cue up simple plan

[aploun]

WHO: Lee, Carolina, Sam, K-2so
WHERE: Oros
WHEN: vaguely gestures to a random date on the way back from getting the Relic
WHAT: the trip back to the LZ isn't that EZ
WARNINGS: general unhappiness, terrible language likely, someone is getting eaten by a sandworm


[ They're so close. They're so frakking close to getting off this godsdamned planet that he can taste the fatty foods waiting for him in the food court. He can feel the scalding hot, clean water washing away all the gunk that's been collecting on his body for way too long. Also a bed. He knows he's complained about being stuck on a starship all over again, but damn if he doesn't want to get the frak off this planet.

It's been doomed from the start and he's kind of fed up with everything. But, they're close, and he's fallen into a false sense of security. Everyone is together again, all heads counted for, and Carolina has been better than he could've asked for to help lead these ragtag teams into... somewhat of a victory ( ??? ). So, he's feeling a little more optimistic than he had been. He doesn't think anyone can blame him for that.

So, of course, that's when everything goes to shit again. Maybe this is some kind of karma. Maybe it's something else. He has no idea. All he knows is that he's clutching the Relic and running as fast as his legs can carry him. Because he's being chased. By a huge snake. Worm? Snake-worm?? He's not sure what it is, only that it blended in way too well with the surroundings that he didn't see it until it was too late. Now he can feel it rumbling the ground beneath his feet. He realizes with a sickening clarity that he might actually not make it out of this alive.

Which, of course, is when it bursts out from beneath him, sending Lee flying way too high in the air that he's comfortable with at the moment. The next thing he knows, everything is dark and slick and he can't get a grip on anything and just keeps sliding down. If he yelled like a little kid on the way up and down, that's his own business. By the time he's calmed down enough to try and assess the situation, he thinks that maybe he should just stay here and get digested. An extremely apt metaphor of his life, he thinks. ]

If anyone can hear me, funny story for you.

[ He waits a few beats, then just yells because someone is Real Fed Up. ]

I'm inside the frakking worm!

Comments

[andreios]

[ The daydreams about getting these frakking boots off, taking a shower, and getting into an actual bed starts days ago. By now, Sam is beyond ready. This seemingly quick in-and-out mission has been a godsdamned disaster. He's exhausted. He's got blisters on top of blisters in places he probably shouldn't have them. And he's a gross, sweaty mess.

It's time to get back to the frakking ship.

Which is all he's thinking about as he flees from the giant worm-snake-monster that's chasing them. Because if it's not Feks and Trilks and sandstorms and underground frakking rivers, it's huge worm-snake beasts. He loses sight of Lee around a dune, but a few seconds later he hears him. ]

You've got to be frakking kidding me. [ But no. Of course he isn't. Sighing, Sam checks his ammo, makes sure he still has one of those bombs, and then starts running faster. ] On my way.

[leaderboards]

[ this was either a great or a terrible time for carolina to be wandering a wide perimeter around the camp setup. on one hand, she's got some space to be alone while she's not going to sleep anyway, but on the other, when the chaos starts on the other side of the group, she has to immediately break out in a run to get there. she's just about to ask who awake on comms knows what's going on when lee answers it for her. thanks, buddy. ]

Damnit, Lee! [ as if this is his fault. ] I'll meet up with Sam. Please tell me you've got weapons in there with you.

[k_2so]

[He's been trying to scan the area. walking the outskirts but staying close to where Cassian should be resting. Where the wounded should be resting. Still, he walks at a slow and careful pace around the area, scanning, scanning.]

[It's as the man gets swallowed up that he turns around, catching the life form that just swallowed up one of the crew. A call on the radio comes a moment later.]

Inside that thing has to be uncomfortable. [he stated, more to himself then anyone but it was on the comms. He was running though, charging that way. He sees Sam already chasing it, and for a moment he loses sight of it as well, behind a dune. But it's still above ground well enough for him to get a reading.]

If it goes too deep under ground I may not be able to track it. [Kay said over comms, thin legs running fairly well on this terrain, starting to catch up to Sam. He has his weapons still with him, ready and steady in his metal hands.]

To shoot or not to shoot? We don't want to send it too deep.

[aploun]

[ All in all, his day could be going better... ]

It's not my fault!

[ Which. It's not. Not really. He's tired. Maybe he wasn't running as fast as he could. But he's only human and has no advancements whatsoever. On the plus side, though, he's still alive. On the negative, it's really gross and he isn't exactly sure how much time he actually has left. He knows literally nothing about the digestive tract of a sandworm. Snake? Whatever. ]

It's too slippery in here [ did he mention this is gross??? ] so I can't get a grip on anything to get out.

[ He pauses for a moment, taking inventory of what he has left. ]

I've got a grenade and half a clip left. [ a beat; ] I'd really appreciate not dying for this so, you know, try not to kill me in the process.

[andreios]

[ Sam knows that it isn't Lee's fault. He might want to yell at him for getting eaten, but that impulse is born of concern for someone he knows, not because he truly believes that Lee's at fault. No one's to blame for this. None of them could have predicted that this might happen. ]

Hang in there, Lee. We're gonna get you out.

[ Somehow. The worm thing's long and there's no telling where Lee is, which means they're going to have to aim for the head. Unless... ]

Can you estimate how far down you've gotten?

[k_2so]

[Though he can see Sam and is catching, he still speaks through the comms, running, sensors tracking as best as he can, trying to get more information off the creature.]

That creature has to crawl through hard ground. The scales are no doubt tough, if not armor plated. There is a higher chance of taking it down via shot to the head. I do not advise feeding it a grenade, unless the one inside can find a place to hide, but seeing that it's a worm, there are doubtless few places to duck and cover behind.

[Not so helpful at these things, other then stats on where to shoot or not.] If Lee still has a clip, shooting his way out from inside might help. Or it might drive the beast underground.

[leaderboards]

No grenades! If it's got eyes, aim for those. [ carolina crests a hill and stops, finally getting a good look at the full length of the beast and gritting her teeth. if there was ever going to be a time for her to admit she had no idea with an enemy, this would be it. it would be one thing if lee wasn't inside, but he is and that adds some score modifiers she is just way too tired and under-equipped for. ]

And then hope to hell being blind throws it off enough to stay on the surface.

[ if they can slow it down, they can figure it out from there. ]

[k_2so]

[PLEASE ignore him, but he couldn't help but say it.]

There is a ninety seven percent chance that going for it's eyes will not help. Creatures that live their lives underground will more then likely not need eyes to move. Small feelers and vibrations of the earth would seem more fitting to sight than actual 'eyes' as you put it.

That said, going for it's eyes is a very good idea.

[no, really, ignore him.]

[leaderboards]

[ she knows she should ignore it and yet here she is, not ignoring it. ]

Kay, I am going to shove you in there with Lee! Useful intel only!

[k_2so]

[Did you think he'd not have something to say about that?]

That might be an easier solution, in the end. I at least could cut my way out...

[............ honestly, he said it out loud to himself, but it might have come across, and he's not sorry for it or the eye roll attitude that rang through with his words.]

The creature is slowing down... [he did add, AS USEFUL INTEL]

[aploun]

[ Slowing down? Why is it slowing down???? Lee doesn't like the sound of that. Could it be ready to burrow underground? That is the last thing he wants to happen. ]

Not to put a rush on you guys or anything. But, ah—

[ Abruptly he stops talking. Something is happening. There's some weird noises coming through his comms and moments later he groans. ]

Gods. I think it's trying to digest me. Some viscous fluid is— [ some more squelching sounds ] all over. I can't really see out of my visor anymore. So, let's keep this thing above ground, yeah?

[andreios]

[ Oh, frak this.

While everyone else debates whatever the frak they're talking about, Sam hurries forward, heads the worm thing off, and aims for the head. There's not a whole lot else he can do with what he's got available. ]

You guys want to do whatever you're gonna do, now's the time. [ He fires off a few rounds, drawing the worm's attention. ] I'm not gonna be able to keep it distracted for long.

[leaderboards]

[ she hadn't meant to give herself an idea with that threat to kay, but here she was, finding herself going with it. it's risky, even as far as her bright ideas go, and as much as she's not actually sure it's going to work, she's sure as shit not going to say that out loud.

so carolina just checks how many grenades she has on her and breaks out into a run again, heading for sam - not to join, but just to pass him on her way to the worm's mouth. ] Don't let it get underground!

[ it's easier to get the sandworm's attention than she thought it was going to be, in the end. she must look appetizing or something, because it only takes a solid wave of her arms for the creature to dip its head, ready to come crashing down on her and take her into its gaping maw... which is exactly where she wants to be, of course, so she jumps. and it's gross. oh god, is it gross. but she bites back any complaining as she's swallowed, making the most of the night vision in her helmet to try to get to the thing's stomach and find lee. that's the most important step here. find lee, find the relic, kill this damn thing.

whether lee can actually see her coming or not, he'll get a sharp tug on one of his arms, pulling him hard against carolina's armour. hi, buddy. ]

Get over here. You have the relic?

[ she is not blowing that thing up accidentally. ]

[k_2so]

Is she insane or just stupid? [He couldn't help but say out loud, watching as the leader gets eaten up.] When I said it was an easier solution, I did not mean to actually dive in.

[Still, he brought up his own weapon and took a few dead shots to it's head.]

Unfortunately, I think it wants to go underground. [He said as they had it stopped there, the worm throwing it's head at each shot. He shot low, hitting feelers and armor plating, but it made the creature buck and not duck down, and with Sam hitting it's head, it confused the creature on which way was safe, right?]

Sam, if they explode it from the inside, we may not want to be too close. [going to get covered in worm bits and maybe human bits. Not that he cares, but he'd rather not be exploded too.]