[closed] apocalypse rising

[indigo5a]

WHO: Shaw, Ax, Marco
WHERE: Hangar bay, Eluvio → Oros
WHEN: Feb 1~4ish?
WHAT: A rescue mission to Oros
WARNINGS: Death, destruction, etc.


[ Suddenly, the whole ship was in an uproar. A nuclear event tends to do that, apparently. Shaw is in her quarters about to chug a beer and kick back for the night when the announcement comes through. She considers ignoring the call for help altogether. It's not like she cares about the lives of strangers. Especially a nameless, formless alien species that only exists in the abstract for her. She's been on the Eluvio all this time, mostly disconnected from the various missions on the planet below.

But there's a small voice in her head that suspiciously sounds like Finch, and it tells her to put the beer down and start moving. (Or as Reese would say, "I want you to put down the eyeliner and pick up a gun.") Is this what Harold did to the Machine? Nag and nag at it until it was ingrained into her program that she was responsible for everyone, regardless of who they were.

Whatever. ]

Heading to the planet. See you in hangar bay. [ she sends to Root.

She arrives there shortly after, and the place is a madhouse of people, a rush of panic and shouting and barely contained chaos. She looks around for someone in charge, but seeing no one obvious, she walks up to the first person she does see. ]

Hey. I need a pilot.

Comments

[canadese]

[Their previous awkwardness aside, Ax and Marco had immediately agreed to help with the rescue efforts as soon as the situation was announced, and Ax was already waiting to regroup in the hangar bay. In human form again, because no need to incite more panic by showing up as a weird lethal blue centaur with four eyes, as much as he would have preferred to. There would be plenty of time to assume his natural shape on board, provided there was size.

And what a coincidence that the same woman he'd encountered a month ago would approach him here. Back then he'd gotten the impression she was competent. Now would be the time to test that, apparently; they still had room for one more person.]

I am a pilot.

[Beat.]

I am going to be piloting one of these shuttles.

[Another beat.]

Do you need a shuttle?

[brightline]

[It's been a long time since he's talked to Ax beyond a few words to make sure the big blue oaf is still alive, and it's really starting to get him down. Not 'down' like sad, of course, but kind of irritated, maybe. Irritated because he's really sick of Ax refusing to admit that there's no chance he's not dead and insisting that Marco's in some kind of denial or something.

As if he's never gone through the death of a loved one before. As if he didn't watch his dad deal with all that.

Still, when the missions on the surface go to crap and they need volunteers for pilots and rescue teams, Marco's in on Ax's team. He supposes some part of him should probably be guilty for not taking a separate ship from Ax and piloting himself, but he can't quite bring himself to let them split up on a dangerous mission.

He's just jogging the last few steps to catch up when he sees Ax run into Shaw, and he comes to a halt just in time to hear Ax's response to her. Rolling his eyes, mouth curved into a small, crooked grin, he waves a hand.]

You know, I still think I'm a better pilot than you give me credit for, Ax-man, but... [A pause, looking over at Shaw with his grin widening.] ...you'd probably have to cinch your seatbelt up a little tighter.

[A bounce on the balls of his feet, and he's ducking his head toward the ship.]

Nice to see you again. Let's uh...let's do it.

[indigo5a]

[ The guy (what was his name again?) almost talks like a machine, in short sentences with logical progession. Fortunately for him, Shaw has some experience with machines. Or The Machine, but anyway. It's fine, she's not here to socialize. She's about to nod and climb on board when she hears someone walk up behind. This is another familiar face. New Year's Eve. She snorts. ]

Oh, it's you.

[ She was drunk and doesn't quite remember all the details, but it's definitely him. Someone who would've gotten their face punched in if Shaw wasn't feeling so buzzed. Whatever, there's no time to reminisce, even if that's the sort of thing Shaw would do. She climbs into the ship. ]

I don't care who's the better pilot. One of you better know how to fly this thing.

[canadese]

[Ax opens his mouth and is about to ask how the hell these guys know each other before his higher brain functioning kicks in and he decides that they really do not have time for this.

Instead he puts a hand on Marco's shoulder, in an attempt to pull him to the present, and jerks his head toward their designated cargo ship.]

We should get moving. We have limited time.

[Then, he moves to address both of them, but in reality he's talking to Shaw:] I will be demorphing to pilot the shuttle. Please try not to be alarmed. [Never mind, that was definitely directed at Shaw.]