ataraxionlogs | EVENT: DUPRR ▒ THE SECONDARY SHUTTLE BAY

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EVENT: DUPRR ▒ THE SECONDARY SHUTTLE BAY

CHARACTERS: Ensemble production!
LOCATION: The secondary shuttle bay
WARNINGS: Violence, injury, graphic imagery, death etc.
SUMMARY: Discovery of the secondary shuttle bay and rescue ~~or not~~ of the DUPRR NPCs inside.
NOTES: March 30 onwards.

The doors are torn open as you arrive, metal ripped back like the skin of a fruit. Improvised barricades of tools and carts, shuttle pieces stand as obstacles to be carefully climbed through before you can stand in the shuttle bay itself. The space is vast, flashlight beams penetrating only a certain distance into the dark, but enough to sweep the floor, find the scattered, gored remains of at least three human bodies.

The ship stands as the only complete vessel in sight - or, at least, it was. Windows smashed, the hull torn at, access doors ripped open. The inside empty.

The shuttle bay is silent. But is that the silence of a catastrophe already passed, or of someone hiding, holding their breath?

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Here, this way.

[ She points off readily, starting in that direction now that she has the assurance that Sam, at least, will follow. ]

What's your name?

[ He's gotten her interest, at least. ]

[ It's actually a pretty good marker for how seriously Dean's taking this that he doesn't shoot Juri or Gogo a hard look at their sass. There's a time and a place to be defensive over their scouting party, and he'd rather do it in a brightly hit hallway outside that room someone turned into a Jamba Juice or whatever.

Sam is, as always, on the same page. They're here to do some rescuing, to bring back as many of these strangers as they could, and that included stupid Max or whatever. ]

That's Sam. I'm Dean. We can play singles bingo later, okay, let's just get your idiot shipmate out of the frying pan and back in the fire, alright?

[ And with that thoroughly charming greeting, he blows past Juri in the direction she'd been heading, gun held aloft. ]

[Sam's expression towards Juri is apologetic as he steps up beside her as they head down the direction she's going. Dean's bedside manner isn't always great, and this woman has clearly been through Hell. His brother's bedside manner isn't exactly fantastic, and he'll try to ease any tension created.]

We'll do whatever we can to get you guys back safely. Just stay close to me, alright?

[ Nodding, Juri heads off alongside Sam, leading them further into the belly of the secondary shuttle bay, through the inky darkness that swallows them.

After walking a while, Dean (and any others out in front alongside him) would notice movement in the shadows. Not the same skittering of the earlier spider, but something equally careful and dextrous in its movements, shifting around at the corners of their vision. It looks like they might not be the only things trying to catch up with Max. ]

[ The movement does catch his eye, and his footsteps slow to a stop. He doesn't say a word, but a silent and urgent hand comes up to catch the attention of the group and halt them for a second. That hand falls back to his gun again, and he tries to follow the movement with his eyes.

After three damn days of group-formation putting down every manner of creepy crawly this ship could fathom, it's getting a little rote for them. Attacks are expected, and though his heartbeat starts to pick up, there's a collected calm about him.

Dear god, just don't let it be the friggin' monkeys again. ]

[ It looks almost like

the ground in front of him is moving.

A moment later, Dean may realize that it's not the ground at all. In the darkness, the blackness looked like the shadows on the metal floor, but now, it's shining just slightly, and it appears to be rippling. Muscles tightening and loosening. Worse, as he follows the path of it down the perpendicular corridor, he'll notice that it winds around, curves, and —

From behind them, a hissing sound comes as a great snake opens its maw, unhinging its jaw and lunging to strike lightning-fast with venom-coated fangs at Juri. Anyone who tries to come between it and its goal might find itself batted out of the way by the force of a several hundred pound, thick black snake tail. ]

[ Well, that's gonna hurt in the morning.

Punching giant snakes in their venomy faces sounds like a job for the guy with the metal arm, though, so here he is, making use of those well-honed reflexes and his position in the rear of the group to lunge into this thing's path. For all that there's a pounding in his head that just wants Juri gone, gone, gone— she's not the only one who shouldn't be here, and she's not going to be much good luring the others in if she's dead. (Strategize a little here, snake bro, jesus.)

Maybe he sparks a fist off its fangs before its tail catches him across the ribs like a rubber-coated freight train, maybe he doesn't; either way, he goes tumble-skidding back across the floor with a hhhrk—

A little help, guys. ]

[As their companion dives in the way of the snake's attack and ends up taking a beating when the thing bats it away, Sam moves to occupy the space between the snake and Juri, raising his gun to try and fire a couple bullets into the giant creature's eyes.]

Stay behind me!

[He barks out the command, ready to take the hit for her if need be, knowing that his brother is nearby to back him up.]

You alright?

[It's a quick shout out to 'Davis', who hopefully wasn't hurt too badly. They were probably going to need him to take this thing down.]

[ The basilisk, in its enormity, dives in, snapping its fangs around Bucky's arm when he lunges for it. Metal's stronger than enamel, though, and one of its primary fangs—and some of the smaller bordering teeth—breaks off as it tries to damage the prosthetic. It still gets a hold on him by his arm, though, and it uses that to shake its head like an angry dog and throw Bucky into the wall.

With a shout, Juri doubles back behind Sam, not armed or trained enough to be willing to jump out with any usefulness. Some of Sam's bullets strike home, causing the creature to flinch, and Juri nods to him. ]

I think so. What the hell is that thing?

[ He never gets a chance to answer. With a loud hiss, the great reptile dives down, belly on the floor to try coiling around the group, its tail whipping out to slap Sam aside now that it's identified him as a threat. Out in the darkness of the shuttle bay, beneath the din of gunfire pinging off metal and the horrible battle sounds as they damage the snake, shuffling can be heard. The steady pad of something weighty coming up at a run, the sound too soft to be shoes.

Animalistic grunts and heavy breathing start as they come in closer. ]

[ It's not the first time Dean's thanked all that is holy for that weird mechanical robo-arm Davis has, because it's come in handy more often than that pun's been funny. (Handy. Seriously, it's good stuff people.)

With Juri camping out behind his meatshield of a brother, Dean spends his focus on popping off a few rounds into the snake's hissing, open mouth. He doesn't get very many off, though, before Hissypants goes all coil-mode. ]

Jesus-

[ Comes out of his mouth a second before he's hauling himself over top of a massive snake belly, shoulder slamming into the wall on the other side of it. ]

What I wouldn't give for the goddamn monkeys again.

[ Because muttering to himself is obviously going to accomplish something right now. Between the goddamn snake and the goddamn captive, he's not exactly on red alert for that new potential threat heading for them. Doesn't catch the sound of padding and grunting, isn't anticipating a new twist to their current delima. He does know one thing, though- if that Max guy came this way alone, he's probably getting digested right now. No way they're pushing this any farther.

Screw this crap. ]

Back!

[ He yells at Juri, at anyone in the party who will listen and can physically get the hell out. ]

Get back to the shuttle bay! Go!

[ AHAHAHAHA YOU HAD TO

SAY MONKEYS

BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S APPROACHING THROUGH THE DARKNESS :')

It appears Dean has the right idea, because between the pack of monkey muttations coming for them and the basilisk that continues to throw its weight around viciously in pursuit of Juri, it looks like this just isn't a fight they can win.

For a panicked, conflicted moment, it looks as if Juri might resist Dean's order. She peers off into the darkness, the way Max vanished, and rests a hand on Sam's arm like she's ready to move past him. But she doesn't. Ruthless pragmatism overrides heroics, and she pulls at Sam's arm instead, ready to double back. She turns and hauls ass in the opposite direction. ]

[ But the real question is why does anyone ever let Dean Winchester open his mouth ever. No sooner are the words out of his mouth, it seems, than he's turning to catch sight of a monkey-shaped mutt leading the stampede at the end of the hall. He takes a solid half second to just bask in how utterly done he is with life, the universe, and everything before he's surging toward Davis's crumpled form. ]

Hey, you alright? Come on, let's go, get a move on pal, we're booking it-

[ It's urgent, impatient, nudge-shoving Bucky up and onto his feet. He trusts Sam to get Juri the hell out, and he trusts the others to get their asses into gear themselves. He's just gotta make sure they don't leave Davis unconscious and about to get monkey-mashed or snake-chowed. Leave no man behind, right? ]

[Getting whipped away by the tail of a giant snake was not on Sam's to do list today, but what can you do. He manages to scramble back to his feet quickly enough, gathering his bearings just in time for Dean to literally summon their inevitable doom and call for retreat.

He'd roll his eyes if they weren't about to run for their lives.

His long legs make it easy to cross the space back over to Juri, who seems to hesitate, perhaps going to run away after her companion, before finally deciding that staying here isn't going to happen. If anything, he's grateful, because dragging her to safety was going to make him feel a hell of a lot guiltier than assuring her later that she made the only possible decision.

So when she tugs on his arm, he moves to follow her, covering her six as they head back to the shuttle bay, listening for the sound of his brother's footsteps, which better damn well be close behind them.]

[ Heavy, frenetic breathing starts up once they've torn through 500 yards of shuttle bay, Juri's boots pounding on the metal floors beside Sam. She glances over at him without slowing down, panting out, ] How far to a secure base within the ship? Your people must have somewhere they can hole up away from these things.

[ She's already thinking ahead to how hard it'll be to get back in and come back for Max with more. ]

We're gonna have to come back.

Yeah, just— [ Just give him a minute, Winchester, or a split second really, because that's apparently all these monsters are going to give anybody. He clasps onto Dean's arm and pulls to his feet, vision still swimming from the impact — but not so much so he can't see the band of mutant monkeys closing in on them. ]

Right. Running.

[ He sweeps his rifle off the ground and gets his ass in gear, keeping up with Dean toward the rest of them. ]

We need to lose these things first. If we pass the place we rested last, we'll have to keep going.

[The sound of footsteps following after them assures him that Dean is on their tails, and he glances at Juri as they book it towards the rest of the group.]

I know. But we gotta get out of here alive first, or there won't be any coming back.

[ She doesn't like the idea, but she also doesn't have a better solution, so her frustration remains limited to a dissatisfied expression as she continues to bolt alongside Sam towards the shuttle bay doors. ]

[ Yeah, okay, he's not about to be the bearer of bad news, but they're so not coming back for Max. At that point, they'd be making a suicide trip for some snake fertilizer, and Dean Winchester ain't about that life, thanks. He can argue with Bossy Alien Lady about that sometime when he hasn't just prophesied their impending doom.

He's hot on Sam's heels as they peel out, mind working frantically for some kind of plan, some kind of distraction, diversion, secret weapon to get rid of a giant fucking snake, but since he can't exactly summon Dumbledore's freaking bird or whatever, he's coming up with sort of a loss here. ]

Sort of a shot in the dark, but anyone got anything explosive right about now??

[ If you've never heard a man's voice while he's frantically running, just know it's a pretty damn comical sound. ]

[ Having slightly more dignity than Dean Winchester, 'Davis' doesn't try to answer aloud so much as do that thing with his eyebrows while they run for their lives. Like he doesn't have explosives, Dean pls. The off-color putty he pulls from his belt is not actually meant to be used as a grenade, though, and placing a detonator with one hand while holding a rifle in the other and running like hell isn't exactly simple.

Up ahead, the shuttle bay doors come into view. Good cover. Bad for his odds. A sense of urgency reignites in his veins as Juri closes the distance. (No, no, no, wrong direction, she needs to get out, she needs to leave—) With Max out of the picture, she's the only crew member left, and she shouldn't be here. None of them should. They're a threat to the ship. Even Kate had seen that, and Kate never approves of killing.

For half a beat he wavers, charge pushed into putty, as if he's not sure which direction to throw, his eyes flicking to Sam, to Juri — until he hurls the explosive over his shoulder, shoving Dean ahead of him with a yell, ] Get down!

[ And in the same motion, pulls the butt of his rifle back to his shoulder. Fire and gore explode behind them, but a bullet flies ahead. Aiming for Juri.

(Even Kate had agreed. Kate never agrees.)

—Or, just to her left. ]

[With the monkey-things approaching, Gogo had darted ahead as the others tried to figure out how to stop them, looking for a way through that might involve less, well, horrible monsters. Which was probably stupid, in retrospect, but one can hope, right?]

[She was just curving back into the group when 'Davis' shouted, and the noise yanked her eye towards them. She was at just the right angle to realize where he was shooting, and even though the first bullet appeared to go high, Gogo wasn't going to let another shot get off.]

Get down!

[She shouted towards Juri even as she threw her arm forward and the carbon-fiber disc she had strapped there flicked off and spun towards 'Davis', aiming for his hand to try and knock his gun away.]

[ The bullet ricochets off the metal of the hallway, and Juri raises her arms above her head, recoiling instinctually to a crouch and glancing back and around. Gogo's shout comes immediately thereafter as she dives between Juri and Davis. The DUPRR agent moves through the interior shuttle bay doors into the main hallway to get cover, looking to whatever sane people are left. ]

What the hell is he doing?!

[ Not stopping, apparently.

Sparks burst to light where Gogo's carbon disc hits metal hand and metal rifle, and the latter goes careening off into the darkness. But as soon as it's out of his grasp he's reaching to his leg for his sidearm, gun pulled from holster with an unnatural absence of hesitation, and head ducking behind metal forearm to block any incoming fire as he bolts after his target.

Juri is what's important. The rest are just obstacles. Collateral damage.

(Like Philadelphia? Is there a difference between ten and two hundred? Didn't he used to remember the answer to that? He used to remember—) ]

[ The second it takes for Gogo to react is a much better time than Blake can manage, but thankfully she's there to serve as an adequate buffer. Quick to offload Selina, John's attention wholly focuses on the commotion ahead of him, at the unexpected aggressor.

Blake can see Juri moving away out of the corner of his eye as he closes the distance to James, intercepting him with a considerable amount of confidence for a guy in such a small package. No words, no warning, just as much speed and efficiency as he can pack into this moment because decisiveness is what's going to save lives.

Striking out, he swats downward at the leading arm to disrupt the man's aim while the other hand twists the firearm against his grip. Maybe a broken finger wouldn't mean much to James, but it'll certainly require him to change hands before firing again and that buys them time. ]

I don't know.

[It's a miracle that the bullet missed, because he's seen 'Davis' in action, and it's probably only the fact that they were running from an army of monkies that he missed at all.]

Stay ahead of me. Keep your head down.

[It wouldn't be the first time he acted as a meat shield. The others seemed to have taken it upon themselves to try and subdue him (and he didn't want to shoot and strike any of them on accident), so Sam would keep acting as her bodyguard, keeping his body in between Juri and her new attacker, and act only if he rushed him or acted against him personally.

[ Maybe the first shot missed because of the monkeys, or the explosion — and maybe the second ricochets off the floor because Blake knocked his arm down in time, and maybe he can't hold onto the handgun any longer because his fingers break in the twist of Blake's grip — only he doesn't so much as flinch when the bones snap, the gun just– slips. He doesn't reach for another.

(Kate would never agree with killing them. Not when there was any other option. That's not her.)

The tell-tale rev of an internal motor heralds the swing of a steel fist in Blake's direction instead. They never did spar, but if they had Blake wouldn't have seen him like this, swift and ruthless and trading blows as easy as breathing. Each action is a reflex more than a decision. He isn't thinking; he's killing.

(This isn't me.)

His eyes widen. For a split second, he catches Blake's eye, and there's no anger or violence or murder-fueling hatred in his gaze, there's just a hardening determination. The setting of teeth. The next punch Blake throws, he doesn't block. ]

EVENT: DUPRR ▒ THE SECONDARY SHUTTLE BAY

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