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Antichthon

Ember/Maya 1

Antichthon
Apr 2nd, 2017
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  1. [19:06] <UltimixRed> Maya would find the message after their morning jog, normally they'd just use their phone to mess with Aiko, and whatever crap. But this one was....certainly more exciting. <I Would definitely be interested in this program> while being very very confused as to why they're being called up. "Ain't this for the elites and shit?"
  2. 01[19:11] <Antichthon> She was sent an acknowledgement and told to expect an email from Firewatch itself, after anywhere up to several weeks. It didn't take weeks. It took hours. Unlike the very official emails she'd gotten before, this one was very informal. [Hey, Maya! I'm with Firewatch, call me Ember. What do you think of skiing?]
  3. [19:14] <UltimixRed> Well, that's certainly not expecting that one <I lived in Arizona for a good portion of my life, so it would be pretty new.> Maya now considers the possibility this is a very elaborate prank.
  4. 01[19:17] <Antichthon> [There's nothing to it, my girl. I've seen how you move, you'll get the hang of it in no time. When's a good day and time for you?] Apparently Ember thought Maya had already agreed to come along.
  5. [19:18] <UltimixRed> Either this is a REALLY strange joke, or some secret test of character. <Right now. If possible> This week was break week after all.
  6. 01[19:23] <Antichthon> [Ha! I was hoping you'd say that.] With the sound of an activating lightsaber, a purple-rimmed portal spawned on the ceiling. Through it tumbled a variety of items, including extreme cold weather gear and a helmet with built-in headset and oxygen mask. [Put that stuff on. Gotta go, meet you out there!]
  7. [19:26] <UltimixRed> ~And here I thought that Big Sister Aiko didn't care for privacy.~ Maya quickly assembles the gear, and her Beretta for good measure and heads to where she'll presumably be skiing. "First for everything I guess."
  8. 01[19:31] <Antichthon> No directions or location was given to where she'd presumably be skiing, that was apparently left out. Instead, the moment she'd properly assembled her gear, that same portal from before spawned again. Beneath her. If that wasn't bad enough, there was an extreme pressure gradient, and barring an amazing reflex roll Maya would be pulled through like a cotton ball into a vacuum cleaner!
  9. 03[19:31] * Silvors (Silvors@333-889-802-985.dyn.centurytel.net) has joined #sunnybrook-fireflies
  10. 03[19:31] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Silvors
  11. [19:32] <UltimixRed> Maya figured that it was at the very least, faster than walking, so they did their best to at least not land like an idiot.
  12. 01[19:33] <Antichthon> Land. Ha! Maya now found herself falling towards a snowy mountain range, miles below. The helmet's oxygen mask kicked in, keeping her from passing out. Unfortunately, the kit she'd been given didn't include a parachute.
  13. [19:35] <UltimixRed> Maya figures that landing without dying was phase one of training from hell...probably. Either that or Ember was crazier than expected, so with the crap she vaguely remembered about skydiving, they prepped to roll once they hit the snow.
  14. 01[19:42] <Antichthon> The air rushed by, almost deafening. The cold cut through her many layers right to the bone; it was several dozen degrees below zero out there. Also, it was a very long fall. Not far into the fall, however, Maya would spot a dot in the sky below her. The dot grew, grey and red and gold. It continued to grow as she drew closer, into it resolved itself as a person. A person in a suit of fiery power armor, almost infringing on Ironman Copyright, except that the primary color was a dark grey. Maya's headset crackled. "//Hey my girl!//" A female voice. "//Can you believe this weather?//" It was fairly clear, a few clouds out. Most were below them. "//A day like this in the Altai mountains comes only once in a blue moon!//" The figure overtook Maya, and with practiced ease, hovered within arm's reach of her.
  15. 01[19:44] <Antichthon> The voice had a hint of a scottish accent, to boot.
  16. [19:45] <UltimixRed> Maya raises an eyebrow, even though it's not like she would even see it. "//Lucky I said today huh, Blue moon. Those are more than a lifetime's worth. So, am I supposed to grab on, or is lesson 1 surviving terminal velocity snow impacts.//" The true fact of the matter was Maya was frankly terrified of fucking this up horribly, or learning that they were in
  17. [19:45] <UltimixRed> fact speaking to the wrong Maya. Sarcasm covers everything up though.
  18. 01[19:51] <Antichthon> "//Yeah. Though I woudln't object to skiing in a blizzard. That'd be crunk as hell.//" Bean. "//Oh, yeah. Parachutes. Give me a sec. Salamander!//" Barely a twinkle below them, the portal spawned. It grew pretty damn fast, though. Ember split off, straightened into a nosedive, and shot through. It was like hitting a bullseye from the length of a dozen football fields, but she made it look easy. Seconds later the portal sparked again, and Ember was back to falling at Maya's side, but this time with a parachute. "//Would have sent this with the kit, but apparently the higher-ups don't trust kids to put on a parachute right.//" Ember floated over to her, handing her the parachute helping put it on if need-be. Boy, that mountain was definitely getting bigger.
  19. [19:55] <UltimixRed> Maya is at least aware that parachutes are backpacks, and figures they'd probably need to do this the old fashioned way. "God, do this to like the one girl in Sanctum that can't fly or teleport." "//So is there a general game plan here? or are we just gonna...Wing it? Pun intended.//"
  20. 01[20:01] <Antichthon> "//Haaa! Good one, Girlio. But I don't plan anything if I can avoid it. And where would the fun be in this if we could fly?//" Ember finished helping Maya put on her parachute. "//I'm going to get some distance, pull your shoot in ten seconds. I'd say twenty or so, but the overseer is going to have my ass if I get you killed.//" She did not seem very happy about that. "//Don't worry, we'll get to having some //real// fun someday.//" Ember patted her shoulder and glided away.
  21. [20:03] <UltimixRed> Maya makes a note to self that the headset is most likely for her benefit only, since Ember does not care about the whole sound business it seemed. 5...4...3..2..1 And Maya yanks the cord at the 15 second mark, bracing for the pull of air resistance. "//Never been skiing, but even I know this is a very roundabout definition of it.//"
  22. 01[20:09] <Antichthon> Well, ignore that bit where she heard Maya talking without the mic, because I'm dumb. "//Well yeah. This is just how we're getting to where we're skiing!//" Another twinkle of a portal far below, and the dot that was Ember disappeared into it. Meanwhile, Maya's colorful shoot deployed without a hitch. It was huge, bigger than a normal chute. Had to be, the air up here above the mountains was incredibly thin. It was only when she was slowed down enough that she'd realize there were strong winds. Very strong winds, powerful even through the thin air. A snow-covered, craggy outcropping was closing in fast. Landing this was going to be a bear. Reflex check!
  23. [20:11] <UltimixRed> `roll 14d6
  24. [20:11] <GameServ> UltimixRed rolled 14d6: 4 5 4 1 5 4 5 2 1 4 5 3 1 5 <Total: 49>
  25. [20:11] <UltimixRed> 5 successes
  26. 03[20:12] * BobaFettuccine (BobaFettuc@k-71-103-79-573.hsd7.wa.comcast.net) has joined #sunnybrook-fireflies
  27. 01[20:13] <Antichthon> It was enough for Maya to land in any matter she saw fit, and she had enough time to cut the chute before it pulled her off the ledge, too.
  28. 03[20:15] * Mokou-Errands is now known as Mokou-cat
  29. [20:15] <UltimixRed> Maya could certainly see why the overseer would be in a bit of a fit anytime Ember took a student out for their idea of a fun. She landed with bent legs, going off for a fencing form since it seemed the most appropriate while summoning a cutlass to slash off the parachute before she became chunky salsa at the bottom of a mountain. "Well, that certainly was
  30. [20:15] <UltimixRed> my strangest skydiving experience...but not my first surprisingly."
  31. 03[20:17] * Kioku (Memory@75.174.tgx.wuv) has joined #sunnybrook-fireflies
  32. 01[20:19] <Antichthon> The portal was back, right beside her. Ember stepped through, skiing equipment for one in her hands. She Her featureless black visor regarded her. She put down the skis, the poles. No boots. "//No better way to get up to the mountains. Really gives you a sense of scale, you know?//" She gestured to the skis. "//Step in, they'll mould to your footwear automatically.//"
  33. 02[20:33] * @Silvors (Silvors@333-889-802-985.dyn.centurytel.net) Quit (*.net *.split)
  34. 02[20:33] * Cezar (uid146914@lrwppksrih.irccloud.com) Quit (*.net *.split)
  35. 02[20:33] * PuddleJumper (PuddleJump@2602:306:3157:ztlt:urs:srgt:vulg:mmkq) Quit (*.net *.split)
  36. 02[20:33] * UltimixRed (uid102356@bqeguxm.irccloud.com) Quit (*.net *.split)
  37. 02[20:33] * @gumbal1 (gumbal1@199.30.qhq.t) Quit (*.net *.split)
  38. 02[20:33] * @Nemi (zareveh@big.bag.of.bees) Quit (*.net *.split)
  39. 02[20:33] * SpookyBee (uid127525@Really.Loves.Food) Quit (*.net *.split)
  40. 03[20:33] * Silvors (Silvors@333-889-802-985.dyn.centurytel.net) has joined #sunnybrook-fireflies
  41. 03[20:33] * Cezar (uid146914@lrwppksrih.irccloud.com) has joined #sunnybrook-fireflies
  42. 03[20:33] * PuddleJumper (PuddleJump@2602:306:3157:ztlt:urs:srgt:vulg:mmkq) has joined #sunnybrook-fireflies
  43. 03[20:33] * UltimixRed (uid102356@bqeguxm.irccloud.com) has joined #sunnybrook-fireflies
  44. 03[20:33] * Nemi (zareveh@big.bag.of.bees) has joined #sunnybrook-fireflies
  45. 03[20:33] * gumbal1 (gumbal1@199.30.qhq.t) has joined #sunnybrook-fireflies
  46. 03[20:33] * SpookyBee (uid127525@Really.Loves.Food) has joined #sunnybrook-fireflies
  47. 03[20:33] * phoenix.nsw.au.darkmyst.org sets mode: +ooo Silvors Nemi gumbal1
  48. 01[20:37] <Antichthon> "//What, are you telling me it's not yours?//" Ember laughed, spread her arms. "//Here we are, on the peak of Belukha Mountain! I've seen your file, Maya. you can tell me you'd prefer to learn on the bunny hill, but I know better.//"
  49. [20:39] <UltimixRed> "//Getting into a fistfight with a Death Knight is more my idea of adventurous, but this works too. Though I wouldn't be surprised if you informed me that we'd be fighting Ice Wraiths on the way down.//" Maya says, taking in the admittedly great view.
  50. 01[20:45] <Antichthon> "//Ha! I wish. You have no idea how many strings I had to pull to get permission for just this. Ice wraiths can come later.//" And yes, it was a magnificent view. They were so high up all they could see was snowy peaks and rock, save for the barest line of green on the horizon, far below them. "//Come on, Pirate Queen. Show me how you tackle something new in a hardcore environment.//" Skis shot out the front and back of Ember's armored boots, and down the mountainside she went. "//Yeeee-hah!//"
  51. [20:50] <UltimixRed> Maya checks her gun anyways, enchanting the bullets to work on incorporeal entities. It never hurt to be incredibly paranoid. Maya preps her skis, takes in the path least likely to end in the chunky salsa rule, and speed down the 2nd dangerous path. That's called compromising
  52. 01[20:55] <Antichthon> The 2nd most dangerous path was still hella dangerous. Ember was passing along advice through the comms. "//Don't go straight down, go side to side. If you need to go straight down, put the front tips of your skiis together. That's called snowploughing. If you get too out-of-control, don't be afraid to fall over. Normally not a good idea on a mountain, but stop you from rolling into a cartoon snowball. Worst you'll do is break a few bones. Don't go too far of my path, I'll be making sure we don't careen over any ledges and fall a hundred feet to our deaths.//" The red-and-gold figure was zipping back and forth not far downhill from Maya, stopping occasionally for her to catch up.
  53. 01[20:56] <Antichthon> I'll stop you from rolling int oa cartoon snowball*
  54. [20:58] <UltimixRed> ~Well, looks like Alexei is probably going to get a couple more visits from me, since a couple broken bones never stopped me~ Maya tries her best to keep her bearings about, "//Besides the whole xtreme sports, yes i mean with just the x, why did you pick a mountain? And Skiing. When your name is Ember. Figured it needed to be said//"
  55. 01[21:06] <Antichthon> "//Oh, I was going out anyway. It was a long legal battle to get the right to come out here. I wanted to go to the Himalayas, but holy hell, the bullshit. People just have to have a thousand rules for everything.//" More laughter through the comms, light and clear, not the laugh one might expect from an adrenaline junkie. "//Firewatch operatives all have fire-related designations. Apparently the overseer was real adamant about that. Hey, it fits with the whole 'superhero' schtick, so I'm not going to argue. My real name's Tara.//" They were approaching a clear split, the left going down at 45 degrees, the right straightening out to a much more shallow incline of 10 degrees. "//Go left here,//" Ember said, pointing to the obviously more dangerous side. "//I'm going right. Take it slow, you'll pick up speed a lot faster than you expect.//"
  56. 01[21:07] <Antichthon> "//Anyway, what do you know about Firewatch?//" Ember split off to the right.
  57. [21:09] <UltimixRed> Maya figures that doing what she's told in this instance will be her best bet to not be lost in the frosty wilderness until archaeologist find her frozen body, flipping them the bird. "//Wasn't there a superhero named Tara strong? Totally could have worked, plus there really are so many fire names. So, All I know about Firewatch is that you guys are pretty
  58. [21:09] <UltimixRed> much the Avengers initiative, with all the strongest people on the planet defending against all the anomalies that are, fore whatever reason doing shit that needs to stop.//"
  59. 01[21:18] <Antichthon> More laughter. "//Yeah, Tara Strong the voice actor. Came out as an anomaly in 2018. Should have known, how else could she do so many amazing voices? She's the reason I chose 'Ember.' My last name is McLain, see. And - hold on.//" Maya would soon see why Ember had pointed her down the extreme slope instead of the easy one: The easy one was easy because it was leveling out into a huge ledge. High above Maya, Ember shot off that ledge. "//Bonsai!//" It was a good ten seconds before Ember hit the ground. At the last second wings flared from her armor, slowing her down just enough to make the landing without shattering her knee caps. She flipped to look at Maya and continued to ski. Backwards. "//What do you think, seven, eight point landing? Ow.//"
  60. [21:23] <UltimixRed> Maya gives a raised eyebrow, though she had to keep her attention before she wiped out, she was just barely keeping it together "//Isn't the cry Banzai, not Bonsai? Pretty sure the latter is a miniature tree. Though, I'd give is a 6, was a good flip but whatever the Ow was, probably not the most technically proficient. So was I about right for the whole
  61. [21:23] <UltimixRed> Firewatch deal?//" She internally laughs at the mention of not being technically proficient, hypocrisy right there
  62. 01[21:30] <Antichthon> "//Yeah, Bonsai trees. Cute little buggers. I have a few back at the Lookout. If I'm going to die, it'll be in their name! ...But you're right, I milked that jump way too much. Eh, I'd never make it at the olympics anyway.//" Ember flipped around to face forward again. "//And oh, yeah. That's basically how I see what we do. Can't get any more xtreme, yes, with the 'x,' than that. Always wanted to be a superhero. What about you, what do you want to do with your life?//"
  63. [21:32] <UltimixRed> Maya takes a moment to reflect on that, sure she knew she was supposed to go to college, get a good life. Maybe a spouse along the way, then support her family. But they were on a mountain after parachuting due to a superhero taking an impromptu fun time. "Honestly? I want to become the ultimate weapon master. Though...I'm half expecting you to realize this
  64. [21:32] <UltimixRed> is the wrong Maya on the file. Since, on the whole super scale, I'm only about the same as an average human."
  65. 02[21:37] * PuddleJumper (PuddleJump@2602:306:3157:ztlt:urs:srgt:vulg:mmkq) Quit (Ping timeout: 240 seconds)
  66. 01[21:44] <Antichthon> "//You kidding? You're skiing down one of the tallest mountains in the world, when you've never skiied before. You skydived without a parachute. ...Which I just realized I forgot to warn you about. Huh. Anyway, only have you done all this, you don't seem even close to curling into a ball of overwhelmed nerves and blubbering. You're definitely the badass Maya in that file.//" When they reached the beginnings of another ledge, Ember Slid to a stop, sending snow flying. She gestured for Maya to join her. "//Besides, I didn't take to you to turn you into Firewatch Elite. Honestly, I think you might have what it takes despite being an 'average human,' but that's not what this is about. This is about helping you realize your dreams. You want to become the ultimate weapon's master?//" Ember's helmet cracked open, retreated into her suit. MId-twenties. Korean ancestry, Green eyes, and a shock of dyed-red hair. Her cheeks instantly reddened from the biting cold. She gave a brilliant smile, and in her light Scottish accent said, "I can help make that happen."
  67. [21:47] <UltimixRed> Maya skids to a stop, unbalanced a bit. She takes off her helmet, with an appropriate hair flourish. There's always time for dramatics. "Eh, not the first time I've done something dangerous without any of the relevant info. But yeah, pretty sure not puking my guts out in fear really marks the making of a badass. But yeah, ultimate weapon master, pretty sure
  68. [21:47] <UltimixRed> it's my calling in life. Either that or being a REALLY good sandwich artist at Subway." She makes sure to add extra sarcasm on that last bit. Self confidence was in short supply, but one can always trust their weapons.
  69. 01[21:54] <Antichthon> "Hey, don't dis the sandwich artists. I've met sandwich masters who would blow your mind." Ember grinned wider, fingergunned. A big gust of wind threatened to throw them off balance, but they both could buy the successes to weather it. Ember turned into the wind, seemed to relish the pain of the severe cold. "What do you think then?" She had to yell over the wind's roar. "Interested in keeping this up? Joining me once in awhile for a bit of fun, perhaps a bit of sparring from time to time, maybe taking out some of those Ice Wraiths you mentioned?" She winked.
  70. [21:57] <UltimixRed> "Oh, I really wish I could say that I'm surprised they actually exist. Unless it's classified, tell me now if there is some video game enemy that DOESN'T exist. But I mean, that does sound like it'd be a pretty good way to progress." Maya says, looking out and wondering where the fuck life had led her, and whether or not it'd end in glory or death. Only one
  71. [21:57] <UltimixRed> way to find out...probably.
  72. 03[21:57] * Karaoke (Karaoke@2602:304:b01d:ktxu:xyru:wvhy:rhqp:guiv) has joined #sunnybrook-fireflies
  73. 03[22:00] * SpookyBee is now known as SketchingBee
  74. 01[22:02] <Antichthon> More laughter. "My philosophy is it exists, unless you have very good reason to believe it doesn't. There are literal Japanese catgirls in this world, pretty sure all bets are off. Anyway, I should send you home. Real impressed you didn't wipe out even once, but your muscles are going to be screaming tomorrow. You can keep the equipment if you want. Salamander!" The portal was back, right beside them. A hot breeze flowed from the other side. Actually, not that hot, but it sure as hell felt hot compared to the frigid mountain air. "You've got my email now, so keep in touch, you grok?"
  75. [22:04] <UltimixRed> "Yeah, I got it. Thanks for the trip, it was real fun. Possibility of ending up a very interesting news story a couple hundreds year from now aside." Maya starts walking towards the portal "Also in my opinion, Tara McClain could be way cooler than Ember." is her departing statement as she goes through it.
  76. 01[22:09] <Antichthon> "Just will the skis to come off, you should be golden!" The portal closed behind her. Warmth. Quiet. And yes, a burning in her muscles that was bound to get ten times worse by morning. Even by Sanctum standards, it had been quite a day.
  77. 01[22:10] <Antichthon> -Scene Was That Really Even Legal?-
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