SCARY TOWER SIEGE #3

[capitalm]

Who: Tar Pit Rescuers/Captives
Where: That tower that just erupted out of the tar.
When: Saturday March 15th, around 6PM for when they appear.
What: A creepy looking tower pops out of the tar pits and superheroes come to fight it and save its captives.
Warnings: Violence, body horror, mind control, fucking creepy bullshit.

A spiral tower looms ahead, sprouting from the depths of the La Brea tar bits. Cyborgs swarm the grounds, and energy weapons defend the fortress.

Eventually you find your way into a shallow subterranean cave, or what resembles one in form, at least – while the uneven cave walls resemble those of a naturally formed cavern, there is little stone to be seen. Instead the interior's surface is a strange metallic substance, a translucent black shot through with veins of pulsating light.

The only place the glistening black metal doesn't cover the stone is around the edges of the assorted pools and lakes that dot the expanse of caverns. They don't contain water, though – instead they're filled with a thick, opaque black substance. That's right – underground tar pits. A few of them are host to a struggling robotic creature or one of the mutilated cyborg animals that has toppled in and been unable to free itself. The others don't seem inclined to help – both they and the substance that covers the rock everywhere else give the tar pits a berth of at least a foot or two wherever they can help it.

The cage you find yourself in, along with those of your fellow captives – made out of the same dark metal that coats the walls – are for the most part located in those areas of the cave system where there are also the most tar pits. As one moves to higher, dryer ground, the number of cages decreases, while the concentration of machinery jutting from the ceilings, walls and floors, not all of it with clear purpose but all of it strange and organic-looking, increases.

The ceilings are low, and the tunnels linking otherwise separate tunnel formations are narrow, and easily blocked by protrusions of metal and machinery that part, apparently autonomously, only to allow through one of the robotic or cyborg servants that patrol the caves.

This location is smaller than the others, but it still digs deep into the ground.

[OOC: There will be specific mod NPC posts made within each rescue log for dealing with the central hub of the AI. Remember, if you want to fight one of the Nightforce, ask a mod.]

Comments

[mockingjaded]

Ghost didn't give us much choice. I never knew your dog was so pushy.

[cazamitad]

Someone who wants to get out of this shithole more than you! [is Araña's response to Karkat's question. She jumps straight up and flips, to land on the head of one of the creatures, and snaps its neck, which slows it down at least.]

Can we just get us and Lassie out of here as quickly as possible instead of sticking around and talking?

[10thingsihateaboutme]

Seriously, your animal is a fucking menace.

[he scowls, hooking his sickle around a large dog's neck, his ears flicking towards Araña]

Who else is here?

[hellacold]

[ghost briefly pauses mauling a coyote beast to give karkat a frank look. jon grabs another one by the neck in order to stab it through the eyeball.]

No one we could find. We were the only prisoners. [he nods at anya.] She's right, we should fall back. We need reinforcements and I need a better weapon.

[he wrenches his rebar from the creature's skull with a sickening noise, as if to make a point. he glances back behind karkat and katniss.]

It's just you two? Where's Wildcat?

[he would've thought she'd be here, at least.]

[mockingjaded]

We think she was taken, too. Almost everyone was.

[She shoots another arrow at an approaching mutant. The path is mostly cleared for now, but...]

I'm sure the dog can show you the way out. We need to keep looking.

[cazamitad]

Not to mention I'm kind of running on fumes and adrenaline, so I'm not gonna be much use for very much longer!

[Araña falls back into the tunnel the two Trailblazers had entered.]

Wildcat's the girl who turns into cats, right? She and some girl named Flourish were in the facility they took me when I got grabbed downtown.

[hellacold]

[the news hits jon like a punch to the gut. he squares his jaw and tightens his grip on the piece of his cage.]

Then that's where we're headed.

[jon joins anya in the tunnel. ghost sets down the dog corpse he'd been shaking to follow him.]

You can shower and get something to eat at our place if you want. Someone should have clean clothes that would fit you.

[cazamitad]

You really think I want to go to a CONDOR facility after this?

[It's a little wry, and not like, disgusted or anything, just matter-of-fact.

Though it WOULD be easier to shower there than have to get into the shower at the Y without anyone noticing the blood and grime...]

[10thingsihateaboutme]

[Karkat perks up visibly – very visibly, his ears pricking straight up in relief - at news of Nessa and Cynthia]

Okay – okay, shit, Longclaw, you get buglord here somewhere safe and me and Mockingjay will check out the other tower –

[mockingjaded]

[Katniss casts a lingering glance into the tower, wondering if they're going to end up missing anyone. After a few moments, though, she decides that Nessa and Cynthia are more important.]

[There are super heroes besides them, anyway.]

Let's go.

[Her voice is crisp as he heads back down the tunnel.]

[hellacold]

[there's no way jon is not participating in the rescue of nessa and cynthia.]

I'm coming with you. Let me just get my gear.

[cazamitad]

[ This is not Araña's fight. She doesn't have to stick around. She's injured and tired and covered in flakey dried blood that came from HER body.

She huffs a little ]

I'll come too. I can keep a lookout and help you locate them, if nothing else.