[Event] Introduction to the Nexus / MoI crash

[rp_help]

I.
    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.

Comments

[trustandfireworks]

[He shakes his head, pulling back into the cranny as far as he can.]

You're not North.

[Tears fill his eyes. He'd been so sure for a moment that someone was here he knew and trusted. Someone who could help him and take him home. It hurts more than before when he thought there wasn't anyone.]

[shieldsniper]

[North isn't sure what to say.

He's trying to make sense of it all, especially with being back in time and everything seemingly all over the place. Could there be another him running around? One this kid knows...his name is Theta after all. Is this a human version of his AI? That doesn't seem physically possible.

Either way, he's going to stay. He's not about to leave a kid alone out here on his own. Especially if it is actually Theta.]

Look, I don't know what's going on, but I am North. Or at least, a North. And if you're Theta...well, I also had a Theta, except he was an AI.

[trustandfireworks]

[This isn't making any sense!]

But I'm an Ai. We all are, the whole family. It's our name. A-And you should know that if you really are North!

[He wants so desperately for this to be North, who he knows and trusts to keep him safe. It sounds like him and has the right colors, but he hasn't seen his face and he doesn't seem to know things he should. How can that even work?]

[shieldsniper]

[North wants to say no, but stops himself because that's not going to help this conversation, although he can't get over Theta Ai. It's literally Theta in human form and he doesn't know how to deal with that.]

Wait...whole family? [And he remembers his Theta talking to him about the other AIs.] Like...Delta?

[This is definitely crossing into weird territory, weirder than the Reds and Blues if that were possible. He does, at least, take off his helmet. It might be cold but the air might help him think a bit better.]

[trustandfireworks]

[Theta stares as the helmet comes off to show an all too familiar face. It's North. But how?!

Abruptly it doesn't matter. He can't take it anymore and with a choked sob, he hurls himself at North, clinging to him and not caring how his helmet clunks into the man's chestplate.]

I don't know what's going on. [He's sobbing now, it's all too much.] You're North, but you're not. D-did they make you forget? I just... I want to go home. I want to go home.

[shieldsniper]

[North is caught by surprise but he relaxes quickly, gingerly placing his hand on the kid's back and wishing he wasn't wearing armour. It's hard to comfort someone this way.]

I wish I knew what was going on to.

{He's curious about this new world, but at the same time, he's needed back on Chorus, especially with the situation so volatile.]

But I don't think I forgot...but I think you're right about that. I'm North, but I'm not the North you know. Just like you're Theta, but not the Theta I know. But it doesn't change the fact that I'm going to figure this out, and I promise, I'll help you get home.

[He'd be a pretty terrible North if he didn't.]

[trustandfireworks]

[It's not his family and it's not his North, but right now it's the contact itself that Theta needs, though it would be better if it was someone he knew.

He doesn't say anything for a while, it wouldn't come out right while he's crying like this anyway, but eventually the tears slow and the sobs ease into hiccuping breaths. He stays curled close to North though.]

I... So like different worlds? [He thought those were only in science fiction.] You're not my North... Does that mean your Theta is in my world?

[shieldsniper]

Best description I can come up with.

[And North would agree with that sentiment. He's a little concerned about the future cubes now.]

He might be, but I don't know. When I said he was an AI, I meant it, like literally. He's an Artificial Intelligence, and he would show up as a hologram.

[He won't say he lost him to the Meta years ago.]

[trustandfireworks]

[Theta stares at him.]

A hologram? But... but I'm human. And you're human like my North is, how can I... how can your Theta not be human?

[This is getting stranger and stranger by the minute and he likes it less and less with it.]

[shieldsniper]

I really don't know. I guess that's just how he appeared in my world, but he was still pretty human for an AI.

[trustandfireworks]

[He bites his lip, shifting a bit awkwardly against North now that he's stopped crying and is no longer clinging to him.]

What's he like?

[shieldsniper]

Well, he was small, for an AI anyway. And he was shy, until he started to trust you, and then he'd just light up. He liked to be able to make holograms, like fireworks. He was good at those.

[trustandfireworks]

I like fireworks. We don't get them very often though. [Only for special occasions like his birthday and New Year's.

This other Theta does sound like him... only not really human.]

[shieldsniper]

Thought you might. I like them to, but yeah, don't get to see real ones a lot. I don't think it would have gone very well if we'd set them off on the ship.

[Not that the thought hadn't been considered.]

[trustandfireworks]

[Theta looks around at the wrecked ship. There's not much space for fireworks to go anyway, let alone explode.]

I think you're right.

[shieldsniper]

Didn't stop my friends from thinking about it, though.

But, didn't I say we were going to go find you some blankets? Or at least something warmer?

[trustandfireworks]

Oh, yes! Yes please! [He'd hoped North could help warm him up, but the metal armor and black suit underneath didn't let any body heat escape and he's still cold.]

[shieldsniper]

[Yeah, armour's not the best for comforting people. Instead, North will stand and offer his hand to Theta.]

Good, then let's go.

[trustandfireworks]

[He takes North's hand and stands up, huddling close to the man because even if he doesn't provide warmth, he still helps block some of the wind.

With his free hand he reaches back and grabs his skateboard, clutching it close.]

Okay, ready.

[shieldsniper]

Let's go, and like I said, be careful.

[And they'll head into the ship. True to North's words, it's a mess, with equipment and people scattered about. It's a little hard to navigate at first, mostly because it's been a long time since North's been on the ship but it all comes back to him.

He's not really sure how to feel about it.]

So, you skateboard as well?

[trustandfireworks]

[Theta stays close to North as they go into the ship. It's dark and scary and he's worried about getting lost in the maze of tunnels. North seems to know where he's going, at least Theta hopes he does.]

I... yeah. I really love it. I got this deck for my last birthday and it's really good.

[shieldsniper]

You'll have to show me when we're in a slightly better situation. If the ship wasn't on an angle, I'm sure the training room would have been perfect.

[He pauses for a moment to get his bearings, before continuing down another hallway, trying to figure out what's closer, barracks or med bay.]

[trustandfireworks]

Really? Yeah, I'd... That would be fun.

[So he likes showing off a bit. Can you blame him?

North pauses and Theta stops with him, looking around in case something's wrong, but then they start off down a different hall.]

Where are we going?

[shieldsniper]

I'm trying to decide where the best place to find blankets would be. I know I must have had some in my room, but there might also be some in the med bay.

I guess it's just wherever we end up first.

[trustandfireworks]

I thought you said you knew this place?

[He hesitates, uncertain again. Someone who had really lived here and knew their way around this ship would know where things were, right?]