This time, Kate wasn't practicing her cello. With more going with the Rangers and missions lately, she needed to keep her skills sharp. She also now had additional skills to focus on with the morpher on her wrist. Though she wanted to focus on her physical fighting today. She was dressed in light pink and purple exercise wear as she worked out by the river in the city. Her bow was set down to the side by her while she went through motions and katas with the spear. She spun, twisted, turned, and thrust as she moved, letting her movements become fluid. Instinctive.

Like the very wind she was now in tune with.

Paco hopped up on a box to survey the work already done.

It was getting toward “evening” in the City. They’d hung a sheet up on the Great Wall, and a couple people were currently adjusting the movie projector that had been constructed in Engineering so that the picture would fall exactly on the sheet. He’d collected the recordings from the Media Library himself, everything on there was appropriate for pretty much everyone who might show up.

At the other end of the space he’d picked for the party, a few people were testing the sound system (also constructed in Engineering) and arguing with each other, probably about the music. Well, he’d done his best, anyone who didn’t like it could throw their own dance party somewhere else.

In the middle, up against the outer wall of a building they’d hung lights from, Kang and his helpers were putting the finishing touches on the drinks area. And there was plenty of space for people to mingle or play tag or whatever if the shows and music weren’t to their taste.

Paco grinned and cupped his hands around his mouth to form a megaphone.

“OKAY EVERYONE,” he shouted. “TRY NOT TO DO ANYTHING THAT WILL LOSE US OUR PARTY PRIVILEGES AND LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!”

[[OOC: Post-Melting Clock! Mix! Mingle! Make fun of the music, thread with people you haven’t threaded with before! It’s like a Pod Pop for oldbies!]]

Somewhere in the meaty halls of Stacy, a wall opened, ejecting a disgruntled woman onto the deck. She sprang to her feet and directed a stream of invective (mainly in Mandarin) at the wall, followed by an ineffective kick. She'd lost track of time in there (not unusual) and now was back aboard the strange spirit-ship. Not that she'd really left before. With a last muttered curse, she turned and stormed down the hallway. She needed to find out what happened while she was gone. Hopefully, not terribly much.

Tony needed time to think. He needed time to reflect. He'd ended up in the plant temple - the one that Bella had found so very long ago (or so it seemed) and now there was a depressing lack of the other Garou. Even for a Get and a lupus, she'd been a good friend. A companion. Someone he could fight beside. As much as he enjoyed having other Gnawers around, Bella had been the first. She'd helped him when he hadn't understood a damn thing about the ship. She'd even helped him overcome his own trepidation toward leadership, in her own way.

She was in the pods again now. That didn't console him much - after the disaster with the zombies, he didn't really think of the pods as safe. Hell, he didn't think of anywhere on the ship as really safe. The ship was a ship of war and they were its crew. As young as he was, he still thought he understood war. He still thought he understood what they had to do.

They had to stop the Ohm or die trying. Much like the impending Apocalypse back on Earth, Plays was of the rather morbid and cynical opinion that they were going to die trying. He'd made his peace with that. Sort of. He didn't want to die - no one wanted to die - buthe knew that he probably would, before the end came. It was something he'd realized on earth too, especially after seeing Black Spirals rip through friends and comrades like tissue paper.

Life was cheap. Nothing changed that.

Shit, he was depressing himself. He ran a hand through his hair and leaned back onto his elbows. At least he had Kate. At least he had someone worth fighting and protecting for. At least it wasn't an abstract, nebulous concept.

Gaia help them all, really.

It seemed unreal, and yet Kate should have known. They should have looked harder. Other heroes came back before, it wasn't completely surprising for her. Even her father was back. But months past, and they were sure of it. Sure Cassie was gone forever.

Yet, they were wrong, and had no idea she was trapped somewhere. And the hell she went through before they somehow found her. It was heartbreaking. She had visited and made sure she was in Medbay all right, but eventually she stepped away to take a break while her friend slept. Plus with Scott back, he could give her much needed support and look after his daughter again.

She was going to go for a jog in Hydroponics, but she ended up flopping down on the alien grass. She didn't even realize how tired she was because she drifted off moments later. She dozed amidst the plants as some of the fauna occasionally sniffed her curiously.

Those left outside the city would find their experience to be far less exciting, but at least it was still relaxing for the most part.

The accommodations they were given were relatively spartan but well maintained, and the locals seemed nice enough. The food was good, and they were treated fairly well despite refusing to undergo the rituals.

But strangely, by the time night started rolling around, the locals began hurrying to finish up whatever they were doing, cutting conversations short and rushing back inside. By the time the sun fell, none of the locals were outside.

...Well. That certainly wasn't ominous.

[ooc: secondary plot is go! try to keep everything in one thread for now]

Sensoriums.

He had been in them once or twice now, always when another person was using them. He recognized the great risk in this, but had taken every precaution he could think to take. Most particularly, he simply did not know what a sudden exposure to a full moon -- as opposed to the gradual approach that characterized proper revolution of the lunar orbit -- would do to him.

Nonetheless, he believed, after all these years, that he could sense the oncoming change. That he would have a few moments to react, to hurl himself out the door if he began to feel that peculiar sensation of strength and weakness at once, that characterized its onset. And so far, he had been lucky. He had not needed to put his theory to the test.

Now, however, Remus Lupin stood outside the sensorium door, afraid to step in. For he knew no one had occupied this one. When he entered, it would be his to mold and shape. And, should it reveal what he feared, what he subconsciously expected, rather than what he chose...

He had not always feared his curse so. Indeed, fear was something he head learned as he grew older, and wiser. And there it was. Fear. Some Gryffindor.

Taking a breath, he stepped inside.

There was no moon, nor any cause for fear, as he stepped out of the brick wall onto Platform 9 3/4. The brilliant scarlet train sat just ahead of him, its engine huffing, but the platform was empty as he had never seen it before. So it truly was as one wished it, and not simply like a Pensieve...

"Amazing," he said, relaxing -- though he still held his wand, proof against who knows what foe.

Things had pretty much gone back to normal with Kang, though he still refused to talk at length about what had happened during the recent mission, and clammed up completely about what had happened with him specifically. He hadn't seen or heard from Ronon since he'd gotten back, which was worrisome, so he'd canceled the Warfare Training for a bit; that left him with more free time than he was used to having, and no idea what to do to fill that time with.

Times like this, he almost, almost, missed the paperwork and headaches of running Teyr, because that had at least kept him occupied.

So, the bozak wandered around the City and Hydroponics, and hung out in the tavern to give Kaylee some extra help, even when it wasn't his time to be in there. He spent a little bit of time in the Sensoriums, calling up locations and old foes from home to keep his battle skills sharp. He finally visited the Art Hall, with its creepy statues, and watched a few movies in the Media Library.

[OOC: Let me know where you run into him, plz. :) ]

He'd been in the pods way too long. Even on the ship, Tony felt horrifically cooped up and penned in. Which is why he found the newly-opened natural area to be far better then any simulation that the sensoriums. For a long moment he stood in the grass and took a deep breath - clean air, natural sounds. Things that he'd never had living in the middle of some of the biggest urban sprawl in the United States. It still touched that part of him that was Garou (even if his tribe lived in cities). He took one step and then another.

After a moment there was a ragged-looking wolf running through hydroponics, simply enjoying itself. He could forget about everything for a little bit and indulge.

The rest of the crew assembled on the Observation Deck to meet the latest editions to their numbers. After the revelation that their worlds are gone, many of them are even more eager to see people they knew from home.

Several people are set up near the doors to provide the new people with omnicoms and comm rings. New crew-mates might see a tall man in green armor and snake girl among their number. There are also several authoritative-looking figures ready to introduce themselves.

There's a lot to tell the new people. It's going to be a lot to take in.

[ooc: Only new characters and Command Staff can start new threads for introductions, to limit the number of threads. Everyone else, just tag in and have your guys greet the newbies.]

Tony stared out into the swirling colors of the bleed, shoulders slumped. He felt off. The beast inside of him constantly bristling, ready to tear something apart, kill someone for the slightest insult - the one he'd learned to control. It still gnawed at him, roiled up when he didn't need or want it. It made him moody. He grumbled to himself and ran a hand through his hair.

"Stop feelin' sorry for yourself. Universe or whatever is counting on you."

Which only made him feel marginally better. Seventeen years old and a soldier in a losing war for the fate of the world was heavy responsibility on its own. Then a whole universe had been dumped on it. But he was Garou. He was a Bone Gnawer - and Bone Gnawers did or died. They preferred to do and live, of course, but when the chips were done they got the job done. He turned away from the swirling colors of the bleed and glanced over the rest of the lounge. Sorta quiet, kinda dead.

Hell, he needed something to do besides mope.

She had lost. Well, of course she had lost. She had expected to lose. The was really little chance of her winning. She had known that. The election hadn't been for actually gaining the position, but making herself known on the ship.

Still, that didn't mean that losing the election didn't hurt her pride. She had logically never expected to win, but emotionally she had expected it. Perhaps even felt entitled to it.

She had other things that she was free to do now, things that would continue to move her plan forward, but for now she ignored Kano's urging for her to keep moving with her plan. Instead she wandered among a labyrinth of flowers and shrubs of all sizes and species. Benches were placed periodically among the plants to sit and relax. Several fountains dotted the twists and turns of the path. The garden itself was half surrounded by a chest high wall, the other rounded wall was made of sheer rock face and was dotted with little white flowers that sparkled in the moonlight. They grew along the walls as well, so that the outer line of the garden seemed to be surrounded by silver. Closer investigation would reveal that the flowers were covered in a thin, clear mucous. One should still be careful by the chest-high wall, since just beyond that was the rest of the mountain face.

Every so often Nanashi would stop any bury her face in some of the flowers, taking in a deep breath, absorbing the scent of the flowers.

She was so lost in her own musings that she didn't even realize she had left the sensorium door open- which replaced the usual door to the garden. It helped that a great burst of wild flowers helped to block off the view of most of the door.

Good news, denizens of the good ship Stacy: Zokez II had quite the night life.

There was a club a short distance from the beach that promised "the hoppingingingest night in the city" in multiple languages (the message got across, at least) and once dusk had fallen you could hear the music from blocks away. Venturing inside would show off an interior design that looked like somebody had fallen in love with the neon black light posters of Earth's 1970s, with brightly colored and oddly shaped couches, stools, tables and bars. Even the drink cups looked like they'd taken a spin in a too-hot dishwasher, all varieties of strange and squiggly shapes. Aliens of all shapes and sizes had taken up along the walls and the holographic dance floor and the good times were certainly rolling.

As was the alcohol.

[ooc: OH GOD IT'S A *SPACE NIGHTCLUB*. Have at, party animals.

Here's some terrible mood music.]

Kate had the Sensoriums look like the Young Avengers' Clubhouse training room again so she could take in a thorough practice. She had already done some kickboxing, jogging and stretches. Right now she was lounging on a mat with some cool bottled water, the surroundings giving her a two pieced exercise attire that hugged her frame but was flexible.

She glanced toward the large swinging punching bag, and considering some practice there again.

Maybe just lounge on her cooldown a bit longer first.

The rest of the crew assembled on the Observation Deck to meet the latest editions to their numbers. After the revelation that their worlds are gone, many of them are even more eager to see people they knew from home.

Several people are set up near the doors to provide the new people with omnicoms and comm rings. New crew-mates might see a green-skinned alien and snake girl among their number. There are also several authoritative-looking figures ready to introduce themselves.

There's a lot to tell the new people. It's going to be a lot to take in.

[ooc: Only new characters and Command Staff can start new threads for introductions, to limit the number of threads. Everyone else, just tag in and have your guys greet the newbies.]

Several buildings in the City had been completely destroyed during Aang's rampage, but a few had survived relatively unscathed. It had only taken Kang two days to repair the Drunken Dragon; he'd done so by himself, not even waiting for his leg to heal up a bit first.

Usually, he didn't bother lighting any candles or using the fireplace in the tavern unless it was a period when the artificial sun had set. He could see perfectly fine in the dim light. For the celebration, though, he'd thrown the windows open wide, scrounged up every candle he could find, and started up a fire, knowing that human vision wasn't as good as his own. The tables surrounding the stage had been cleaned, as well as the tankards, and the door was propped open. The bozak had even wrestled two of the 60-gallon barrels from the back room into a corner of the main room for easier access, one of cactus juice and one of ale. If more was needed, he was sure he could get someone to help bring out another.

Tess had commandeered the kitchen to make her food, bringing in her own equipment. Kang had been slightly afraid at first that she was going to burn the place down, but nothing had happened yet. She seemed to know what she was doing, even if she'd given him a few scares.

The sunlight glistened on the old sword blade teeth and dinnerplate eyes of the comical-looking wooden dragon grinning above the entrance. Come in, relax, have a drink and a bite to eat!

[OOC note: Both drinks are alcoholic, and the cactus juice has twice the kick of the ale. :D;]

The Nightmare King has been defeated. Those crew members who were touched by his madness have been taken down.

The City is a mess. So is the rest of the ship. As is most of the crew.

But it's all over. Finally.

People say that war is hell. This looked it.

Buildings and cars and bodies are scattered like broken toys as far as the eye can see, stretching out toward a dirty horizon. Even the clouds seems streaked with mud and blood, and they're taking it out on everyone below with a constant stream of cold, soaking rain.

The sounds of fighting seem to come from all directions, but at this moment, there's no one else in sight.

A breather. The calm before the storm.

[[OOC: This is for everyone who was involved with "The Lurking Fear". Questions go to Milo or Kaylin.]]

Nightmare becomes reality....

_{[roster: Leader - Plays-in-traffic, Jaina Solo, Miriam, One-Leaf Ear, Stature]}

Slowly but surely, the nightmares have been chipping away at the mental defenses of the crew.

Even those who attempt to stay awake to avoid the nightmares find themselves too on-edge to completely concentrate their defenses.

And the Nightmare King has not been idle during all this, no. He has been slowly feeding off the crew, gathering his strength so that he may yet break free from his prison.

And he now uses that new found power, reaching out to affect the minds of the crew even in the waking world. Even those avoiding sleep will find themselves drifting in and out of their nightmares, bringing everyone a taste of despair.

After all, no one can escape the grasp of the King of Nightmares.

No one.

[ooc: OH NOEZ. As you can guess, the Nightmare King is getting stronger. As such, the crew will start experiencing waking dreams. These are much more subtle than the normal nightmares, however, and are more so depressing and surreal than actually brain-breaking. Mostly they would be miserable versions of the character's normal life, or perhaps even their life on the ship.]