock and restore everyone's lost time? She refused to believe in their failure.

So she smiled, nodding toward the caves. "That's our final hurdle. Ready for it?"

Re: Arrival

[supersonicracer.livejournal.com]

A low whistle echoed out as a familiar blue hedgehog joined the group.

"Boy, doesn't this remind me of somewhere?" Sonic said, mostly to himself. The planet felt like it was a place Dr. Eggman would set up shop. Hopefully, he isn't hiding amongst the rabble.

Analog

[cityship]

The largest cave belonged to Analog - an elderly female dragon. She was resting just inside the entrance of her cave, watching the newcomers with practiced disinterest as she sipped from what appeared to be a teacup filled with motor oil.

[encourage]

When they were close enough, Sakura turned toward the impressive masterpiece of a clockwork and metal creature that was a time dragon. Amazing, she found herself thinking, before the overriding need to try and find a way to convince them to help break the clock drove her into a deep bow. "Thank you for seeing us, Lord Time Dragon." She had no idea if the address was correct, and didn't exactly have anyone to ask. "My name is Haruno Sakura." She straightened, hands clasping behind her back. "I hope we're not interrupting your tea."

She looked around, trying to hide her disquiet. Sakura wasn't the sort of person sent in on diplomatic missions, if everyone was taking a chance on these dragons. She had to do her best.

No excuses.

"You have a lovely home."

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

Nathan studied the cave, noting the features of it. As the eldest, she would have the most experience, and also if she could be swayed, perhaps the younger dragons might be more accepting.

"It's an honor to be meeting with you. I am Commander Nathan Petrelli of the Transmigration 9."

Re: Analog

[makeherblue]

“Oh, you’re an old one, aren’t you?”

The Doctor stepped forward, peering up at the old girl -– and when he said old girl, he meant really old girl –- as if he’d just popped out and this wasn’t a first meeting with a total stranger. Somehow he wouldn’t be surprised if she was much, much older than he was, which was saying something when you thought about it. Even if the crew on the ship weren’t in danger of de-aging right out of existence and Jamie wasn’t turning into such an adorable little Scot, he would’ve jumped at the chance to visit these Time Dragons. Naturally he’d veered right for the one he assumed was the eldest, seeing as he couldn’t be in multiple places all at once. The Doctor cut a spindly figure, gazing up at the Time Dragon, reaching up to brush his hair out of his eyes out of habit as he couldn’t resist a grin. He looked Analog right in her beautifully ancient eyes.

Also big. Very very big. He supposed he could say her teeth were big as well, but did really, really, really old Time Dragons have teeth problems? Could they rust? Go that pretty teal color? He thought she'd look rather pretty in teal, in his opinion.

“You’re gorgeous!” The Doctor beamed and then frowned. “Unless you don’t like being called ‘gorgeous’ and we can go down the line of ‘beautiful’, ‘lovely’, ‘brilliantly amazing’ and maybe all of the above would be better, don’t you think?”

The things she’d probably seen! It wasn’t actually that often he met another lifeform attuned to Time, seeing the tangents and the possibilities, the would-be’s and could-be's, and he wished they could’ve met under better circumstances. Analog looked like the sort of dragon he wouldn’t have minded sitting and having tea with (well. Tea for him. She looked like she was nursing something much stronger than tea). But yeah, a sit, tea/motor oil or whatever she fancied and a good chat, preferably in that order. The Doctor cast about for a place to sit closer to Analog but aside from hard clockworky bits, there didn’t seem to be any real seats, which made sense when you thought about it: dragon body like that probably didn’t have much need for seats.

Metronome

[cityship]

In a medium sized cave sat Metronome, a large middle aged male dragon. He appeared to be lounging as if his cave floor was made of cushions. He yawned at the newcomers arrival.

[governorkang]

After a few moments of careful consideration, Kang decided to approach Metronome, giving the dragon a short, respectful bow from several feet away. "I am Councilor Kang, sir, and well met. I ask to be granted an audience; I am in need of a favor, to help several under my care."

He hoped the title was appropriate to use; he was one of the few sent that could tell the sex of the dragons, but this one could prefer some other title besides 'sir'.

Re: Metronome

[morphitudinous]

Billy wished he'd come armed with some intelligence---a clue about the identities of the entities they were to speak to. A marking from the surroundings. Anything that would guide him would be quite useful, but all he had were open eyes and a whirring brain. Everything suggested that respect and caution would be best.

But time was not on their side. True as that was, he couldn't allow himself to think about it. The key was to appear calm, like a certain friend always did, understand their position, and adjust oneself accordingly. Those were the steps in the right order, right?

"Greetings," Billy bowed, hoping that was the correct mark of reverence. The dragon appeared...tired, but it would be a mistake to assume. "I hope you are well. I'm Billy, just the mechanic, and I was hoping it wouldn't be much trouble for you if we could converse."

Re: Metronome

[dragonlordbight]

For once it was not in his usual tunic and pants that he strode into the room but dressed in the most splendid finery that befitted his position as Lord Governor of Sanction and Councilor. Standing tall as he strode in as if he had every right to be there. His gaze taking in the reclining dragon as he stopped a respectable distance away.

"I am Hogan Bight, Lord Governor of the city of Sanction of Krynn, and Council member of the crew of the Transmigration 9, I bid you greetings, Time Dragon," He introduced himself and sketched a bow with confident ease even in the presence of such a dragon. His size at the very least held little sway over Bight after all, he himself was larger in true form.

Chime

[cityship]

Another medium sized cave housed Chime, an adult female dragon, and her two children - Tick and Tock. She appeared to pay no attention to the newcomers, instead watching the young dragons closely as they raced around the cave.

[hullo-sweetie.livejournal.com]

A dragon, female by the looks of it. Although she was no expert on judging the gender of a dragon. The two younglings definitely caught and held her attention. They were a bit of a distraction. For a long time, she said nothing, but after awhile her impatience got the best of her and she spoke up to gain the larger dragon's attention.

"Hello there, my name is Doctor River Song." An introduction is always a good way to start a conversation.

Re: Chime

[on_errantry]

Rhiow was probably very small in comparison with the adult dragons - even the children were twice her size. She had a moment of apprehension as she entered the cave, but put her whiskers forward and pressed on. "Dai stiho," she said, "and well met on errantry." She curled her tail around her paws and watched the two small dragons tear around the cave. "I'm Rhiow - you have very energetic little ones."

She was careful to stay in the Speech, to erase any strange translations that might arise. The Speech had more tenses than Ailurin in any case, useful when talking about time travel.

Sundial

[cityship]

The smallest cave was home to a young male dragon, Sundial. He paced around the cave restlessly, stretching his wings and shooting the occasional look at the new arrivals.

Re: Sundial

[hi_there_aliens]

So this was a male dragon. Maybe. He thought so?

Daniel wasn't exactly brushed up on dragon genders and if there was a physical difference at this point, especially considering these were going to be the very first dragons he was meeting. Ever. Daniel thought he could just prepare himself to meet a new species. It wasn't like he'd never encountered a new race ever, so he thought he was reasonably prepared. The fact was that he wasn't, not really. The dragon was bigger than he had expected, and far more impressive looking. All those tapestries and drawings of them back home didn't come close to doing one justice. Daniel tried his hardest not to stare in fascination.

Suddenly he felt so small compared to one. Not just physically, but just in terms of overall existence. Humans liked to think of themselves as intelligent, top of the food chain. Even though he got a chance to see more of the universe than most people, he'd never felt so insignificant and fleeting before.

"Hi. I'm Doctor Daniel Jackson. Would you grant me an audience?"

Re: Sundial

[supersonicracer.livejournal.com]

So, this was one of the dragons they had to talk to? Sonic seemed unimpressed - the guy looked like he was bored out of his mind. Heh, some Time Dragon. Sonic thought, grinning a bit.

Unlike some of the others, though, Sonic wasn't one for acting nice and endearing towards someone like this. With a quick whistle, he called out to the dragon and waved his hand. "Yo! Down here!"

Re: Sundial

[psi-flames.livejournal.com]

Jono stepped into the cave, glancing around. Really, he wasn't entirely certain how to go about this. But still, he was on the mission and it was best to give it a shot, at least.

He dropped into a bow, dropping his head slightly before he straightened. Sure, the dragon was big, but he wasn't the oddest creature Jono'd ever come across. Besides, if you believed Angelo, the Latino mutant had taken on a dragon and won. (And Jono believed him because it was damned hard to lie to a telepath.)

Uh...hullo, sir. Don' suppose you'd be willin' t' give us a chat 'bout this whole thing?