Down the Tubes - Discovery

[spoileralert]

WHO: Stephanie Brown
WHERE: The lake, the bunker
WHEN: 8/26
OPEN TO: Bull (part 1), OTA (part 2)
WARNINGS: TBA, please note in subject lines

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AT THE LAKE/UNDERGROUND

LOCKED TO BULL

The number of people gravitating towards the lake has been worrying to Steph. She wants to keep an eye on things, but she's worried that getting too close will trigger something. She watches people pass by instead, keeping herself hidden and not following them. Finally several people leave all at once, and all but one come back. After that things quiet down, and she feels safe taking a slightly closer look.

Out of the trees and the lake comes into view, as does the new addition. The pod is intriguing enough that she wanders out into the open for a closer look.

ON THE NETWORK/LAKESIDE

OTA/MINGLE

The little escapade underground has left Steph with an odd sense of anxiety and a newfound appreciation for the open air. She can't quite put her finger on what unsettled her, but she knows that as long as the pod is out here in the open she and Bull aren't going to be the only ones to step inside and see what happens. If it's going to be a whole Thing then they may as well compile notes. That means letting people know, and that means posting to the village twitter. She sits on a rock at the edge of the lake and composes her message.

no telling (@StephanieBrown)

found something cool... the pod at the lake is an elevator. lights work, but idk about the structural integrity or security measures. be careful.

Comments

At the tubes

[ataashihunter]

Bull had been keeping an eye on the strange things happening as well. After the wendigo and losing someone, he doesn't really want anyone else to risk getting hurt so when Steph steps forward he follows her towards the pod. As he gets closer his curiosity gets the better of him and he reaches out to touch it.

"What do you think it does?"

[spoileralert]

Of course she notices the massive body moving behind her, and the silhouette is hard to mistake. If it’s only Bull he’s likely trying to protect her again. Luckily this time she’s wearing black jeans and not overalls he can use to throw her off balance.

“I dunno,” she answers without looking back. “It looks like a giant test tube, or something from a gumball vending machine. Or one of the transport tubes from futurama, maybe, if it had a top and a bottom.” Probably none of that makes any sense to Bull. It doesn’t stop her from making the references, much less from walking right up to the edge of the water and deciding which she values more- dry pants or keeping them on her body.

[ataashihunter]

The words make no sense to him but he doesn't comment at that, at least not right now. Unlike her he has no issues getting his pants wet and wades into the water.

"Transport tubes? Where do you think it goes to? It doesn't look like anything else here? It looks... different." Then he glances over at her. "You have things like this where you're from?... Want a ride out there?"

[spoileralert]

"The future, maybe?" She shrugs. It probably isn't any kind of transport tube. It was just the sort of design she was thinking about.

She's about to answer his first question when the second brings her up short. She looks at him for the first time.

"What, like on your back? Can you do that?"

[ataashihunter]

Bull looks at her confused for a moment, why shouldn't he be able to do that. Then he just smiles and reaches out to pick her up and place her on his shoulders. But he is making sure the movements are slow enough that she can dodge them easily if she wants.

"Of course I can."

[spoileralert]

Hey, if it keeps her clothes dry... She lets him pick her up, and squeaks at just how easy he makes it seem. It's all very strange.

"Um... onward ho?"

[ataashihunter]

Bull laughs and places her on his shoulder. Then he starts wading towards the pod, making the distance over there pretty quickly even if he has to swim for a bit. Once he is there he steps onto the platform and walks around the pod. "What do you think it does?"

[spoileralert]

He's definitely a faster swimmer than she would have been fully clothed. She holds on to his horns as he climbs out of the water, and opts to just. Stay there. Just for now.

"Probably not anything good," she muses, examining the smooth top of the container. Actually, it kind of looks like it has a door. Is that a door?

"Hold up, go back a sec? Just a foot or two."

[ataashihunter]

He frowns and then does as she says."What is it?" He reaches out to touch the glass, running his hand over it. "Feels weird, not like anything I've felt before. Like magic in a way."

[spoileralert]

"I think I see something. Just stand still."

She adjusts on his shoulder until she can aim a solid heel-kick at the thing. It responds with little more than a dull twang. Then the door slides open with a quiet woosh, creating a large enough opening even for someone Bull's size to fit through with relative ease.

"Woah. Hold on, I wanna see this from sea level." She does not wait for his assistance in getting down.

[ataashihunter]

It is hard not to jump back when the door opens as if by magic. It is only the fact that he'd drop Steph that keeps him steady. He frowns and waits until she has climbed down before he moves a little closer and carefully sticks his hand into the door opening before he sticks his head inside. "You think it is safe to go inside? I don't see any obvious weapon or trap."

[spoileralert]

"If there were more clear and present antagonists here I'd say a mysteriously opening door is an obvious trap."

She sticks her head in as well. It isn't hard, as tall as Bull is. She doesn't see any kind of controls...

"I don't know if going in would actually do anything."

[ataashihunter]

"Yeah. It reeks of trap if you ask me. But on the other hand what choice but to try it out do we really have." He moves to put more of his body inside the pod. "You along for the ride?"

[spoileralert]

"I can think of three alternatives off the top of my head." Still, it probably isn't going to do anything. She moves out of the way. Let him look goofy in the weird test tube thing.

"All yours, big guy."

[ataashihunter]

He nods and then moves to climb inside the thing. "Looks alright. Want to come in?" He moves over so there is space for her as well. "It looks strange in here."

[spoileralert]

“Wow, that thing is spacious.” No offense to Bull, but there being any room whatever is an impressive feat.

She slips into the empty space, though there isn’t a lot of elbow room for her. She struggles a little to get turned around so she’s facing out. Once she is, she presses a palm against the glass. It feels just like regular glass to her.

Of course, that contact activates the thing. The door slides shut before either of them can try to stop it and suddenly they’re both plummeting down into the water, and then the earth.

“Oh shit.”

[ataashihunter]

"Yeah it is not bad. It wasn't made for QUnari but.." He stops short when the door slides close and then roars as the pod plummets with them inside. He is pounding on the glass trying to get out but once they are surrounded by earth he falls quiet.

"What is this?"

Once they are at the landing pad and the door slides open again he scrambles out, putting his hands up ready to fight. "Where are we?"

[spoileralert]

Heedless of Bull, Steph has the staff out from under the back of her shirt and extended to full length in front of her before they hit the floor. Whether the threat comes from inside the pod or out, she wants to be armed.

She lets the large man take point as Batman taught her. He’ll be the target, and she’ll be free to maneuver under and enemy’s guard as best she can.

But a fight doesn’t come. She stands there for a good minute anyway, in a ready stance. She can hear her heart pounding in her ears, feel the blood rushing through her body wherever it makes contact, much worse than it ever was before the gang war. When she finally relaxes she feels weak.

“What. The actual. Fuck,” she inquires of the universe. This was incredibly rude of it.

[ataashihunter]

Bull is perfectly fine with being the target. Infact that is a position he has taken many times with his chargers. He waits for a minute then relaxes. At least nothing is attacking them outright. He finally turns and looks at her.

"Beats me. Want to look around this place?" He steps a little towards what looks like an opening

[spoileralert]

She pushes the ends of her staff in and secures it to the makeshift harness on her back, though her hands shaking makes it a little difficult.

"Let's at least make sure we're alone down here. How quiet can you be?" Her own voice has lowered considerably.

[ataashihunter]

"Enough when I have to be. But I am no fog warrior." He lowers his own voice to match hers, shifting how he walks to make less noise. He isn't quite as good as those that spend their whole life doing this but he can make somewhat less noise at least.

[spoileralert]

"Then let me lead, stay back two yards. Be as quiet as you can. If I find something, you'll know."

She pulls a few throwing knives out of one pocket and holds them in her right hand, then begins checking doors. She goes left to right down the hall, staying out of sight when she first cracks the door, then throwing it open. She doesn't give the actual rooms much attention just now.

[ataashihunter]

He nods and does stay behind her when she moves down the hall. He can move more quietly than he gives himself credit for, but he is by now means as good as someone whose life depends on stealth. He takes one step closer when she opens the door, ready to burst into action should she need him to. Then he moves to glance around inside after her, giving her a little nod.

"Looks abandoned." He whispers.

[spoileralert]

Steph puts a finger to her lips and points further down the hall. There are plenty more doors to check before they can start looking around. Her life often does depend on stealth, and as many instructions as she may ignore in other areas she has never underestimated the value of this particular skill.

[ataashihunter]

He nods to her and closes the door somewhat. He looks down the hallway, shaking his head a little. She is right that they need to check if there is anyone here, but they can't do a thorough search with just the two of them. He follows her for a little longer being on guard in case they should meet someone. Once they've hit the last door he breathes a sigh of relief. "At least it is not an ambush."