ss_noanga | Arrival #3 (Day 61)

Arrival #3 (Day 61)

For the Crew

Between one blink and the next, the crew find themselves drawn back to the bridge, perhaps for the first time, perhaps not. It is a feeling, a pull, a tug; it doesn't matter how, only that they are there to witness the flash of light, the hint of a portal on the floor (it fades between blinks), the ragged breathing of two fae in their ears, and a word stolen from their minds to be replaced with another: 'Noanga'.

Not that the crew has time to question Navi-No about this: they have several new faces to deal with.

And... they too have 'a gift'. It's the same as the new arrivals. Weird.

New Arrivals

You remember giggles, a touch of the faerie, the glimpse of a glimpse of figures, and the faint, indescribable words whispered in your ear. Then, between one blink and the next, you stand alongside others who share the same confused or alarmed look as you stare out at the spacious area before you. The area is the intact, gleamingly sleek bridge of a spaceship straight out of science-fiction, complete with holographic viewport taking over one wall, while gathered people mill about, including a giant robotic griffon-dragon some 23' at the shoulder.

Something tells you this is the only truly functional area to be found on the ship. That these people are the only people on the ship.

There is a weight on your dominant wrist: a fancy gold bangle that cannot be removed by any means. While it isn’t a brand, it does feel like a mark of something, and soon enough you notice that each bangle has one large jewel. Each jewel is one of three colours. Heliodor Green, Spinel Purple, and Zircon Blue.

Finally, you see a somewhat friendly looking AI hovering before you. It dips then does a delighted twirl with another dip at the end.

"Greetings, Invited! I am the Ship's Pilot, a Navigational Artificial Vector Interface – Noanga's Operator. Call me Navi-No of the Noanga." The mechanised voice is distinctly that of a generic British Butler and about as chipper. "It looks like you're trying to figure things out. I'd be delighted to provide assistance: I see you're all sporting some rather fetching bangles. Are you perhaps wondering about those?"

No. Not a Space Butler. It's Space Clip-It given a body, and, as you will very soon discover, about as accurate as Chat-GPT is.

And it's your (armed) pilot.

And, you also notice a that you are wearing, over your existing clothes, some strange, glittery, party themed jumpsuit with a festive firework-themed jumper you don't recall putting on. It's actually kind of weird to be wearing a jumpsuit AND jumper...?

Leo will find his wheels are decorated with neon tinsel (None of it his brothers colours, alas) and SHELLDON also sports a jumper. It is adorable. Emporio and Zero Two will find their Rotoms have gained Glittery NYE cases. They are very stylish. Also glitter.

Claim quarters

The first order of business is survival. Or at least finding a room for yourself. Luckily, there's plenty to pick from! Big and small, shaped for creatures who once measured from a child-sized three feet to titans towering at forty. Some rooms remain intact, dim but liveable. Others are half-eaten by dereliction: doors jammed, walls bowed inward, ventilation systems coughing dust. To claim room is to gamble: Will you risk wandering deep into the forgotten corridors or skirt the truly derelict zones for something grander, or settle for what’s close and known?

Exploring the Noanga

Once, the Noanga must have been a marvel of engineering and technology. Once. But now it's now it is a semi-derelict thing that travels the stars while some strange life clings and renders it somehow still liveable, though the Bangles will beep warnings when a character strays from the liveable sections.

The ship smells faintly of ozone, rust, and the synthetic tang of recycled air. Everything feels lived-in yet long abandoned.

Yet despite its state, there's lots to do and find, even without being able to get into the engines or control the bridge.

Chose Your Own Horror

Maybe you want to go deeper into the ship!

The deeper you go, the more likely you’ll encounter unstable gravity, radiation leaks, or things that have made themselves at home during the long years. Ignore the Bangle's warnings and wander too far into the dereliction, and they will shriek. The oxygen mix is wrong, the temperature too low, or the gravity plates stutter, leaving pockets of crushing or weightless voids.

Or worse.

Note: Anything found within the danger zones will not follow characters back into the safe areas. It's almost like they can't...

Perfect.... Weather? Working Replicators? HUH???

SOMEHOW, the Perfect Weather of the past ten days has continues on, with the SAWL reporting it will continue for the next ten days. Is the Perfectness of the Weather and the Actually Working, Functional Replicators unnerving and off putting? Maybe, but don't let that stop you from enjoying what the weather should always be like.

Any sense of on coming doom and or Sea Shanties (Space Shanties?) is probably just your imagination and nothing to worry about. Everything's fine, and for once the Ship doesn't seem like a sneeze would break it.

... It's probably best you don't think too hard about this.

Veterans of the Noanga will know that things are Very Likely Not Fine, more so when Navi-No shrugs and answers in... sea shanties? that don't answer anything.

Glittery Glitter!

Oh dear. It's all over the place. In your hair, in your food. On the walls. In your rooms.

In the aquarium?!?

It's like someone unleashed a glitter bomb on the ship. Good luck with clean up.

At least it's harmless, if everywhere.

Make your own location.

What it says on the tin! Want a gym? Pools? Indoor rock climbing? Sure! Go for it! The skies the limit.

code bases by tricklet

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

All ice cream sounds really fun! ...If Leo didn't have to be careful about what he ate. His diet's not as restrictive as it was there at first, but he still needs to try and make sure he gets enough protein and vitamins.

"Local space malls? That's a thing!?" It sounds awesome. He can't wait to go to one. But while they're on this topic, he has some more pressing questions.

"...What about medicine? Can the replicators make that?"

Not when you ended up with weird flavors because you were asking for something non-ice cream to begin with.

"Thankfully!" Donnie says. "They are so much cooler than regular malls. We definitely need to go the next time we stop by one." Never mind the fact that he's slightly paranoid about going anywhere in them alone these days.

The next question sinks in and he stops walking abruptly. Shoot. He knew it'd be important to set up a medbay of some sort but you couldn't just stock up on medicines at a mall. At least he's thankful for all the medical books and research he'd used to do back home. Not entirely a problem, hopefully. Okay, this should be fine. No, he's getting ahead of himself again.

"Haven't tried anything other than food, but that's a good question. If not, I'll figure it out. What do you need?" he asks, looking back at Leo.

Well, he won't be alone! He'll have Leo! So there's no need to worry!

"Sweet. That's a plan, then." At least he has some actual space adventure to look forward to on this space adventure.

Donnie stops walking, though, and Leo has to stop short to keep from bumping into his heels. He used to do that sometimes, when he was first getting used to the chair. Now he usually only bumps into his brothers to be annoying.

Should he have even brought this up? It's making Donnie worry for no reason. But there's an annoying voice in his mind that sounds too much like Mikey, reminding him that he needs to take care of his body.

"Not much!" he reassures. "Honestly these days, it's mostly pain killers and vitamins. And, uh... there's this stuff that helps me focus sometimes? And... uh, well, Shelldon has a list. He can give it to you."

That's easier than trying to get it out of Leo.

"It's not a big deal," he adds, even though, it kinda is.

Having Leo with him will make him simultaneously relieved and more worried. But this isn't the same place, so he doesn't have any outstanding fae bounties on his head. Should be fine.

Cool.

Leo's reassurances don't do much. Donnie's brow furrows as he nods, making mental notes. Pain killers and vitamins. Nothing impossible. Something to help him focus though...? There's that touch of worry, but it's gone once Shelldon is mentioned. Good. That'll work.

"Okay. I'll get that once we get to my room." He only frowns a tiny bit at his brother's insistence that it isn't a big deal. More things to ask Shelldon about.

"Well, you let me know if something is. I'm unfortunately lacking in the experience of my alter-verse self so you'll have to be patient with me," he says, turning to start forward again.

Leo starts following again, giving a nod that Donnie can't see.

"Yeah, well, right back at you," he notes. Because Donnie is clearly different now (starting with whatever is going on with his arms), and he's been through a lot that Leo doesn't know about. It's daunting, thinking that there's a three year gap that he knows nothing about. He's so used to knowing everything about his brothers. He hates the information deficit.

And maybe that's why he's willing to be a bit more forthcoming to Donnie than he might be otherwise. Might as well make this easy on him. He probably feels the same way.

"If there's anything I need to know to help you, you should tell me."

Now he knows how Donnie feels about having not enough information!

Donnie does blink at the response, taking a moment for it to sink in. He starts to nod as Leo continues.

"...understood," he says, trying to think about what all that might entail. Truthfully he's in a lot better a space than he'd been some months ago. Leo won't have to deal with any of that, at least. Hopefully.

"Here we are."

They come to a slightly wider hall, one that appears brighter if only because some of the open doors to the rooms flanking one side of this one have light spilling out from them too. Donnie steps over towards one of the closed ones, tapping at the control console he'd meticulously restored to unlock it. Light spills out from this one too, and he gestures for Leo to go on in.

The reason for the light is quickly apparent, one entire wall a window that overlooks what appears to be a massive forest or jungle on the lower level below.

Leo wheels his chair through the door, his eyes going wide when he sees the big window. He doesn't even pay attention to anything else in the room at first, wheeling over so he can take a look out of the glass.

He kicks his foot rests down and pushes up and out of his chair, so he can take a look for a taller height. Though even like this, he's a bit shorter than Donnie now.

"Whoooaaaa!"

He presses his face to the glass.

"What's that!? Oooh, is that so the ship has fresh air? Cool!"

After being so used to Leo being the taller one that it's a bit startling to see him actually shorter now. Donnie manages to shake off that look as he walks in after, but a smile easily takes its place at Leo's amazement. He steps up beside him to look out as well.

"Well, it started off as a garden and something of a farm that whoever originally stayed on the ship used to keep as a hobby. Everything's overgrown now, and who knows what's happened to the animals that used to be there, but there's definitely something living in that forest now."

He's glad that that weird feeling of being watched has seemed to have disappeared now, at least.

"But yeah, it is pretty cool, right? It's a nice view when you're otherwise stuck on a ship."

Something living, huh? Like a big scary python? Or maybe an alligator? Interesting...

"Yeah, it's pretty cool." He pulls away to look back at Donnie. "And you were making the ship sound totally lame! You're holding out on me."

There's probably other cool places to see, if he goes looking.

Donnie smiles wryly. "Nah, unfortunately that's probably one of the coolest things on this ship. I still need to check more of it out and see what all it might be hiding. Did I happen to install jet propulsion on that chair of yours?"

Because he has no doubts Leo'd probably want to come too, but he has no idea how easy it might be to get a wheelchair through untamed territory.

"No. Is that something you can do?"

Leo looks back at his chair curiously. Certainly, Donnie has jammed a lot of features into it, and probably would have done even more if Leo hadn't gotten involved, but now he's wondering if that can really be done...

"But... on a good day I can walk pretty far!"

Definitely far enough for a jungle exploration! It'd be fine! (Don't fall for this trap, Donnie.)

"Hmm... Possibly. But I'd need to know the current specs to make sure they don't get in the way of anything else. Well, I have a few ideas how to go about it."

Donnie pauses, giving Leo a look.

"And how far is pretty far? Because that thing looks probably as big as Central Park and far more denser."

"I can see if Shelldon has the specs, but... I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't save that in his remote memory."

It's definitely in his bigger memory storage back in Donnie's lab, but that doesn't help them here.

"And... sometimes I go with Raph to that bodega. You know, the one that has the fluffy grey cat and the half-blind cashier that doesn't get paid enough to ask questions?"

That's definitely not far enough for a dense jungle excursion. But it's enough for some light exercise around the ship hallways.

That's not entirely disappointing at least. Donnie can see why he wouldn't have figured the need to have Shelldon have it on hand, so he nods.

"Uh-huh..." he says, mostly because he can't really remember the place in question.

"I think we'll keep the walking to places with actual walkways for now. Besides, I don't really know what all is out there. ...part of me isn't sure I want to because I always get this creeping feeling when we're down there, like something's watching?"

He taps a finger against his chin. "Okay, I'm going to be super blunt but...how's the whole sword deal?"

"Fiiine," he grumbles. Even though he knows what Donnie is saying is right, it's still annoying when his condition stops him from things he wants to do. Not to mention depressing...

Donnie's elaboration that there's something in the jungle that seems to be watching him breaks Leo out of ruminating in his bad feelings for too long. He's still mulling that over when Donnie asks his question.

"Oh, uh... No, I don't really... I mean, Dad walks me through katas sometimes, but... just for exercise."

So that's a "no" on any sword deals.

The grumbling is at least somewhat expected. Oh, this is going to be a lot of adjusting though. But looking out for his brothers isn't something that will ever change.

"Oh."

That's...oddly...something. It's like a hollow feeling in his gut. A Leo without his swordplay just seems so...strange. He is not entirely sure what to do about that.

"If you want me to get you a replacement, just say the word." It's the least he can offer. And maybe it will make it less weird to know he still has a sword.

What does that mean? What is he supposed to do with a sword he can't swing?

Leo's eyes snap up to meet Donnie's, his expression darkening noticeably.

"I found other ways to make myself useful," he says, "if that's what you're worried about."

Donnie flinches at that, taking a step back. Had that been a line he wasn't supposed to cross? He's not entirely sure of the reason for that look. He doesn't know everything that's different for this Leo. Just thinking of it in that way hurts somehow.

"That's not-" he starts, shaking his head then. "I just thought if you wanted to keep up with the exercises. Because you said dad..."

It hurts thinking about dad. He hasn't seen him in years and they've pretty much avoided talking about him and home back on the R2. Not that it's stopped Donnie from putting pictures from before he left, up on the wall here. They're the only ones he has of all of them, after all.

Leo deflates, watching Donnie step away from him. Ah dang it. He did it again.

"...Shoot." He sinks down into his chair again, running a hand over his face. "Sorry. Touchy subject, but you don't know..."

This is all going to be harder than he thought, isn't it? He tries to pull himself back together.

"Yeah. Yeah, if you have any bamboo swords lying around, that'd... that'd be cool. Thanks."

"No, I don't..." Donnie says quietly. "So I preemptively apologize if I do or say anything that might be taken the wrong way." The last thing he wants is to strain his relationship with his brothers. But maybe he's just too eager to help, too.

"...okay. I'll keep that in mind." Not something to do immediately.

He looks a bit awkward as he tries to fish around for a change of subject, scratching absently at the itchy jumpsuit before he sighs exasperatedly and starts yanking the sweater off. Right, why's he still wearing these dumb things!

Once the sweater comes off the rest of his arms are quite visible, strangely black all the way up to his shoulders, completely swallowing the purple markings that had been there. His battle shell's in place, a much slimmer build than anything he'd had by far, almost smooth in the way the curved angle of each plate fits together, but it also flexes with his shell to some degree as he starts to remove the horribly sequinned jumpsuit next.

"These had better not be a normal thing whenever we get new people aboard," he grumbles, waving his foot around before finally flinging the thing across the room.

"Yeah. Yeah, it's okay."

Unfortunately, Leo is super good at straining his relationships with his brothers, it seems. Especially Donnie; he clashed hard with his own Donnie's eagerness to help, and it seems he still hasn't entirely learned his lesson.

He takes a moment to just breathe and try and recenter, listening to the sounds of rustling from behind him. Finally, he wheels his chair around, just time time to watch Donnie struggle out of the last of the jumpsuit. He can't help but snort in amusement.

"I dunno. I think it was a good look for you."

Unfortunately Donnie is tired of straining his relationships with his brothers, although those had been for far different reasons, but he couldn't help but feel like he was the cause for things, always worrying them, always seeming to be the one getting into trouble.

He's glad to be able to move off the subject, throwing Leo a dry look. "Yeah, if we ever have disco fever nights, I'll be set," he says, striking a pose. "Except that material is the worst. If I actually wanted to keep it then I'd at least add some lining or something."

"Well, how hard could that be?"

He has no idea how to tailor clothes.

"Or maybe we can find a better one at one of those space malls."

"True, and yet having a sparkly jumpsuit is not something I've ever figured I should need to have on hand."

Donnie just can't figure what to do with it yet, but he's inclined to leave it where it's landed right now. Which...makes it the second brightest thing in the room, the offending sweater the first, still at his feet.

The room itself is sparse for anything that would be associated with Donnie. It's greatly lacking in multiple screens of any sort, most of the existing walls bare. It makes the already immense and tall room even more empty-looking.

There's a makeshift shelf that's been moved by one side of the massive window-wall to accommodate a single potted plant. On the complete opposite wall across from the door is where the bed is, a blanket tossed over the pillow in the barest attempt to make it, but there's some other lump beneath the covers in the middle of it. A shoulder bag sits at its foot, with a neat pile of maybe several pieces of clothing and a pair of sneakers. Above a box that serves as a nightstand full of a few random pieces of hardware are the digital photo frames, three of them that flicker between images of the brothers with dad and April back at home, or candid shots of various other people and...are those robots? And one of...it doesn't look quite like a robot, but she's not organic either, her body segmented and sporting a mermaid-like tail, either a gentle blue in tone or a somewhat sharper purple in other images.

"Anyway, there are better things to get at the mall. The last one we stopped by was pretty lame, so here's hoping we find something better."

Leo wheels his way around the room, taking an interested look. The pictures in particular are spared a long glance, though Leo doesn't comment about them (yet??), even after he sees who must be her.

"Alright! It's gotta be a good one, since I'm here now."

He turns his chair back around so he can look at Donnie again. "Sooo... this is where you sleep?"

It looks... depressing, if he's honest.

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that should say local memory not remote memory... I'm a terrible programmer lol

XD

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