escordvi | when there's water all around you, and you're lost beneath the surface

For those providing support/drawing away excess heat, please feel free to utilize the given bestiary and run your own fights. Note Gloomtail is not appearing in this log.

Prep/approach/assault.

[You know, maybe someone should consider putting a proper tracker on the professor at some point, because this is now...what...the second time he's gone missing? He listened to the broadcast, initially certain others would have it handled, but something he heard troubled him.

So here he is on the Phantom Moon, inviting himself before Emet made the call. He had a hunch that it may be possible for the other to sense Turo's presence. At least a proper lead than constantly talking in circles and traveling aimlessly for sure. He couldn't imagine Emet would oppose to help, considering the professor is a member of his crew. With interest currently align, it only made sense to work with them.

There's still a snag they have to deal with while out in the open sea. Something is obstructing Emet's "sight" of Turo.]

How strong is the interference here? [Would it be a valid assumption that if the interference gets worse, they're getting closer?]

[ Emet-Selch rubs at his eyes for the umpteenth time since they have begun their voyage. It's not just the salt air now making them ache but the constant check-up of their missing professor. ]

The interference... Bah. It was difficult enough to see him when we started. That hasn't changed. All I can say is that it appears to be spread across an area. How large it is, I cannot say. We will have to come within sight of it first I think.

[ In the background, their crew work tirelessly in shifts to keep the ship moving forward towards their destination. Emet-Selch takes pains to thank them when he can and is already silently considering a more tangible reward for when they return. ]

[Shadow doesn't know how potent Emet's "sight" is, but it says something if whatever this is can cause interference for them. He hums quietly, looking ahead at the path they're traveling.]

Who can fight? [Among the crew. He hasn't really made much pleasantries with anyone unless necessary around here.]

Myself. Dojima, I presume. My friend, Hythlodaeus...although he will claim otherwise.

[ That's most of them, now that he thinks about it. ]

The two children may know how to scrap but I've not seen nor heard from them for some days. I wouldn't involve them in this rescue mission regardless.

[Eyes wander toward the various crew members keeping this ship on course. How many remain that are liabilities.]

Have you or the others encounter the one known as Ganondorf? [The name he has been hearing floating around as the prime suspect.]

[ A few of the sailing crew had claimed to know how to fight when he put out the call for this voyage but Emet-Selch suspects what they really mean is 'how to brawl in a bar'. ]

I know him in passing. He seems to be quite the villain - or so I'm told. [ A humourless chuckle. ] I wouldn't know. I don't believe any man thinks themselves the villain of a story.

[He hums quietly.] A generous perspective. [He isn't saying it in a scolding way. Just that he has a perspective others would rarely entertain.]

I fought him. It was quick, but long enough to tell...your average warrior may not be able to do much against him.

Hmm... Then we had best have the sailors stay back lest their eagerness gets them killed.

[ He tilts his head upwards, raises a hand and snaps his fingers. There is a subtle gleam as some kind of dome envelops the ship. There is no obvious sign of its presence unless one is looking for it. ]

--A small precaution, just in case.

[He glances back towards Emet, a shine out of the corner of his eye. His gaze moving upwards.

. . .

An invisible barrier? That's the sense he got from what they said. Just as he was going speak, his shellphone vibrates to grab his attention. Not the first time it's done that since they departed, though the first message he recieved made no sense to him. And there was no verified sender. For a moment he thought it was the same individual and thought to ignore it, until he actually sees the ID. The fox. He generally does not reach out unless it's something worth his time.]

What? [And so he'll answer with his warmest greeting, clearly.]

[Yup, as warm and welcoming as the vacuum of space. And deep in his gut, Tails feels the urge to back down and not risk bothering the ultimate lifeform — but it doesn't last. This is urgent, and Shadow of all hedgehogs will definitely want take it seriously. So, he'll pop up on video, smiling just a little brighter to mask his discomfort.]

Hey, Shadow! Sorry to bother you, but I think I've picked up something that you'll want to look into.

[Specifically, he's picked up some very out-of-context data originating from one of Eggman's devices, delivered not-at-all suspiciously into his messages. He picked up that it was weakly encrypted coordinate data right off the bat; and while there were no satellite images he could pull up to peek at the island directly, all he had to do was find the location on a map, make a few educated guesses...]

It's a weird signal — and I suspect it might be coming from a ship. [It's only stretching the truth a little. Any message from Eggman is a "weird signal", right?]

[ Emet-Selch discreetly turns away and focuses on the sea ahead, waiting for some hint of that odd, malevolent shroud to appear. He can still see Turo's energy signature so at least the man isn't, well, dead, for lack of a better term. It's a good thing this world isn't yet filled with technological marvels else he probably wouldn't be able to see them at all. ]

... [Huh. Did the Fox knew what he was up to at this moment to know what he wanted to hear? How, if so. There are questions he has that aren't related to the current situation, but he will refrain as it's not as pressing. He lowers the shellphone, looking for a button to press.]

Continue. [Emet is going to start hearing their conversation in a moment once he can put this on speaker.]

[Spoiler alert: Nope, Tails does not know exactly what Shadow is up to at this moment! But he's pretty good at calculating his predictions, and Shadow... well, he's very consistent in some ways. Such as which chaotic situations he'll throw his control into. And then, lining that up with recent events...]

It looks like a distress call. It's too regular not to be demanding attention — I've been pinged with its location about every five minutes or so. [Five minutes and five seconds, to be precise. 5:05... SOS. And it's just subtle enough for Eggman's plausible deniability.]

The signal shows that was moving less than 5 knots at first, and it's only gotten slower. And while it's currently in some tough waters to navigate, with some smaller islands scattered around... I suspect that it's slowing its course because it's planning to land somewhere in that region.

[ Emet-Selch hums. He beckons their navigator over to talk quietly. ]

Is there an archipelago nearby?

[ They confirm that there is one some distance away and that if they continue their course then they are likely to find themselves approaching it. They ask whether Emet-Selch wishes to take the direct route there or for the ship to continue following his direction.

He glances at Shadow. ]

It sounds like we finally have confirmation, hmm?

[...Something about this whole thing troubles him. It's seem far too convinient, that they just suddenly have more direct coordinates. After giving Emet a look of doubt, he looks back at his shellphone.]

How did you know this was information I needed? Why have you been picking up this signal? [As far as he's aware, no one has picked up any distress calls. This could all be an elaborate trap left by the enemy.]

[Aughh. Great. Merely skirting the truth isn't cutting it — Shadow doesn't trust anyone enough for that, does he? Otherwise, Tails wouldn't have to go through all the trouble of washing the egg-stink off this data in the first place.]

[And while he doesn't actually have anything against lying, because deception is just part of tactics... well, it's a lot easier to not get caught in telling lies if you aren't telling any. But, like it or not...]

We don't have the kinds of emergency systems here as we do back home, so I've been setting up sensors to sniff out anything readings they can, on all sorts of wavelengths. You know, casting a wide surveillance net. And this is the first 'fish' I've actually caught.

So no, I haven't confirmed where it's coming from or who it's meant for. Assuming it's meant for anyone at all — it could be a shot in the dark by someone who doesn't know a better way to be heard! What I do know is that, considering what's going on? I want to investigate it further.

And as for you... well, that was just a guess. This doesn't seem like something you'd pass on. Was I off?

[ The navigator is looking at him expectantly. Patiently. They know time is of the essence but it is no small thing to redirect a large ship as theirs. Emet-Selch ponders the pinprick cluster of souls at the horizon and the muddled glow of Professor Turo's core. ]

...It could be bait. [ Shadow is also probably thinking the same thing but he voices it aloud for this third individual to hear. ] However, I don't know who could possibly have discovered where we are when only I know our heading. Unless this signal was sent out indiscriminantly, in the hopes that someone, anyone, would eventually receive it?

[...What the fox says makes sense. That broadcast wasn't exactly privitized either. And he suppose Turo might have had a built in distress signal.

...

Hmph. That the fox would simply guess he wouldn't pass up on this. There's something he's not telling him, and he'll have to figure it out later. He lifts his shellphone in Emet's direction with the intent of letting him borrow it.] Provide him with the coordinates. [If it lines up with where Emet has been sensing Turo, then there's nothing more to it.]

[~~it's called character profiling, Shadow, deal with it~~]

Yes, exactly! That's what I was thinking! If someone wanted to lay a trap, there's far better bait they could be using. Something that they could be sure would be seen by their intended target. This doesn't read like it was planned at all.

[And here is where Tails sneaks things back around to the truth. Because that's the real way he knows this information is legit: Eggman's plans have his grinning face stamped all over them, accompanied by his name in neon lights. His bait always has an element of taunting because he wants his enemies to know what he can get away with. His greatest single MO is to win on his own terms.]

[So sending out vague information like this without the usual stunts? It's not bait. It's not his plan. It's a shot in the dark. It's desperation.]

Here, I've got all the coordinates plotted out. Since it's still on the move, this hasn't tracked it to the exact destination yet... but it's closing in on it. [As he explains, he pulls up charts of the region, with the sets of coordinates clearly marked out — not just the location on the larger map, but the trail of pings marked with pins.]

[ Thank goodness for this one's foresight for marking everything on a map. Things like coordinates would make no sense to a traditional seafaring navigator. He beckons said navigator over and, after a minute or so of perusing Tails' diagram, they nod and trace a different curve (their own ship's path) over the shellphone's screen. ]

Aye, if we continue as the captain says, we'd've eventually met this other ship somewhere around here.

[ It's settled then, as far as Emet-Selch is concerned. ]

Very well. We sail directly for the islands then. I'll continue to monitor the professor's location. Have those who can fight keep their weapons close to hand. 'Tis possible we will meet resistance when we near that shroud.

[Shadow will cross his arms, being a quiet observer as the crew talk among themselves to verify the information provided by the fox. Regardless of the result, he will gain intel from this. If it's false, then someone was able to fool the fox. If it's accurate...then they may get to Turo sooner. And from what he could tell, this "signal" was more elaborate than what it seemed. He taps his shoe against the wood of the deck.

If there is no technology to pick up certain signals in this world, then why emit a distress call that may not ever be picked up? Unless there happened to be a two-tailed fox that happened to be a tech geek to create such a device? Is this signal not affected by the strange obstruction? How in that case.

...

He leaves his thoughts, looking to Emet as he declares their destination. It appears the signal can be used. He hums quietly, moving out of the way as the crew prepares for potential rough seas.]

Keep an eye on any further signals you pick up. [That's about as good as saying "well done" from Shadow.] I still have questions, fox, but it can wait. [Annd back to being suspicious.]

You got it! And yeah — we can talk later.

[That's going to be a fun conversation, isn't it? Because for all the profiling that Tails can do, he doesn't have a clear prediction of how Shadow's going to take the truth. It might come down to how important Shadow finds the intel.]

[He rubs his eyes with gloved hands. That's a problem to be solved in the future — what's important is what's going on right now.]

[While most of this is a very one-way transmission of information, he's gleaning details just from overhearing the orders. They mentioned the professor — which is the closest thing he's gotten to a confirmation that he's filled in his blanks correctly. But what's more interesting is the man saying he'll monitor the professor's location. With what? Something that Shadow's not questioning, even given the problem of technology that had just been raised. Interesting!]

[Something to look into later... assuming he survives coming clean to Shadow. For now, he should stay focused on the relevant details:]

Keep me posted on what's happening on your end, too? And if you need anything from my end, just ask. I'm going to keep looking into things here.

[What he wouldn't give to be able to hop in the Tornado and check things out for himself, too.]

[ After sending the navigator on their way, Emet-Selch glances at Shadow then at the shellphone. It's not any of his business, but... ]

If your friend there is a scout then mayhap we would benefit from them assisting us more directly.

[ It's posed as something of a query at Shadow. The hedgehog is stoic even on a good day but whatever relationship the pair have seems wrought in glass. Emet-Selch would be a fool to turn away help. However, there would be little point if it would cause friction. ]

[He waves a hand with a huff.] If you feel it necessary, but we should not further delay our search.

[It's not a no. The fox can figure out a way to get more involved if he wants, but he is of the opinion they should not turn back.]

[Gale is hardly the only combatant who has chosen to lend his talents to this rescue, and so it would seem that each one of them has something unique with which to draw their foe's attention— what he lacks in brute strength, Gale more than makes up for in other areas, and he does not appear to be alone when his time comes to run interference.

As a matter of fact, there appears to be four of him— each and every one identical, each radiating a crackle of energy that ripples through the atmosphere surrounding them. He is as prepared as he can be, forearmed with some limited knowledge of his foe.

Now all he needs is to find him.]

Dojima, meanwhile, had a simple purpose--

Get in, find Turo, get him out, one way or another.

The smoke bombs from Kaveh and the Raven Bracelet letting him jump aboard with plenty of cover hiding in the smoke with a strap of cloth over his face as he found the ships stairs. He made his way down into the ships depths; any lock door he came accross, he busted open with his metal magic, careful to time the sound with any explosions or yelling coming from outside.

He appreciated more than ever the 'lessons' Jack taught him, after that fiasco at the Auction-- how to get in and get out quick with minimal noise.

Turo had to be somewhere deep inside, he was sure of it, if this guy was an amoral piece of shit, he'd hide his 'asset' as far in as he could to keep others out, and Turo in-- but what was he looking for? A locked room, a cage, something-- worse--?

A dark room, just a sliver of light that would be in the doorway, and a cage with what could have been a surprising amount of chains used on what was inside of it. Couldn't call it anything more than a cage, given it was too small to be a sort of cell most would lock someone away in.

Tucked into a back corner of it, head bowed forward—whatever could help preserve energy as it felt as if his core was fluctuating a dangerous amount.

The noise above barely registering.

Once he reached the inner hallway, full of doors, he had been checking every open one, before he'd start working on busting open the locked ones. Needed to call as little attention to himself as possible--

He saw a light. Miasma Red mixed with sparking teal and violet, and he pushed the door opened, moving as quietly and quickly as--

Oh.

Fuck.

He nearly crashed into one of the large boxes in the room, eyes solely focused on the horror infront of him--

Turo... Tino, was--

"Florentino...!"

Dojima's voice barely above a hoarse whisper, rushing to grip the bars of the cage, desparate to believe he wasn't too late this time--

"Can you hear me?!"

Could he even move? Dojima's hands squeezed the metal-- would manipulating it or the chains set off an alarm? He didnt have the magical sense to tell...!

The further Dojima came into the room, the more likely he was to hear something scatter at his footsteps. Shards of crystal were strewn across the floorboards still, broken pieces and some too small to be cared about in any gathering of them. Light catching the few that covered hands to end in claw-like points, along with what covered parts of his upper arms.

For a moment he would be met with silence, brief but could feel like far too long in the situation.

It took a moment for words to be registered, trying to keep energy usage to a minimum meant that Turo hadn't detected movement or presence.

Finally? His head lifted, a few crystalized strands of hair catching the light along with flecks of it just under his eyes; small patches of his beard as well. Eye-light flickering, glowing that odd teal-blue before blinking. Focusing—

"... Ryo..?" Static clinging to his voice.

"--Yeah. Yeah, it's me, Tino--"

He needed to get him out. But, could he risk trying to carry Turo out as--

Fuck, this bastard fucking punched a damn hole through Turo's chest to his core...! Dojima, had to push his rage and disgust down, that horror of seeing Turo like this--

"Can you move at all? Do you need some energy?"

They needed to stabilize Turo more before they moved--

"I'm going to get you out of here--"

Dojima's presence and what it meant -or even him just being there- wasn't fully registering at first. Left him staring at the man for a moment as his head tipped to one side, or as much as it could in his literal position. Turo twitched, some spark visible from behind ripped pieces of fabric in his torso.

"Eₙₑᵣgy lₑᵥeₗₛ fₗᵤcₜᵤaₜᵢₙg—" A burst of static as Turo's voice fluctuated-and finally wincing as eyes closed again.

A harsh breath of air caused further sparking as his head tipped forwards just slightly. It hurt, other places felt numb, and there were alerts still flashing in and out across his vision.

"Tired..." S̷̲̒͠o̴̡̒̈́ ̴̺́̀r̷̘̻̉é̵͓͙͝ŝ̴̳̼t̶̥̻̄̐.

Fuck, fuck!! What should he do?! Would giving Turo more energy help or hurt him?!

Dojima's hands squeezed the cage bars again, experimenting with them. They were-- pretty damn strong, and there was something else inside the bars, but--

Both hands gripping tight to tug...! them apart--

"Fuck, did he put some sort of stone in there--"

He could only bend it enough to get an arm in through--

"Focus on me, Tino--"

So one hand first, and a spark of electricity on his pointer finger, pushing it in as far as he could--

"Here, Tino-- hang on...!"

And like a shock of static, a charge of electricity would dart from Dojima's out stretched fingers to Turo's own loose hanging ones--

Of course there was a slight jerking twitch at the electrical charge, and a good few sparks from wiring to go right along with that—no sound of pain, just a physical reaction as the tera crystals that covered parts of him sparkled briefly. Could focus on that voice, blinking rapidly as if trying to clear something away from his vision.

"Ryo—" Voice a little stronger at the very least, even if there was still static clinging; something more to do with his voice box, strained as it had grown.

Fingers flexed, some straight put against those chains that kept him restrained.

"I- its dangerous--"

"Thats why I'm here--"

Of course it was dangerous. That's why Turo needed to be rescued--

"Hold your hand out--"

Putting his other hand in the make shift holes between the bars, clenching it into a fist. Holding something that he had to make sure got to Turo's hands--

Something that Turo would need to escape--

Edited 2025-08-30 21:02 (UTC)

Turo was far more 'awake' after the shock at least, that much more bit of energy along wit that upwards flux of energy within his core caused by what had been draining it as well. Able to focus—Dojima was really there, and he could hear the noise from above that much more clearly.

This was more than just dangerous, not just for himself either.

"What..?"

Even asking, Turo was trying to reach a hand out as crystal flaked away from it, fingertips just barely brushing Dojima's own hand—

when there's water all around you, and you're lost beneath the surface

MEGAMAKI & GLOOM PHANTOMS

The Main Rescue

Prep/Approach - (Locked to Emet and Tails)

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Tactical Assault (For Ganondorf)

Infiltration - (Turo And Ganondorf)

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