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rp_help) wrote in janitorscloset2015-12-29 12:13 am
[Event] Introduction to the Nexus / MoI crash
Within the fabric of the multiverse the differing possibilities of each branch are woven, overlapping but separate, converging and looping at times, but often wriggling apart by ever-increasing degrees until the substance of it is thick with possibilities. This fabric is five-dimensional, not recognizable in its true form to the beings that are forced to live within the constraints of linear time and three-dimensional space. Unknown to those who live out the events contained within it, the sense of it is only kept by the special properties of the interactions between universes—it would seem that each universe is independent, but the nature of this fabric is such that certain events—convergence events—tie each universe together in an indelible way.
This is not to say that these convergence events all take place in the same way in each universe. But there are key threads that cannot be unraveled from their neighbors, and though the players in a scene may not all be the same in each universe, the moments contained in these convergence points are so tightly woven that in some ways they may be indistinguishable from their neighbors.
II.
An indelible part of those universes where Project Freelancer came to be is the fact that the Project could not succeed. It was based on flawed theories, illegal activities, biased science, no matter which lifetime this particular founder of the Project was living out. And so its failure, or more specifically that moment where its impending failure came to a head, became a convergence event. Like a network of strong magnets, the turning point brought the multiverse together in an intimately linked way. For this reason, when in one universe the ship Mother of Invention fired upon itself and began its descent into the atmosphere of the nearby planet, it sent shockwaves of destiny through the multiverse, bringing each doom destined for Project Freelancer into clear focus.
Much of the technology in the Project's facilities, both on the ship and the planet itself, were experimental. Dimension-hopping was one of the unsanctioned activities taking place under the Project's purview, though it was intended for fast travel through space within the same universe rather than through the multiverse itself. This didn't change the fact that once again, the Project was messing around with things that weren't entirely understood. The emotional states of the users of the dimensional portals had a huge effect on them—and the person effecting the portal didn't necessarily have to be actively using it, either. This wasn't known or considered when the Project moved one of its portals from its planet-side facility to the labs on the ship.
III.
And so it was that the combined anger, fear, and desperation of the occupants of the ship at the time it crashed reprogrammed the portal in the ship's belly, and in turn created havoc in the transporter nexus that resided on the planet. Like an arc of electricity sparking from a Tesla coil, the wave of reprogramming touched every portal in the nexus. Every portal would now lead to the Mother of Invention in the aftermath of the crash. Worse than this, it caused the portals in the nexus to draw in users from other parts of the multiverse. They would enter the nexus unknowingly, simply hearing a ringing like crystal and finding themselves within it. Attempting to leave would simply send them to the Mother of Invention at a most dangerous time.
IV.
Timeline of events:
• Day 1: Residents of other times and places will find themselves on the planet containing Freelancer facilities in the teleporter nexus. Everyone who comes to the nexus will find that their cell phone, 2-way radio, comm device, or helmet radio can be used to communicate with anyone else who has arrived in the nexus at any point. Attempting to leave the nexus via any portal will lead to the crash site of the Mother of Invention. Recovery agents and guards will be evident all around the grounds, but things are chaotic. It will be impossible to locate the end portal the character arrived through to return to the nexus.
• Days 2-5: Things are calming down at the site, but time itself will seem to be undergoing an echo effect—recovery agents and guards will still be on patrol, but as time goes by they will seem to be in several places at once and though they may spot characters who arrive, they will be unable to apprehend them. The end portals that lead back to the nexus will be intermittently visible, but in a shivery way that will make it difficult to use them to return. When one manages to return to the nexus, they will find that they're unable to reprogram the teleporters. Teleporters now lead to various locations, however, rather than just the ship crash site—they also lead to various bases inhabited by simulation troops. Like the guards and recovery agents at the crash site, however, the simulation troops will not be quite able to interact with the characters who have arrived.
• Days 6-10: The shivers that are going through time and space now seem to be settling down, and the teleporters are increasingly responsive to attempts to reprogram them. By the time the ten days are up it's easy to cycle them between other Freelancer and UNSC facilities, and many technologically-savvy characters will be able to deduce the fact that there is a resonant frequency inherent to their own universe that can be programmed into a teleporter via their radio or comm device.
no subject
[Meta couldn't talk. Maine did, he heard Maine talk once, something changed, what changed? He doesn't know, he doesn't remember what made him stop. But he's talking. He's in armor. White isn't a team color, his armor would change like North's, but it didn't, and he talks, and he's holding himself like MAINE, not META-]
[Something is very, very wrong here, because this would usually be a Heart Game, but his is the only Heart it could be, so WHAT IS GOING ON?]
[It's a few moments of staring as his mind runs at full speed and then his expression just]
[Shuts down completely into something neutral.]
Sounds about right. So you recognize me? That's new.
no subject
You got old. [Yeah, he recognizes you, and yeah, he recognizes the change in you. He also motions over to the wreckage of the ship, as if to say know anything about this?. He's figuring Old-Wash might know about Crashed-Ship.]
no subject
Yeah, I did. [He looks over at the ship. Its still so easy to read the unsaid words and it makes his chest feel tight because he's pretty sure Maine is dead too.] No, I don-wait. [His eyes narrow, takes in the shape of the ship. He's seen it, just once, but....] Its the same class as the Mother of Invention. Or....is it...?
[Well, if it crashed, certainly would explain how it seems like everyone ran off without interference.]
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[One way to find out ...]
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[He's just kind of accepted he'd have to check out the ship eventually, so he's walking along with Maine.]
Don't suppose you have an extra gun if this goes badly? All I have is a kitchen knife.
no subject
when successful. ][He looks back at Wash, and then reaches to his hip and tosses over his pistol. He's got the Brute Shot now; definitely more his kind of weapon.]
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[His life is actually crazier now without the Reds and Blues.]
[He catches up and will put it in an inner pocket of his coat. He....also seems to be wearing a pretty necklace with the butler outfit.]
Thanks.
So, I can only guess time travel is happening. [He says that like it's a natural conclusion.] I see you have the knifle. [Because he never DID get the name of the thing.] So you've at least dealt with the sky scraper bullshit. You far from after that?
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Fell. Landed here.
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[But that means Maine is still Maine. His friend.] And, uh, my memory is kind of spotty. Part of why I'm dressed like a butler. My life has gone really crazy the last few months.
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[He tilts his head to regard Washington and his getup again. He'd figured it was probably just some kinky roleplay outfit and there was a disappointed lady/gentleman/other in a maid's outfit somewhere (which would have at least meant Wash was getting laid). Maine gives a noncommital shrug.]
Not my business.
no subject
[He went red.]
Oh my god, no! There are kids who get shoved in this uniform! [Hello squeaky voice.]