Post by Beaver Dude on Aug 28, 2009 18:03:52 GMT -5
ooc: Bilby refuses to let FF7 breathe in Radiant Garden. So now this is here for all to enjoy. Or something.
ic:
When the world fell and Radiant Garden became but another ugly, leering castle that had a silly, moody name we went underground. Far enough so that the heat of the world's mantle hid our own hearts - it was either burn or freeze.
We chose to do both.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Soft blinking lights.
They made their way through the haze of chemicals and hormones that defined the Shinra Time Capsules, and set Shera's brain on fire. The scientist's entire frame contorted and then arched and then did it again. And again. And again. She rode the pain grimly, subconsciously, waiting until she could claw into control of her body.
Ah, finally.
Was it time?
Shera opened her eyes, resisting the impulse to squirm as water and sterile nutrient broth flooded in. Something had appeared on the capsule's screen, but the glass had frosted over at one point and a part of the broth had sedimented, making the words indecipherable. Her body continued to spasm: the pain had mercifully died down to the pins and needles phase.
Was it... time?
On the previous occasion that she had been thawed by the computer's automatic Caretaker function it had been day one thousand two hundred and thirty-three. The number of Heartless had been large, but still within an acceptable range. What was more alarming was that pieces of Radiant Garden appeared to be... vanishing. Sensor data claimed that parts of the world had simply been written out of existence... mountain ranges, deserts, lowlands, coastal reefs, abandoned cities, ghost towns... there wasn’t any noticeable pattern but regardless, they had disappeared. Not destroyed or razed or even chewed – just gone.
One of the SOLDIERS, defrosted for advice, had told her that maybe the Roaches were starting to eat the world.
She had frosted him again shortly after that. No sense in having a live Heart lying awake longer than necessary. And while flippant, it had been good advice. The Heartless, or ‘Roaches’ as the SOLDIERs had nicknamed them, did appear to eat... people. Parts of their psyche, at least. It was not inconceivable that they might be able to do the same to a planet. Hadn’t the Gaia hypothesis postulated that the ecosphere and biosphere were complexes that were semi-sentient? She had pondered for days over the issue but in the end had been forced to give up. If the next time they woke, the Heartless had made it through the security perimeter... so be it.
Was it time? To die? To, miraculously, live?
The scientist turned engineer turned scientist again flopped weakly out of her life-support pod. It had been designed to slow down metabolism and basic vital functions, prevent atrophy of musculature, and boost immune function. It couldn't completely halt the progression of time though despite the name: she lacked exercise and felt it. Keenly. A fresh change of clothes and a lab coat were only a few steps away. She breathed shallowly and tried to rise.
Failure. How long had she been asleep? And how much longer would she be forced to endure the indignity of lying (mostly) naked on abrasive concrete tiling?
"Computer.” She coughed. “Lights."
...
“Computer?”
Foreboding was such an inadequate word.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The capsules were empty.
Shera rubbed her eyes. Her hand came away sticky with something black and sooty. Freaking... great... just, great. Somewhere in the background the emergency generator cranked out its paltry voltage. She’d have enough for... hours maybe. Not that it mattered, anymore. There was no one else.
For the first time in a very long time Shera considered crying. She laughed instead, great choking sobs that edged between both.
And then she got her shotgun and left.
ic:
When the world fell and Radiant Garden became but another ugly, leering castle that had a silly, moody name we went underground. Far enough so that the heat of the world's mantle hid our own hearts - it was either burn or freeze.
We chose to do both.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Soft blinking lights.
They made their way through the haze of chemicals and hormones that defined the Shinra Time Capsules, and set Shera's brain on fire. The scientist's entire frame contorted and then arched and then did it again. And again. And again. She rode the pain grimly, subconsciously, waiting until she could claw into control of her body.
Ah, finally.
Was it time?
Shera opened her eyes, resisting the impulse to squirm as water and sterile nutrient broth flooded in. Something had appeared on the capsule's screen, but the glass had frosted over at one point and a part of the broth had sedimented, making the words indecipherable. Her body continued to spasm: the pain had mercifully died down to the pins and needles phase.
Was it... time?
On the previous occasion that she had been thawed by the computer's automatic Caretaker function it had been day one thousand two hundred and thirty-three. The number of Heartless had been large, but still within an acceptable range. What was more alarming was that pieces of Radiant Garden appeared to be... vanishing. Sensor data claimed that parts of the world had simply been written out of existence... mountain ranges, deserts, lowlands, coastal reefs, abandoned cities, ghost towns... there wasn’t any noticeable pattern but regardless, they had disappeared. Not destroyed or razed or even chewed – just gone.
One of the SOLDIERS, defrosted for advice, had told her that maybe the Roaches were starting to eat the world.
She had frosted him again shortly after that. No sense in having a live Heart lying awake longer than necessary. And while flippant, it had been good advice. The Heartless, or ‘Roaches’ as the SOLDIERs had nicknamed them, did appear to eat... people. Parts of their psyche, at least. It was not inconceivable that they might be able to do the same to a planet. Hadn’t the Gaia hypothesis postulated that the ecosphere and biosphere were complexes that were semi-sentient? She had pondered for days over the issue but in the end had been forced to give up. If the next time they woke, the Heartless had made it through the security perimeter... so be it.
Was it time? To die? To, miraculously, live?
The scientist turned engineer turned scientist again flopped weakly out of her life-support pod. It had been designed to slow down metabolism and basic vital functions, prevent atrophy of musculature, and boost immune function. It couldn't completely halt the progression of time though despite the name: she lacked exercise and felt it. Keenly. A fresh change of clothes and a lab coat were only a few steps away. She breathed shallowly and tried to rise.
Failure. How long had she been asleep? And how much longer would she be forced to endure the indignity of lying (mostly) naked on abrasive concrete tiling?
"Computer.” She coughed. “Lights."
...
“Computer?”
Foreboding was such an inadequate word.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The capsules were empty.
Shera rubbed her eyes. Her hand came away sticky with something black and sooty. Freaking... great... just, great. Somewhere in the background the emergency generator cranked out its paltry voltage. She’d have enough for... hours maybe. Not that it mattered, anymore. There was no one else.
For the first time in a very long time Shera considered crying. She laughed instead, great choking sobs that edged between both.
And then she got her shotgun and left.
I did post in shades of grey if anyone even remembers that lmao