[Away Mission:] Arrivals Post, Alemar III (Party Post!)

[ten_fwd_npcs]

"Welcome, everyone, to geothermal field two-nine-one," Dr. Johanna Sk'Amor says, once everyone has gathered in the entryway.

The shuttlebay the group has just left is behind them, while the large entrance to the facility is directly ahead. The building is quite spacious, and despite the high volume of visitors no one is cramped for space while standing here. It's like a museum lobby, with fixtures in the center of the room and wings on either side. While the design is not as bright and clean as the Enterprise, the high ceilings and white walls give a feeling of spaciousness. To the right is the main observation room, where the convex wall making up one full corner of the drilling facility is primarily floor-to-ceiling windows. The vistas beyond are stunning: tall, grey mountains and low valleys, all covered with snow. To the left is a winding staircase that leads to an upper level, and beyond that are several labs.

"This is one of five scientific outposts located on Alemar III," the doctor continues. "At one time we had seven, but two have been destroyed by earthquakes. Alemar III is highly geologically active, so our remaining facilities have been reinforced to withstand even the most devastating natural disasters. There's nothing to worry about, our engineers are some of the best in the quadrant, but if you feel some tremors while you look around just keep in mind that this is normal.

"Two of our outposts are at the polar north and south of the planet, while the other three, this one included, are evenly spread across the globe. Our staff is small, only about ten scientists and five archaeologists, and enough engineers to keep everything in working order. In all, the entire planet only has about ninety occupants at any given time. It's rare that we're able to entertain guests.

"If you'll follow me, I'll show you some of the work we accomplish here."


[ooc: This post is open to those who signed up for our game plot only! As it's being run party post style, all characters are encouraged to tag in and mingle; since teams have not been divided yet, any participating character can tag anyone else, you don't have to stick only to those on your teams. You may also tag in as many top level threads as you choose if you're doing the full tour, just be sure your character ends up in the room where their team will be positioned for the rest of the plot (for those who will be divided in the mines due to cave-ins, the main mine connects to many other rooms and alcoves, so simply tag in under the Main Mine subheading and have your characters move around the different passageways to explore. Wherever rocks fall, that's where the rooms will be divided). Threadhopping and backtagging are encouraged! This post will remain open for as long as it takes all characters to tag in.]

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Angeal Hewley

[wear_tear_rust]

Oddly enough, Angeal wasn't too interested in what was above the surface of the planet but rather what they were mining below in the tunnels. The branching tunnels that reminded him of ant hill passages on a large scale was something of a wonder to him. Below the surface of his town in Banora was something similar only with an energy called mako instead of the crystals that were jutting out and greeting any passers-by to gaze at them.

He didn't reach out to touch them even though he was curious enough to try. His senses picked up a faint pulsing and his eyes averted to look at Genesis from the faint glow. The cascading lights then revealed their secrets of delicate ancient paintings that told a story of a time long passed. He stepped forward again looking only with his eyes without touching lest he disturbed the ancient past.

"Memories are like dust. They settle and every touch removes just a little more to be swept away to another place." Angeal mused through his own way of fascination. He looked to the doctor then back to Genesis and then to the others in the tour group. Nothing entranced him more than a little mystery.

[rhapsoidein]

Genesis' already glowing eyes seemed to pick up the faint luminescence, turning her gray-blue eyes into a bright, almost royal blue. She smiled a little at Angeal's words as she reached out to gently trace the crystals.

"Ripples form on the water's surface
The wandering soul knows no rest."

Her voice was but a murmur as she looked over to Angeal once more.

"I do hope the doctor isn't using this Planet's natural energy source for selfish gain. Planet's only have a finite amount of energy and to use it all up would mean the very death of the Planet itself," She said, glancing at the doctor. "Be glad these crystals don't house the very souls of your inhabitants."

[wear_tear_rust]

"Hm?" Angeal looked over his shoulder, his once transfixed gaze blinked to reveal his customary appearance. He was almost in a hypnotic state until Genesis broke his trailing thoughts with a soft smile and a nod.

"Indeed." His smile faded just a bit at the thoughts through memory to ShinRa and their exploits. "I would be worried if it did. How can a world survive?"

Then he thought of the earthquakes. A what-if cycle of thoughts coursed through his head. What if the earthquakes were caused by over mining? What would happen if all the crystals were mined and there was nothing left to sustain the planet? These thoughts disturbed him and his frown deepened.

[rhapsoidein]

Genesis saw the deepening frown and shook her head with a sigh, reaching over to poke Angeal's hard bicep. "Don't think too hard on it. This isn't our world, we aren't even staying here."

If the residences of this Planet wanted to learn the hard way what it was like to strip their Planet's resources, then so be it. Besides, for all she knew, they weren't using these crystals as energy sources. Or perhaps the Planet had a way of regenerating. It wasn't her call, after all.

[wear_tear_rust]

He twitched a bit at the poke but he couldn't help his thoughts on the world that was in trouble. It was in his nature to care even if others wouldn't see just how much he thought of them. He closed his eyes and dipped his chin with a watery smile but the thoughts had never left the tracks they were on.

"Regardless, I can't just pretend that I didn't notice." His hand reached for hers that had poked his arm as his eyes slowly open. "It's the same I had done for you. I can't change that."

[rhapsoidein]

"Maybe," Was all she answered with, patting his hand and slipping free to wander a bit more. The energy here was odd though. She knew Angeal could sense it. Maybe the Planet knew they weren't from here but from another Planet where Its energies flowed freely. She sighed softly and reached up to rub her right shoulder. Ever since they got here, it has been aching slightly.

Maybe she pulled something on their last spar.

[wear_tear_rust]

"Hm." He watched Genesis and the scratching had been noticed. "Let me see." He stepped toward her and placed his hand where she was scratching. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, though he had rolled his left shoulder with a soft groan.

Like Genesis, he might have pulled something but this feeling was dull and distant that crept on him like an old wound than something immediate. He willed the pain away, blanketing the acknowledgement with his immediate concern on Genesis.

He began to massage her shoulder in a tender way but strong enough to help with the pain. He hoped that it wasn't what he think was happening since the tunnels weren't wide enough for wings.

[rhapsoidein]

Genesis looked over when Angeal said to show him, but she was going to just wave him of until he started massaging her shoulder. He hit the spot perfectly and she hissed, even arching a little. "Right there. Not sure what I did, feels like it's right on my shoulder blade though."

She actually wasn't thinking of that. Why should she? She had her one wing for years now, if she had a second, it would have appeared by now. Right?

Right.

"Maybe I do need to cool it... although I'm pretty sure I'm at 100% now. I'm at 155 pounds like I used to be."

[wear_tear_rust]

Her hissing caused him to ease off the pressure. While he was still concerned, he didn't make the connection of that second wing just yet. "Maybe it's just a strain."

He removed his hand and looked over Genesis' face. His hand pressed on her forehead, he was checking to see if she was feverish. So far, nothing to be alarmed about. He removed the pack from his back and fished inside for a bottle of water. "Here. You could be a little dehydrated."

[rhapsoidein]

"Maybe. I've only just now been getting all that muscle back and-"

He was feeling her forehead. She frowned at him. "I'm not sick."

Or dehydrated. Since when do sore muscles happen from that? But she took the water anyway and sipped at it. She wouldn't hear the end of it, otherwise. "Satisfied?"

[wear_tear_rust]

"Hm." He took a sip for himself after she returned the bottle. Something just didn't add up but maybe it was just what was in the air. Replacing the bottle, he looked to Genesis again. "Are you sure?"

Genesis was right about one thing, he wasn't about to let it go until he was 100% sure she was going to be fine.

[rhapsoidein]

Genesis just decided that Angeal was overthinking things again. He always did and shook her head. "Yes, I'm sure. I feel fine! Great, actually. Better than I have felt in four years, to be honest. So I have a sore shoulder, it's not the end of the world."

[wear_tear_rust]

Of course he didn't realize that he was projecting his protective nature that was in his nature. He backed off upon notice that she was starting to get just a tad bit annoyed. "You'll tell me if something's wrong, won't you?"

The lingering pain in his left shoulder was growing but not enough to acknowledge. In fact, he was being a bit of a hypocrite.

[rhapsoidein]

Genesis waved her hand at him, already walking off to the rest of the cave paintings as they caught her eye. "Yes, of course, don't worry about me."

The pain in her shoulder was only growing slightly but she ignored it in favor of checking out the crystals and the paintings. It was really all fascinating, really. Shoulder pain wasn't going to bring her down.

[wear_tear_rust]

He can't help but worry about her, but she should know that by now. He had a feeling that she might hide it from him and so he sighed in favor of enjoying what they had been presented. He found that away missions weren't all that bad.

He looked from the crystal to the wall and brushed against one of the crystals by mistake. He quickly covered his arm to conceal the cut he sustained to keep Genesis from worrying about him. He knew better than to react to something so small when he had just been berated by Genesis that she was fine and he didn't need to worry.

It was this sort of thing between them that often led into heated arguments when they were younger. He hoped that she didn't notice.

[rhapsoidein]

Genesis felt the slight rumble and when she looked behind her, she saw Angeal covering his arm and her eyebrow went up. She walked over and put her hands on her hips. "Let me see."

She doubted it was bleeding or she would have seen it by now, but he also didn't need to cover it up. The crystals weren't enough to cause blood, but he probably has a good scrape there.

[wear_tear_rust]

Angeal sighed and shook his head but he knew better than to argue with her. Even the Genesis he knew from home would demand to see it, and with reluctance he revealed his arm. The scrape was already beginning to heal. "It's nothing to worry about."

Which was true, but there was something in the back of his mind that played out a scene of some sappy romance novel. He mentally shook the thought away in favor of the here and now with his gaze up at the ceiling of the tunnel. A cascade of dust descends from the rocky surfaces.

"Something's wrong." Angeal's gaze moves about in an arc while the shock of the ground beneath them move, it stops just as quickly as it started. His hand reached for Genesis to keep her close. "We should move."

[rhapsoidein]

Genesis didn't need to study the scrape to see he was right. She simply nodded to him and turned to continue moving forward. But Angeal opted to stay close, noticing the tremors more it seemed. "They said there was a lot of seismic activity. It's normal."

She certainly something she didn't enjoy feeling but if it was normal, why freak out?

Genesis took his hand nonetheless. "Do you want to head back?"

[wear_tear_rust]

He was setting his senses on the earth around him and it was starting to set his nerves on edge. He didn't think that it was that alarming once he was told and reminded that it was normal. Still, there was that part of him that urged him to go back.

He looked to Genesis and squeezed her hand with a nervous smile even though he was trying his best to hide his conflicted state. "They should have the safeguards in place."

He didn't feel entirely reassured through his own words but he hoped that he was more wrong than right. "Like you, I'm curious. What if we're the last to see these relics?"

He lifted his issued tricorder and began recording. "There might not be another chance."

[rhapsoidein]

Genesis squeezed back, knowing he was still nervous regardless. To be honest, she was too, no matter how many times they reassured the group. She swung his hand a little, in a nonchalant manner to get his spirits up a bit. "We could be. I'm just not sure if we should be the ones to see it. Not our world and all."

But still, it was fairly beautiful. So, she liked the idea of seeing something no one else would see.

[wear_tear_rust]

Sightseeing aside, just that simple movement alone put a smile on Angeal's face. He knew that she was trying to cheer him up and it worked. Then he realized what it looks like to others and his eyes widen quickly then soften as they walked. "I never thought that I would say this, but I like holding your hand."

He felt a slight bit of embarrassment that he was being a bit forward. Even though he wore gloves it felt nice to have the contact and it kept him grounded. Not many things could hurt Angeal, but it went without saying that he was concerned for others.

"True. Staying with the group might pose the better option." Even though he was curious, he knew better than to put others in danger. He couldn't control the thoughts and actions of others.

[rhapsoidein]

Genesis could only grin and crinkle her nose a little in delight as he admitted something she never really thought he would and only squeezed his hand again. "I never thought you would say it either but I'm glad you like it. I enjoy it myself."

She would have preferred to explore herself, but she also didn't know the area all that well. She didn't really like the thought of getting lost in a place that had lots of seismic activity. Still, she tugged his hand a bit towards the group. "Do you want to head back?"

[wear_tear_rust]

A part of him wanted to stay for the group while the other part wanted to see more while another part wanted to leave this place entirely to stay exclusively with Genesis. She had awakened the part of him that wanted to stay exclusively for her but acting out on those feelings would mean opening up doors that he may not be entirely ready for.

The seismic activity wasn't lessening up and his first thought was to leave the area entirely, go back to the shuttle and take his chances with space. Both options were unsettling. "I do now."