03 ▒ EVENT: STRELA OUTPOST ▒ ASSIMILATION

[ataraxites]

CHARACTERS: Ensemble production!
LOCATION: Strela Outpost.
WARNINGS: Mind horror, hivemindery, etc.
SUMMARY: Communal brainwashing.
NOTES: Divided by locations; players are free to indicate which day/stage, and to begin new subthreads wherever they'd like!

Looks like the authorities have apprehended you and have brought you in for processing. After being forced to wait in the waiting room, you're brought to the assimilation room - a terrible white cell, where you're trapped for hours, sentenced to be slowly stripped of your individuality.

Comments

8D

[gofortheoptics]

[Stumbling out of that room like a varren pup that's just started to realize that it's going to need to compete for its mother's milk to survive, Tali isn't far behind Sulu. Maybe it was the suit, or maybe it was her determination not to end up like the people of Zhu's Hope and the people of this place, but the moment she saw that writing on the wall -- no matter how unsettling it was, no matter how unsure they were of this creature, she forced herself out.

Unsurprisingly, the pressure doesn't immediately fall away like some sort of easily shed cloak. She frowns to herself and decides instead to try and focus on something else. Her eyes fall on Sulu and she recognizes him of one of the Enterprise. When he hits the wall, she forces herself to stagger over to him and grab his arm, hoping he'll meet her gaze even through the dim light of her helmet.

She doesn't say anything yet, can't find the will to form the words. It's obvious enough in the way she starts to walk, though, leaning on him a little and hoping he'll do the same so they can balance out.

Let's go.]

[leaps]

[ it's just as well. sulu isn't sure he can manage intelligent conversation right now either. he isn't sure whether he wants to collapse or throw up, but the yank on his arm gets him in gear fast enough, provides a distraction, something to focus on besides the way his head is throbbing and his heart is racing in something that he tentatively classifies as fear.

he knows how this works. he's done this before, the graceless-stagger wobble away from danger. she leans on him and he leans right back on her, and this is the best kind of support. never leave a cadet behind, he remembers the instructor barking, and if he just thinks of it like that, like a simulation or a test, then they'll be okay. ]

We should...we should go to the shuttles.

[ because god fucking forbid they were left behind down here. ]

[gofortheoptics]

[So long as he understands that this is the way they're going to both get out, there shouldn't be any problems. She's steady enough to try and catch her bearings, figure out where exactly it is they need to get to.

She nods. Yes, that would be for the best -- but she's not sure she can, not yet.]

I'll take you to the shuttles.

[But then she needs to go back, needs to find -- well, she can't just leave everyone here. If they save just one person, maybe that will be enough.]

[leaps]

[ his grip on her tightens, and his pace slows. not that they were going so fast to begin with, but still. ]

Not yet.

[ because who knows what else was happening down here. ]

We should look around first. See if there's anyone...

[ anyone who didn't make it out. who can't make it out. and it's the kind of stupid, noble shit that gets people killed, but sulu's not the sort of man who can just run. ]

They could come with us.

[gofortheoptics]

[Fortunately for Sulu, noble shit is the sort of thing that Tali's most used to. She lets him slow their pace until they're just standing still, glancing over her shoulder.]

Okay. I -- have someone I need to find, anyway.

[She's working on leaning on him less and less, testing out her footing. Her head still feels like it might split open, but at least she can mostly see straight again.]