Futuristic Into the Dark

[iTrinity]

"I don't mind the company of a fiery demon from the depths of hell," Sebastian grins, "Nor do I mind the company of a parasitic alien,".


A chuckle escapes his lips as he teases his cobalt-haired companion, stepping up onto the bank beside her. After she speaks to Erich he sits down beside her, "Erich will keep us safe. Safer than I have,". The doctor traces his finger through the loose dirt, small spores of pollen erupting upward and glowing. "He seems like a madman who just escaped the loony bin, with that damned box of his," Sebastian can't help but to smile, "However he's serious when he needs to be and damned well protective of those he calls friends,".


His hazel eyes drift up to the canopy as he slams down onto his back, propping his head up with his palms placed behind his head. Oddly enough, the many cuts that had once dotted his fair skin had started to heal at an incredible rate. Thank you, Sebastian thinks. He feels her hate, the flame that the Dredge refuses to extinguish. However, he had always been raised to treat people how he wanted to be treated, even if the person he's being kind to is bound to kill him when he's of no further use. "And besides," He remarks calmly, "I'm always a suicidal safety net. Next time I'm about to commit suicide so you can run, do it, eh?" He chuckles once more, before he closes his eyes.


The Dredge in his mind was a constant white noise. He'd always hated fans and was bewildered at how some people insisted on sleeping with one on. Rest would never come to Sebastian, at this rate.


@Lenchan @PingFire @Jarkov Malachai

 

[Lenchan]

The rover crashed and banged hard against the terrain as it charged through the brush. Joshua had yet to venture this far west so it was completely unscathed by the touch of human hands. That was until very recently. While he was lounging around the flight deck turned master bedroom, a loud pinging alert blared, interrupting the climactic battle building in the book he’d been enraptured with. He’d read it several dozen times and could recite the words effortlessly, but that still didn’t stop the annoyance he felt from coming out in an audible huff. The following surprise that took its place on his face was even more apparent. The ship had detected the descent of another vessel! How incredible! Perhaps more survivors who’d heard his distress beacon.


Upon looking at the blip on the screen pinging imminent doom, he realized that they would be in distress of their own. Acting quickly, he loaded the rover with a light amount of food, water, fuel, and a weapon or two for good measure before pulling up their coordinates on screen and a setting off in their direction. They were approximately 26 hours from his position if he traveled at full speed. He hoped he’d make it in time to be of aid to anyone left alive.


((@all - He's coming for ya! Hold on!))

 

[Lenchan]

From hell, eh? She mused at the thought – purportedly it wasn’t a strange or unusual idea; for the lowest levels of hell to be frigid and barren in ice. A deep smirk spread across her lips as she looked up and out to the sky. The night was at its deepest now, pulling her down into her exhaustion. Her body ached and longed to rest in the grass, but she resisted the urge to oblige. She still wasn’t fully comfortable with the idea of sleep.


As if to taunt her, Sebastian drops himself beside her and stretches out in a lounging position that looked so pleasant it made her dry mouth salivate. She turned her attention to him, pushing exhaustion aside for concern. Again he jokes about his tendency to play martyr; how she should capitalize on the opportunity to escape next time. Silently her mind cut back, Would you care to bet your life on that? She let the amusement hang in her head to address his idiocy. “Doctor, again, you amaze me with stupidity. Is it really wise to bore down on your wounds like that?”

 

[Alite]

"I'll handle here, so you can focus on making sure Arthur doesn't die". Adalric suddenly remembered Sally was right there. "I'm sure he will be fine". Smooth, very smooth. Adalric turns around to the nearest wounded person. It was a man, and he was unconcious. It looks like he just has a huge gash on his head. "Where are the extra supplies currently?" Adalric looks over his shoulder at Caitlyn and Sally.


@Kayzo @Ironrot

 

[Maki]

"I'm not sure, they are lost somewhere in the wreckage. All we have right now is the stuff scattered about here." Caitlyn explained, and forced herself to stand up. It hurt like hell but Arthur's life was at risk. She picked up a few salvageable supplies and turned to Sally, seeing that she still had the bandages. "Can you show me where your daddy is?" She asked, smiling at the little girl.

 

[iTrinity]

The Doctor chuckles and shakes his head at her. "Come here,". Sebastian pats the ground beside him, sitting up once more. "I believe, this thing doesn't want me dying- yet,". His hands curl around the edges of his now shredded shirt, pulling it up and off of his skin. He winces as blood that had dried and stuck the cloth to his skin, causing a slight bit of discomfort as he peels it from his body.


The many cuts that had once lined his body now seemed to be fusing back together at an exponential rate. She'd almost be able to... Watch, his body repair itself. "Oddly enough, being her host seems temporarily beneficial,". He clears his throat, pulling his shirt back over his head. "My idiocy has already saved your life once. At my expense," His tone turns a little bit darker, turning his vision away from her and back to the water.


@Lenchan

 

[Lenchan]

Islia had considered moving closer, but watching his personality darken at his own honesty kept her at a distance. Still her eyes watched in awe at the wounds being healed. The beast was indeed alive in him and it made it;s presence very much known, slithered and snaking every so often to lay its eyes upon her. It was unnerving, but somehow she could live with it. After all, she refused to take her eyes off of Sebastian for the very same reason. She didn’t know if the female would fully heal the scars she'd left, but she was grateful that it was undoing the damage that indeed would’ve sealed her fate.Her lips tightened in a straight line as she turned her gaze away, looking to the stars. The sky had begun to lighten, even if just a bit. “And you’d be wiser to leave my fate to its own devices next time.”





She tethered back and forth on idea of watching the sunrise in a few hours. It would require her to put weight on her foot again, so she dismissed the idea. Fortune seemed to be on her side for nor; perhaps she’d live past tomorrow and watch for the first time then. It wasn’t like her to debate such small affairs – the best course of action was to take action, always – but exhaustion won today. She blinked slowly, feeling her mind fuzz, sleep starting to gain the upper hand in the for consciousness.





@iTrinity @Jarkov Malachai ((Edited to include your addition, Jark))

 

[Jarkov Malachai]

Broken Record

The Female Alien, for it was now without a doubt a female as whenever he thought of her as an it the creature was rather quick to voice its displeasure with a snap, hiss and mental prod. It was satisfied with the state of its host, wary about the other humans in the area and was quick to shift its 2-D head position to wherever on Sebastians skin it could keep track of them. It was a rather disorientating thing to witness, this supposedly inanimate object flowing and shifting about a mans pale flesh as if it were but water and the Dredge was a creature born to those seas.


Soon though, the Dredges voracious appetite made itself known. This one, more than most of its kind, burned through calories like it was their job. Setting oneself on fire did burn, ha pun, through considerable energy. Sadly, all the Dead Terran bodies It could feast upon were back 60 miles away. Though it had a different form of measurement, that was what was translated by Sebastians mind. Vaguely it wondered what would those purple birds taste like?

 

[Lenchan]

The panel display on the center dash of the rover bleeped, executing the previous instruction it’d been given to alert the driver when he was a quarter of the way from his destination. Just another 7 hours and he’d be upon them. Indulgent as usual, Joshua flipped his finger across the pad and opened up a music library, selecting a playlist filled with songs in his mother tongue. He bobbed his head joyously with the tunes, as if he had not a care in the world. With skill than only came with much practice, he handled the rover over the rugged, rocky terrain minimizing the damage to it’s underbelly while maintaining optimal speed. A sly, arrogant smile spread wide across his face. He was not one to deny himself the pleasure of a well baited challenge. The tendrils of exhilaration ran along his skin as the wind force whipped his golden strands about. He reached in the center console and retrieved a pair of night vision terrain goggles, pulling them up over his hand and his eyes before calling out with the song as it climaxed. He could surely get used to this new life he settled in as long as it continued to entertain his curiosity and desire.

 

[iTrinity]

"In case you forgot what I said in the river, there's no limit to how many times I'll prevent your fate from having its way. That is, only if it's a fatal one,". Sebastian suddenly gets a vague curiosity toward the purple birds that seem to be the only animal that roam this planet. He didn't quite know why, though he had to assume it was from his own hunger, not the hunger of the Dredge that crawled on his skin.


As the alien squirmed and twisted across his face, he shivered. "Though I must say, I'm going to miss the privacy of my own mind and body,". Perhaps he would get used to it, in due time. After all, the alien hasn't done much but occasionally harass and heal him. Maybe this thi-.. Woman? She-beast, has no intention of communicating further. This may turn out to be beneficial to the both of us. He thought, paying no attention to the fact the Dredge could hear these thoughts. That was something he would have to get used to. Making sure his thoughts remained in line and weren't offensive to his new roommate within his skin.


Sebastian looked at his cobalt-haired companion. He saw exhaustion in her eyes, though he was happy to see her joking again. It was a sign that something, even if it was just her cheeky humor, could return to normal after all that had happened today. He laid down once more, closing his eyes as he places his hands behind his head again. "You should sleep, Izz,". Izz? What a terrible thing he had just called her. It was a lazy form of 'Izzy', a name he was sure she wouldn't like as it is. But Izz?


Idiot, His mind grumbles at his decision. Quite loudly as well, as this frustrated him quite a bit and caused a blush to rise to his cheeks.


@Lenchan @Jarkov Malachai

 

[Lenchan]

The name, though said in affection sent a fresh wave of chills racing up the woman’s spine, a rippling effect of goosebumps littered her skin as her heart skipped a bit. She noted the reaction of her body and took a few slow breaths, otherwise she showed no initial reaction to the pet name. To further disarm herself, she chuckled lightly in response to Sebastian’s own grumbling at the name and joked, “Box-boy, Izz and the dubious doctor, Idiot. What a fantastic trio.” Saying the name wasn’t so hard, actually – she hadn’t tried in so long, decidedly forgetting the unimportant mystery of her past. Absently, she ran hand fingertips across her right cheek. Of course it was still there. She needed be reminded. She lowered her hand to her lap and made no further movements, but watched Sebastian make himself comfortable again, the beast within him shifting, ever watchful. She rested her eyes on those stormy orbs. I’m watching, too.





@iTrinity @Jarkov Malachai

 

[iTrinity]

Though he knew the woman was joking, he couldn't help but bite his lower lip in displeasure. Idiot, he thought again. It's not a name he cared for, nor was it one he'd like to keep. He opens his eyes again. Their misty, hazel color flicks over to her. "Thanks," He mumbles. His eyes drift closed again, a long sigh escaping through his nose. He was clearly upset, though didn't want or know how to properly vocalize his frustrations. Perhaps it would be best just to let him fester in his own pool of rather mixed emotions. His hands tighten around the strands of hair that fall into his grip, the grinding of his teeth becoming audible.

 

[Lenchan]

Islia wasn’t a stranger to the displeased look she generated in a person’s face; she hadn’t earned the name Ice with charm and warmth, but with cold collection and brutal honesty. Still, watching it rear its familiar lines into the features of Sebastian’s face sent a wave of annoyance through her. She’d set herself up for this inevitable failure, so maybe she should be the one to take on the title of unintelligence.


She sat quietly, watching his chest rises and fall, till the audible annoyance split the silence. She could’ve offered pretense here, but she just watched as the silence wrapped around his frustrated sigh like a blanket, codling and cradling it in the warmth of its grasp; strangling it away as if it never existed. Carrying on in its unaffected way, ever still, the night resumed its quiet melody.


Finally the quiet had given exhaustion the edge it needed. Her lids drifted closed without her even being conscious of the act. Her chin lowered and her head lobbed gently over to the left where it remained. Her chest rose and fell in the most calm rhythm it’d found in days. At long last, she was asleep.


@iTrinity

 

[iTrinity]

After a long silence Sebastian's ear twitches slightly. This damned background noise in the back of his head would condemn him to a life without sleep. His eyes crack open a tad to send Islia a look of curiosity. He hadn't known her to back down from an encounter. Oddly enough, she had fallen asleep. The Doc' rolls his eyes, letting his head return to a position in which he's able to gaze at the many stars above. To think, the three of them. Izzy, Box Boy and the Idiot were all shooting through those stars in a metal deathtrap. Sounds like the start of a bad joke, he thought to himself.


Sebastian looks at the tattered brown overcoat that he had been toting around for this long voyage. It was made of a heavy canvas colored a dark brown. The doctor rises, moving toward the river with pristine elegance and silence, doing his best not to disturb Izz. He kneels down by the gently rushing stream. The blood stains that had infected the brown of the canvas caught his attention. With another sigh, he began washing out the blood. The red that had once flowed through his veins, stained the river that glowed a soft blue. This was the first time he had the opportunity to fully wash his clothes, and not just blotches of food. He continued to wash his coat, then moving to wash his shirt. Deciding it would be better to keep his pants on in the event of being visited by extraterrestrial life, he rose from the bank of the river.


A certain curiosity came over the man as he wandered toward the vines that dangled from the highest treetops imaginable. With intent to tie them together to create a clothes line of sorts, he gently grasps their width. The vines were soft, moss growing along their ancient surface. How could this place have gone untouched for so long? Another question dawned on the doctor as he began tying intricate knots in the vines. Why hadn't they seen more than just the Dredge? Where were the massive alien colonies he dreamed of as a child? The galaxy far, far away? A last sigh escapes his lips as he drapes his clothing over the vine clothesline, taking care not to injure the trees.


As sleep still showed no signs of relieving Sebastian of his exhaustion, he stepped onto the natural rock bridge that they had sat on earlier. With a frown he saw the wrapper he had left behind. He picks it up just as a gust of air washed downstream from the waterfall, snatching it from the air. He tucks it into the black cargo-pants he had been donning, cramming it into a pocket with other trinkets and trash. Sinking back to a seated position on the rock, he watches over the area, and particularly Izzy, with a cautious gaze.


@Lenchan

 

[Lenchan]

Being a light sleeper had kept Islia alive for a long, long time. It was no surprise that her body jostled finally at the sounds of water splashing about. She cursed herself through tired lids as they rested, at ease, on Sebastian’s back. The young man looked delicate and frail against the blue glow of the water, like a being who’d fit right in with the rest of the strange life on the planet. She quietly adjusted herself upright and peered at the sky. It was still as dark as ever so she had no way of knowing just how long she’d been asleep. Her back arched up against the base of the tree she’d been resting on, her limbs stretching out and reveling in the intricate feelings running along her sinews. By the time Sebastian had turned his attention back to her, she’d settled back down, her eyes closed, but her mind alive again.


Is. The thought tried to creep its way back to the surface of her mind, but she avoided it with a good deal of effort, resulting in a brief pang beneath her skull. Isis, it echoed. She’d referred to herself as Isis earlier. Could it be just… what could it be? It had seemed so effortless; much more hers than her own name. Is that – She inhaled sharply – shaper than she’d realized, her shoulders rising up with her breath. She let it go in a steady huff through her nose and dropped her forehead into the palm of her hand. She knew the doctor would take interest in such an unusual display of emotion from her, but she only hoped he’d be reluctant to ask so that she could be human for just a brief stolen moment. Knowing his compassionate nature, it wouldn't suit him though. She breathed again, steadily, deliberating truth or lie.


@iTrinity

 

[PingFire]

Erich groans loudly as his eyes open slowly to see the sunlight streaming though the leaves of the giant trees. Slowly sitting up he rubs his eyes and looks around at his surroundings. Letting out a soft sigh as he slowly pushes himself onto his feet, grass sticking onto his cheek. Erich rubs his head he says to himself. "W-what happened last night.." He closes his eyes trying to remember the events of the previous night, flinching hard and nearly stumbling over a root as his mind refuses to let him think about it.

 

[iTrinity]

Having been surrounded by silence up until the point Islia had sighed so heavily. The sun was rising by now, glowing a vibrant blue over the horizon. The moons of Pandorica are still in view of the planet, even during the day due to their closer proximity. Sebastian hesitates a moment as he looks over at her from the rock structure. Part of him wanted to check on her, though another part of himself realized that perhaps, she may have needed privacy. After all, they'd all been in a tiny box in space, confined to speaking to one another for entertainment for so long.


Sebastian's rising suspicion of Islia's passive hatred toward him, whether it be imaginary or not, was growing. Idiot. Again you don't cease to amaze me with stupidity. The words rang in his head clear as day. Because of this, he decides to ignore her sudden breath. It was better he started distancing himself from her, as that would be what she wanted. Right? Right. The doctor goes to his clothes which hung by the moss covered vines, plucking up his black shirt first. He pulls it over him with a grunt of displeasure. Tears covered it now, allowing the exact location of his newly formed scars to show. Next he examined his coat in the blue morning light, nodding in satisfaction as the blood stains had vanished. He slips the coat, flipping the back of the canvas with an irritated attitude to him.


"Get up," He spats harshly in Islia's direction. Part of it was unintentional, his mood simply sour. Though, part of him did feel anger toward him. "Please," He adds politely. His feet, now sore from his constant running and standing, carried him slowly toward Erich's little camp.


@Lenchan

 

[Lenchan]

Islia hadn’t noted her external surroundings in quite some time. Her mind had gone blank in wait for Sebastian’s response and in the midst of waiting sleep had taken her again. When his voice registered, uncharacteristically sharp and low, of course she immediately assumed the worst; her eyes shooting open, her muscles tensing in preparation, her heart accelerating to a violent pound. Her brow furrowed deeply as he added the word “please” curtly, and she gave him a once over with her eyes. And another for good measure as he started off, away from her, not waiting for a response. He seemed calm enough, but what happened while she slept? She cursed herself again, vowing to not make the same foolhardy mistake tonight.


Standing on her foot seemed even more painful today than before, all the adrenaline gone, the exhaustion put off for a short while. Her body was ready to function again so it alerted her of its annoyance to still be incapacitated. Finally it was day again - Once they returned to camp, she’d have a look at the injured appendage. “Sebastian,” she fell in line not far behind him, “what happened?”


@iTrinity

 

[Jarkov Malachai]

Lady Huntress

Suddenly, The Doctor felt extremely light, weak and frail. His vision lessened back to its original level making him realize just how blind he truly was compared to others. The constant thunder cloud in the back of his head had vanished as well, those ominous, dark rolling, boiling depths were suddenly gone. A gasp from behind and a tingle in the hairs on the back of his neck were most likely enough to give him suspicions.


The female Dredge pulled off from his skin, oozing off his body ever so slowly, and sensuously. Bits of black, swirling flesh parting reluctantly from the pale contrast of its host, tendrils breaking away to rejoin the greater mass of which it was attached to. The Alien stood there, behind him less than inches away, its size was now all the more apparent now that it wasn’t trying to kill him or any of the others though those narrowed, storm grey eyes made it look like it certainly wanted to. Literally, one of its muscular, yet still appearing soft and pliant, thighs were larger than his waist.


Movement between his legs, a sliding motion from Sebastian’s peripheral vision, as the creatures armored tail looped about it and coiled there. It truly was an exotic creature, one hand on its hip, two poised in the air as if they were holding something whilst the other hung loosely by its side. The level of death that hung about it was almost able to be tasted in the air all the while hiding underneath serpentine grace, even though it was a level up from such. The Female Dredge opened her mouth as if she might say something, pauses then shakes her head slowly before all her muscles tensing.


It kicked off the ground with enough force that the wind of it flying up nearly knocked the Terran over and blew Islia’s hair all over the place (not that there was much to begin with). It grabbed an upper branch with its two top forearms, swung around and slammed its other set of arms into said branch and launched itself higher into the canopy.


Not long after it disappeared from sight, a loud cry of something startled, then shriek of pain… the that shriek cut short and silence issued upon the forest. A hunter was about.

 

[PingFire]

Erich's body tensed up imminently his, his mind going back to it's former state of shock as the beast removed herself from Sebastian. Standing still, without a movement his eyes stare at where the Dredge once stood. His eyes not being able to watch where this beast jumped as Erich's brain tried to do it's best at hiding what happened last night from himself. He would remain standing still as his body shut it's self out, waiting for his mind to return to a normal state.

 

[iTrinity]

As each tendril snapped from his back like rubber, Sebastian let out small screams muffled by his own tightly pursed lips. This was in fact painful for him. It didn't cause any physical harm, though it did feel as if someone had stuck a very strong tape to his back, then torn it off harshly, with it all his skin. The doctor fell far before she had jumped away, shaking as he lays face down in the dirt. Upon the Dredge leaving, Sebastian still stays prone.


However, he was prone for a different reason now. The pain had stopped, so why would he stay prone? Something was wrong. He wasn't behaving normally. The young man slowly begins pushing himself back up to a stand, muttering a mix of vulgar curses toward the Dredge.


Earlier, when Islia had asked what happened, he had finally had enough. The Dredge peeling away from his skin like a terrible sunburn only added to his terribly sour mood. Erich may be able to catch that Sebastian is on the verge of utterly exploding from stress and anxiety. He had been holding boiling emotion for far too long now, and the kettle was just starting to purr..

 

[Lenchan]

As the awful, beautiful creature’s imprint on Sebastian began to move again, Islia tensed – she’d almost forgotten the nature of the beast lurking within him. The skin on his back lifted in atook Islia’s heart along for the ride. All she could do was stand there frozen in place, waiting as the creature poured and pulled itself apart from the man in a fluid, effortless display. Again her overwhelming form towered over them all, shrinking away whatever confidence they’d regained. Islia’s body flushed with heat as she lost her balance and stumbled backwards, her head snapping to watch as the beast loomed momentarily in contemplation before launching itself up and disappearing into the thickness of the forest.





Islia’s eyes turned back on Sebastian. Was he still alive?? Her body cringed as the failing cry of some animal echoed around them. Would she come back after her hunt? And if she did return what purpose would she have to keep them alive? Escape seemed futile, but so did reasoning with the thing. Islia looked back down to Sebastian who'd gone to his knee during the ordeal. It looked painful and she imagined to some degree it must've been, but the man seemed to be alright, if shaken, but she’d be surprised if he weren’t. There wasn’t time for her to let him recover. Taking a tentative step towards him as he stood, she cautioned “We should move as quickly as possible. Sebastian are you injured?”


Briefly she turned her attention on Erich. If anyone, he’d seemed the most unstable of their little party. He was also the one carrying the revolver again, her memory offered. Thanks, she hissed in annoyance. “Are you alright?”


@iTrinity @PingFire

 

[PingFire]

Erich continued to stand still for a few seconds after Sebastian's shriek, but all at once his body dropped like rock and quickly picked it's self up. Erich moved towards the pair, stumbling as his own mind tried to shut him out again. Erich stopped beside the two and watched Sebastian's body for a second like he was studying him, a considered look crossed his face. "Sebastian.." He said in a low tone as he studied the young doctor's face.

 

[Ironrot]

Sally lead Caitlyn to Arther, running a few steps ahead every time that the nurse limped forward. She ran around the last corner, then ran back a little way to peak around at Caitlyn. As Caitlyn neared, Sally turned to run to the food locker but as she did so, she found the Dredge looming over her.


The little girl froze as the creature studied her. She watched in silent horror as it did something to her father, forcing something into his body. Then it left, seemly without cause.


Arthur shook, arching his back. He made a dry wretching noise and coughed up some mixture of blood and bile. Slowly, his eyes opened, squinting. The sight of her father moving snaped Sally out of her shock. She ran to his side and put her ear to his chest, hugging her body against his and listening to him breath. A large hand reached up and came to rest on Sally's head, its fingers wormed their way into her hair.


"Sally" Arther spoke in a soft, weak voice. He had kept her safe. "Uh..." He tried to speak but the effort made him cough. He grunted and groaned as his chest expanded, shifting his fractured ribs. He twisted his torso in pain, trying to compress his injury to quiet the pain.


@Kayzo

 

[Maki]

Caitlyn had to go slow, not wanting to bring any more pain to her leg. Fortunately for her, the dredge didn't see her, and she didn't see the dredge. It took quite a bit of time and energy despite it being such a short walk.


Caitlyn let out a sigh of relief when she saw that Arthur was alive and moving at least a little. He looked pretty beat up to her, but he didn't see any large external injuries. She limped beside him, and lowered herself to her knees. "Glad to see you made it." She said, placing the supplies she was carrying on the ground next to her.


@Ironrot