escordvi | Log 4

[When night falls, the Dark Abyss will leave the docks of Eltrut, heading for open waters. His destination, not on some quest or any particular errand. He's heard of an island that's been setup as a memorial sight for those lost during recent events with the whales and abductions. Did he lose anyone himself? No, but he felt that he had to be there, having witness some of the atrocities himself. He's traveling there by night, when most are starting to turn in for the night.

Checking his navigation, he figures he'll arrive at the destination within the next hour or so. He turns down the engine of his boat, setting it on cruise for a moment. The waters are calm on this particular night, so he'll take the opportunity to move below deck to gather something before arriving.

There has been some renovations done to the boat. Still barebone as ever with only the essentials on deck, but there's a cannon and another that can fire harpoons now. His engines have been upgraded for better travel time and the one room he designated to house various flowers is now a proper garden room of sorts. And that's where he'll be.

He's gather quite a variety of flowers since he got this boat, and he's pondering whether he should bring any, if there is one suitable for the occasion. It isn't necessary, but he has plentiful flowers that taking a few is probably a necessary measure to avoid overgrowth.]

[ it's always those damn portals that come out from under their feet when they aren't looking. she hasn't even been thinking of home, or maybe she has, maybe she's too caught up in what "home" is to her. however, all she can see is nothingness, a stark blackness that engulfs everything because what she called "home" and a "life" had been taken from her. sometimes she wonders why she fights knowing she can't even gain her answers here.

how annoying.

that's why she's met with a hard smack against the hull of the boat, and what follows after is a another loud thump there too. this is not the first time this has happened, and she's expecting to be in a jail cell again, but that's not the case. as she looks up, she can see the dead of night staring back at her, and the weight of kitsunami on her body.

slowly closing her eyes, surge opens them again at the sea breeze brushes against her nose. ]

Not-a-fuckin'-gain...

[ forget the boat. forget the rift. forget kitsunami, who hits the deck with a dull thud, groaning a little bit as he pushes himself up on his hands, then immediately looks to the space behind him. forget all that, because— ]

Surge, are you okay?

[ the moment that green enters his vision, he feels his heart steady, his anxiety about the rift subsiding as he recognizes that the two of them are still together. the rest, he doesn't really care about. he just wanted to make sure that surge was alright. ]

I'm not really enjoying the rise and fall of it, no.

[ not what he asked but what is she if not okay, the tenrec lifts up as she positions the fox between her legs. one hand lifts up as she scratches the back of her quills, eyes looking around where they've been dropped off at. ]

Anyway, where the hell are we now...

[ she is not enjoying this issue of theirs, her free hand points to the sea that's pretty vast, and here they are on a moving boat. slowly getting to her feet, she grabs the kit by his wait to put him down on those big rain boots of his. ]

Woah! Look, it's like... big??

[ sea gets that big? ]

Oh...

[ what's he supposed to do about that? still the ocean? freeze it?

he might be able to, if he tried... but he hasn't tried to do anything too big yet with his tattoo, and he even then he can tell that it tires him out more than it did at home. he'd rather keep his guard up for now as surge sets him back on his feet, just in case. ]

W-we must be pretty far away from Eltrut.

[ and he's been pointedly staying on eltrut, really, considering it's one of the only places where both he and surge can stay together without any problems. paladins? not fond of corsairs. corsairs? understandably feel likewise. as a general rule, that place is just the easiest place to be as partners. this place though? ignoring the fact that they're out at sea, he's scanning the ship for anything that might identify it, especially aligning it with one faction or the other. ]

[There is nothing to identify this ship's allegiance, for it's owner could care less about the two armadas. They're going to feel the boat jerk violently as it suddenly picks up speed. At the captain's helm, Shadow was suddenly there at the wheel.

There was no way the sound of them landing didn't alert him to return to the deck. What he discovered, only soured his mood. These two again. If they were trying to get the jump on him, it was a pathetic attempt at it. How did they come onto his boat in the first place? There was no land or other vessels in sight before he went below deck. The thought of striking them first crossed his mind, but he makes the decision to wait and watch in the shadows. Their actions are too easily driven by their emotions. Starting a fight here is not ideal while they're out at sea.

It was the better alternative to listen, as he hears how utterly clueless they are about being on his ship. It appears this was not planned, if they're even capable of such a thing to begin with.

His objective now is to focus on getting to his destination sooner, have them disembark and let someone else deal with them. He eyes them, not expecting this to be smooth sailing to the island.]

[It's the middle of the day and Shadow is out at sea once more, slowly sailing through the area where Elah once stationed themselves. The landmasses that remained had already been transported away, to salvage what still remain afloat.

He isn't completely certain there was anything to find, but perhaps something was left behind that didn't get swept along. Confirming this means one less location to search. His quills move as the wind starts to pick up in the area. As he starts to turn the sails, he hear's something hit the fabric and then a loud thump onto the deck.]

... [The engines are turned off. A deadpan expression on his face, seeing from the captain's deck, who had landed on his boat this time. Maybe he should be looking into those rifts instead, because this is getting ridiculous.]

[Sonic doesn't land nearly as smoothly as he would have liked, considering one doesn't typically expect to appear at random above a ship in the middle of the ocean. At least the sail had broken his fall before he'd tumbled ungracefully onto the deck, and it doesn't look like he'd lost many quills to the fabric. All in all it could have been worse, he could have ended up in the water again.

With a groan, he pushes himself to his feet and looms around to take in his new surroundings, only to spot Shadow of all people on the captain's deck. Oh joy, stuck on a boat with Mister Personality! This was sure to end well.]

Ah... huh. I'd say I can explain, but I'm at a bit of a loss with this one.

Edited (Fat thumbs!!) 2025-06-03 15:24 (UTC)

[He groans.] Don't bother. [He can figure out how based on his entrance. Doesn't mean he has to like this arrangement.]

Don't try to run. We're no where near land. [Meaning he's stuck with this hedgehog. All the more reason his mood has soured. He returns to moving the sail once more to catch the wind, better duck blue hedgehog.]

[Sonic's aware enough of his surroundings to duck the sail, at least. He moves over to the side of the ship in order to stay out of the way, shielding his eyes from the sun as he looks out across the water.

Eeeyup, Shadow's right. Nowhere near land. Sonic sighs, accepting his boaty fate with a shrug. What can you do, huh?]

It is what it is, I guess. What brings you all the way out here?

[He considers for a moment just turning the boat back around and not give the blue hedgehog a response. It's nothing worth hiding, he just doesn't want to deal with the other hedgehog too.

...At the same time, he's already reached his destination and it be a waste having to go back and then return to this spot. Things may drift away before he can return to investigate again. Tch. He glances off into the distance, searching while the boat drifts through the area.] How are you at swimming?

[At least Shadow's not the worst person he could be stuck with right now. Shadow only punches him sometimes, and most likely doesn't want to actually kill him. At least not all the time.

Hard to gauge whether or not Sonic's answer to that question will warrant a punching...]

I've been practicing! I've just about mastered the doggy paddle. Its not great, but I can mostly keep my head above water?

[...] We'll see if that's good enough. [He turns the boat slightly, marking something on what appeared to be a map chart sitting beside the steering wheel.]

I'm looking for clues to Elah's whereabouts. [Considering the whale was last seen diving underwater, swimming might be required. Will this give the blue hedgehog cold feet, or is he going to confront this problem?]

I can't promise it'll be fast... [Which, for Sonic, is pretty embarrassing to admit. He's more than happy to change that subject to what Shadow's doing.]

Anyway. Elah, huh? Any luck so far, or are you just starting off?

[Guess you'll make good fishbait then.] Only possible leads.

[What those are, the hedgehog can ask, cause he's not interested in elaborating as Sonic isn't a concern to him right now. He notices some fish and other marine life that seem to be huddling around an area near the surface. Getting closer, they start to swim away in the same direction.

...He has a feeling following where they go might be the play. The boat gently rocks as he turns the ship once more to follow behind the fishes.]

Gotta start somewhere, I guess. What kinda leads? Oooor should I just shut up and wait and see when we get there.

[He can just keep himself entertained by fish watching, getting on Shadow's nerves in the middle of the ocean would just be annoying for both of them.]

[...] Just tell me if you see something. [Shut up and wait it is. And he'll be waiting for a while. His favorite thing to do. As Shadow continues to trail along the school of fish, the air does noticeable start to get warmer. Not sweltering hot, but the pleasant kind of warmth that you'd want to go out for a picnic in, or a day at the beach.

He did pick up during his research something about a "paradise", and weather was relatively fair at all times. Was he on the right track? If he is, then eventually they should start seeing some landmass somewhere. If it hasn't sunk or dragged away.]

[Night has fallen over an unspecified location. The perfect setting for an infiltration mission. Whispers of a certain organized group of humans have reached Shadow's ears and at first, he thought someone was playing a trick on him. But as he looked into the rumor more, about activity at a facility that should have been abandoned, the more it seems less likely he was mishearing.

Upon recieving further details, reading a name of one of the organizations involved, he doesn't waste time heading for the objective. Guardian Units of Nations. What were they doing here? How long have they been here?

...

He doesn't have any kind words about G.U.N., but knowing what they do, this doesn't seem to line up with their MO. To have involvment with the abductions and whale hunting, are they a group that defected? There are many questions that he can only get answers to once he reaches the facility.]

Edited 2025-06-03 19:50 (UTC)

(Chris has heard their own rumors. Blue people with strange markings and stranger powers. A hidden lair with a legion of guards.

The owner having connections to several high ranking individuals who had been caught on that islsnd. People being taken and not coming back.

They're cloaked deep in their "do not notice me" aura and hidden in the shadows. Hard to see, hard to find.

They're not on the lookout for Shadow. They know nothing about GUN. They just know that something is up, and that there might be combat model Re-Genes involved.

They are, however, in a real good spot for a stakeout, so it's entirely probable that they might run into each other.)

Edited 2025-06-05 00:09 (UTC)

[Shadow wasn't expecting anyone else to have the same idea to infiltrate this facility and wasn't on the lookout for the other who has arrived. His attention is focused on the number of guards walking the perimeter. Certainly proving this place is anything but abandoned. One, two, three...when they turn, when they stop. Are there cameras? Where are the blindspots? The best spot to enter from.

He does notice there were other individuals not wearing the GUN uniforms. Hired arms? Something about them didn't look, entirely human. An unknown factor. If he were to enter now, would the knowledge he does have be enough that he can deal with the individuals he has no information on?

...

He moves along the fenced off perimeter under cover, grabbing a rock. He'll toss it into the area to see how the guards would respond.]

(It's the rock that gets their attention.

Immediately, their mind fans out, scanning for the source--there!)

Fuck! (They swear under their breath. What's Shadow doing here?

They slip closer to his location and drop their don't notice me aura abruptly.)

Shadow?

[He's observing the guards, some moving away towards the sound the rock had made. As the area thins, he waits to make sure nothing else occurs-

...

Crimson eyes turn toward the noise of someone approaching on this side of the fence. He stares as Chris comes into view. Eyes narrow slightly. So they're here for something as well. What other reason would they come out to this specific location? Now Shadow has to factor them into the equation as well. Great. He unfurls the hand that had been balled up into a fist, gripping the fence. He picked this spot as it had a decent blindspot, and there was a small opening in the fence he could make larger for him to get through. Or the two of them in this case.

He looks to the other for a moment and then slips through. This window of opportunity is closing quickly after that moment's distraction. Either Chris follows or doesn't. He knows not what they're after here, but as long as they don't attract any attention from the guards or interferes, they can do whatever they want.]

(For a moment, they freeze under his gaze. Is he gonna threaten to kill them for sneaking around and potentially interfering with his plans? It doesn't seem likely: he's absolutely radiating confused annoyance to the point they don't even need to try and listen to his emotions, but that's all.

They get the impression he's too preoccupied with something else to really care about their presence at all.

They'll follow him through the opening in the fence, re-cloaking themself in a general aura of "do not notice me", and do their best to extend it to Shadow as well. Might as well work together if they're both here.)

Got a tip that there might be someone here involved with people from my world. (Rumors of blue people with strange magic. A name spit out in a curse by another they'd hunted down.

Their words are a whisper. They don't have time to give a more detailed explanation.)

Edited 2025-06-06 21:43 (UTC)

[If they are capable, he has no reason to say anything. He keeps moving until they're up against the wall, beneath a camera that swerves above them. The voices of the guards can be heard in the distance, discussing what that sound could have been. The information Chris provides clears up one mystery of the other guards mixed in with the GUN agents.]

Those agents in uniform are from mine. [He finally speaks up, quietly. They all had patches on their uniform to differentiate them. What Shadow finds curious, is that those emblem designs hadn't been in use for quite some time...maybe it's nothing. More pressing, what are they doing working with those from the other's world? He glances up at the camera, ears swerving to the sound of footsteps.

They can't stay here and discuss things. Even with the cloaking ability, they're still just sitting ducks. They need to get somewhere with more privacy. He starts moving away from the guards, staying along the building until he gestures for Chris' attention. Above them, an air duct they can get through.] Get me there. I'll pull you up.

(Once their assessment of Shadow as a person has more data points than "said he'd save them" and "threatened to kill them" Chris will chill out and stop being weird.

The annoyed tolerance and focus on the task at hand might actually be helping more than any kindness would. It's what they're used to.

For now, they try to see if they can pick anything up from the minds of the guards with regards to base layout and amount of people protecting it, even as they follow Shadow.)

Alright.

(They resist the urge to tease him about his height or comment about "uppies" as they stoop down to give him a boost.)

[Wouldn't be the first time someone remarked about his height. Once Chris was ready, he'll come forward and get on top of them. He could have just jet himself to the duct, but the sound might attract attention to the area. So doing it the old fashion way was the better route.

Some of the guards provide irrelevant information. About going home, what they ate. Getting back home...that seems to be on all of their minds. Maybe why they're working together? Some will eventually reveal different parts of the facilities interior, where they frequent. When that information is combine, it will make a better picture of the layout. Two floors, with a hanger underground it seems. There are two objects in the hanger, large and not organic, machine-like. Their target is on the second floor, made obvious with an increase density of guards and sensors installed on that floor.

There's a creaking nose coming from above as Shadow pulls away the grills covering the duct's entrance. Hanging from the edge, he lowers his hand to Chris. Short in stature he may be, but his has plenty of strength to make up for it.]

(They let out the tiniest grunt as he climbs on top of them but othereise, no complaint. Usually when they do this the roles are reversed: it's nice for once to not be the smallest on the team.

Home, huh? They think about what he said, about lots of people ftom his world being here. Sure sounds like a bunch of riftfarers.

It might even make sense: if the people from his world are highly trained operatives of a military or paramilitary nature--what they think of when they hear the word agent--then they'll likely be used to working in ways similar to Re-Genes. Though they don't think anyone who's experienced freedom is likely to long for the Directive. And yeah, they fon't feel much of anything of the Re-Genes beyond the usual staticky thought voids.

They reach out and take Shadow's hand, letting him pull them up. They're fairly scrawny under all that clothing, with a bit of muscle but not loads: they're an ordinary weight for a human, in other words.

Once they're up, they'll speak.)

The blue ones are Re-Genes. They've probably got similar training to your agents, but with better ability to block out telepaths.

There are two floors with an underground hangar. Not sure what's in the hangar, but our target's on the top floor. Unless you weren't after the boss.

(They're not 100% sure he is, though it seems like it.)

[He'll pull them up without issue. Watching his grip to ensure he doesn't accidentally crush their hand is the concern. He's well practiced enough that it hardly ever happens these days, but it's a constant consideration in the back of his mind.

They get inside the duct, staying put for a moment as Chris explains. Already provided with a layout of the facility. Did they already knew this or gathered that information from the guards...doesn't matter. He turns and starts moving along the passage.]

I'm here for answers. [That's about as much as saying, yea he's looking for who is in charged. Though it may come to destroying this base in the end.] Can you search for an empty room? [First objective, is finding a way up to the second floor. What's hiding in the hanger is a nonissue at this time.]

(Huh. So strong he has to force himself to be gentle. Like Ranma, except Ranma isn't a villain like the two of them are.

They blink at his request.)

Yeah.

(They fan their mind out, seeking a place where they can't sense anyone.

Hm.)

There's a room shaped empty space about 30 feet that way. I think there's a guard posted outside, though.

(There's a bit of staticky nothing there that suggests the presence of a Re-Gene. So they could get into that room through the duct, but they'd be facing down a superpowered blue person once they exited... or once the noise of them entering got their attention.)

One of mine or one of yours? [They can assess how to proceed while they make their way over towards the room. Take the guard out and tie them up in the room could be an option.]

Mine. (They're going to start crawling along the duct in the direction of the space they think is a room.)

Hard to get a read on them, they're trained to block out telepatths.

...I'll handle them myself. Open the door to the room from the other side. [Chris can interject if they think otherwise.]

Anything else I should know about Re-Genes besides blocking telepathy? [They already mention being trained similiarly to the GUN agents. That is a nonissue, but anything else, he would like to be made aware of.]

They usually don't talk out loud if they can avoid it, and they all have different powers.

(They look thoughtful.)

Might be possible to reason with them in our language, but ...they don't really respect cuckoo types like me.

(They find an opening in the duct that should allow them into the room and start working on getting it open without making too much noise.)

Edited 2025-06-10 00:59 (UTC)

. . . [Time is of the essence, so he sees no point in thinking on what may or may not be possible. He'll stick to his plan, disappearing in a snap as Chris continues into the room. He'll reappear above the guard and land a powerful kick from behind their head. It should knock them senseless, stop them from alerting anyone else. Once sure they're knocked out, Shadow will grab them by their arms, hoping Chris had already unlocked the door by this point, so he can drag the guard into the room with him.]

(The guy in question is nearly 9 feet tall, absolutely hulking... and Shadow should have probably paused to ask himself why this particular guard was on their lonesome when most of the rest of them are all on teams.

Because that kick? Does nothing... to the guard. Instead, the force of it is transferred to the back of Shadow's head instead. Have a taste of your own medicine, hedgehog. Even if it is entirely undeserved.)

[The force knocks him into the guard in the process. Not the intended hit, so it won't do anything to them. What was that? A deflection spell? He can't stay, he's been hit worse than that. Shaking his head, he quickly brushes it off and moves before the guard can catch him.

He lands back on the ground, keeping out of guard's line of sight. Or could they still see him from behind? He'll figure it out as he attempts to grab hold of their legs and knock them off their feet. All the while, aware of the door and keeping the fight from getting dragged into the room, for now.]

Log 4

Surge and Kit

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