KAIJU FIGHT #3

[synfluxmods]

KAIJU FIGHT #3

CONTENT WARNINGS: mind control, parasitic worms, gore

▶ 001. POSITIVE THINKING.

The aftermath of the last kaiju battle, has had LILITH researchers scrambling to find an adequate way to combat the aftereffects of the kaiju discovered in the desert. While their research is still very much a work in progress, for now… it’ll have to do. In the early hours of the morning, a message will appear on everyone’s oculars, asking them to suit up immediately and meet at the given coordinates, which will act as the Outsiders rendezvous point. These coordinates lead to an abandoned hotel within 1 mile to the outskirts of the strip.

"The system is updating…

The system is updating…

Downloading: ⇓"

A new update awaits each Outsider on their oculars. There is no option to decline, and right away it prompts you through several steps. This update was all in part thanks to the various dreams that the oculars have been reacting to. The researchers for LILITH figured out a way to combat these pesky mental side effects by forcing the mind into a state of equilibrium. In order to do this, Outsiders will be asked to think of their happiest memories. Perhaps, due in part to everyone downloading this update at the same time, people will automatically feel an odd sensation as they think back on these memories, almost as if their mind is connected to a collective. These memories will leave each Outsider feeling fulfilled, or even a temporary sense of high as the download continues. As a result, Outsiders may feel giddy or a sense of calm. Some may be motivated to talk about their happy memories with others the first time they do this.

▶ 002. BREACH OF THE CITY.

Once the download is completed, there’s zero time to rest. It looks like whatever they found in the desert isn’t interested in just sitting and waiting. They’ve come to the city with clear intentions of gradually infiltrating its borders. Who are they? Why, the missing people of course.

Apparently, as part of the kaijus life cycle, it lays eggs, which then hatch into younger worms, similar to actual earthworms. These young worms, unable to protect themselves, control the minds of other living entities in order to do their bidding and keep their own bodies safe. Once infected, their hosts become vicious and hungry for meat, attacking any living thing in sight and trying to eat its flesh to nourish the parasite within.

It’ll be up to the Outsiders in order to scope out these young worms controlling the people of the desert, while simultaneously knocking those individuals out of commission. In some rare circumstances, there will be no turning back for these individuals; if the young worm actually burrows themselves into the bodies of the controlled, they are no more than a reanimated corpse, and will need to be eliminated immediately. The longer these worms exist within these people’s bodies, the larger they grow, and by extension, the more influence they can exert over a larger net of people.

Instead of the camper vans, LILITH has provided other sleeker vehicles in order to quickly traverse the city. The vehicles are equipped for speed and are meant to assist in getting to the various coordinates LILITH sends out to everyone’s oculars. The coordinates all mark where these “controlled people” have been seen via drone footage.

▶ 003. WORM ON THE MIND.

While the attention will be focused on destroying the monsters that have come up to the city, there will be occasional tremors that can be felt that seem to come from far below— almost as if they were cries from the old city that lay forgotten below. Unfortunately, it’s much worse.

In the middle of staving off the attacks from the mysterious creatures, there will suddenly be the sound of the defense alarm blaring, and without any additional warning, something breaks through the center of the city. This will first be punctuated by the sounds of the building around them crumbling, followed by the clear visual of the large serpentine creature they’ve encountered in the desert. The large sand worm doesn’t even pause to regain its bearings. As soon as it recognizes the presence of other organisms, it begins glowing a fluorescent shade in varying indefinable colors—

Thanks to the updates on the oculars, there will no longer be hallucinations that follow any contact with the worm, however, if one stares too long, they will still be met with splitting headaches and a pressing sense of agitation, so Outsiders are cautioned against prolonged exposure. That said, it won’t always be easy to take a breather against such a large creature.

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: ALITTA VIRENS
HEIGHT: 400 metres
WEIGHT: 1,900,000 kg
CLASS: Extremely Dangerous
LOCATION: Las Vegas, USA
ABILITIES: Mind control. Although full details are UNKNOWN, its young can take control of human and animal hosts. Once under their control, the hosts will become aggressive and hungry for meat, which is theorized to feed and nourish the young worms until they are ready to emerge.
EXTRA NOTES: According to what the researchers have surmised, similar kaiju have appeared on a much smaller scale and are susceptible to water poisoning and electrical shocks. LILITH has not found a way to fully free the hosts from the parasite, but they can be stunned after receiving multiple electric shocks.

"
YAMAKAWA: Angels of LILITH, please be advised of your roles moving forward. With the city already infiltrated, we will need to be quick."

A brief is sent along with her message.

█ █ █ MISSION ROLES:

✖ GROUP ONE: Those who fulfill this role will need to be equipped with brute strength and the ability to survive the attacks in a city that is the midst of being destroyed. They will also need the stamina to keep the worm at bay as the others complete their tasks before also gathering to exterminate the kaiju.
✖ GROUP TWO: With strong mental fortitude, these individuals will be expected to clean up the group of controlled individuals; not all will be able to be saved, and the ability to make that distinction is imperative for this role. Those who appear too far gone will not be able to regain their senses. They will need to be killed.
✖ GROUP THREE: This group will be concentrated on being able to property evacuate the citizens that remain in the city of Las Vegas. Preferably those who are quick on their feet, or are able to stealthily circumvent the dangers in the city in order to get the people to safety would be ideal for this role.
✖ GROUP FOUR: Those with support skills or a medical background will be expected to assist those in the other groups, whether by healing, additional abilities, or by assisting the other groups as needed.

Note: Roles can be decided by the characters themselves as to what they figure is appropriate and most fitted to their skill set. Everyone will eventually fight the worm (so this does not affect the fight mechanics of the worm itself) and people can also jump from one role to another.

▶ 004. LET'S WRAP UP.

The areas the worm has traversed leaves the ground above it weak and unsteady. Due in part to this, those who have evacuated will need to remain in the shelter until further notice. As a result, it’s up to the Outsiders to clean up the city. Aside from the large gaping hole in the center of the city that they can’t address immediately, they are first expected to get rid of the carcasses of the larvae.

Each Outsider will be provided with a suit and will even be given hover packs to scale down the side of these large holes. They will also be given traditional ropes and lines for those who want to get creative with scaling, or who simply didn’t make it there quickly enough to grab a hover pack (with the destruction to the city, some supplies are still in transit). They will be expected to review each carcass and tag which ones can be sent to the lab for further review, and which should simply be discarded as being unusable.

A coordinated effort is needed to adequately dispose of the largest kaiju. The alitta virens will need to be cut into several thousands of pieces, and so work needs to begin immediately. It’s not like the people can return to everyday life with a giant serpent-like entity laying on top of their city. Outsiders should be particularly cautious with it; even when dead, as it still seems to have strange tendrils inside of its body that appear to be writhing even after its death.

▶ 005. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our third kaiju log!
Feel free to NPC your characters' fights with the smaller kaijus. The main fight with the largest one will be determined via a HP-based system (See below). Feel free to ask any other questions below!

All tags on this log are worth 2 points.

EVENT BREAKDOWN (CLICK TO EXPAND)

1. POSITIVE THINKING: LILITH has updated everyone's implants and encourage them to think of their happiest thoughts to give the technology the mental boost they need. Some characters may feel high or giddy and want to express their happy memories to someone else.

2. BREACH OF THE CITY: The worm larvae have a parasitic nature and are taking over the bodies of civilians. Outsiders are tasks to seek out those affected, killing worm larvae or civilians with parasites who are beyond help.

3. WORM ON THE MIND: The largest worm breaks through the ground in the heart of the city and Outsiders are encouraged to attack within their arranged group.

4. LET'S WRAP UP: After the sandworm monster is killed, Outsiders will be tasked with clean up efforts.

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Comments

[transmit]

[ The damage has been done but he can still salvage this… Sampo's hum tells Elysium everything he needs to know about how he's probably feeling and really, he'd like nothing more than to wipe whatever smug expression he's wearing if he didn't inherently know how bad of an idea that would be, too.

So. He will just deal and they can continue pretending they're professional, yes. He's looking over again, miffed. ]

… As I was saying about the route you mentioned, I know about it and take it myself but wouldn't want others to. It's pretty narrow and if you don't know what you're doing, you could easily get yourself stuck; the people relying on a map in the first place probably wouldn't know any better.

[lovebombing]

Ooh, you have a point. Here.

[Another ping for you, sir. His :3 face is in full aggressive force, here. Another route appears that begins on the same route, but veers off in a different direction.]

This one might be better! Just as quick, easier to follow. Mm. [A little pause. Great, Sampo! You're doing so great, Sampo! Show up to that one guy you have weird feelings about because you're sooooo sure you don't have any more of those feelings, Sampo! See, he totally doesn't feel anything at all! Nothing at all! Fuck this!] No getting stuck, y'see.

[transmit]

Aren't you just stalling, now…?

[ Alright, fine, Elysium will give him this. Sampo can blink and see the change applied real-time.

As this is happening though, the look Elysium levels him is nothing short of unimpressed—still, the mind wanders, Sampo had asked the question of 'Do you think I look good?' however seriously, and Elysium can't help but cringe recalling a certain line at a certain time.

He runs a hand through his bangs, a little frustrated. ]

Are you going to help evacuate people, or what?

[ Then again, Sampo's acting a bit odd himself, and there's just something about the situation being overwhelmingly in Sampo's favour that's clouding his own judgement, inciting him to take steps forward until he corners Sampo against a wall.

Naturally, he places a hand to cut off one method of escape, even if… he isn't really…. ]

Or do you need me to call you out on your bluff before that?

[ … he's a multitasking king, at least, ocular active throughout this. someone has to secure the area while they're taking this five minute detour??? yikes ]

[lovebombing]

Am I?

[What would he stall for? Is he even waiting for something? He's done similar things to the Silvermane Guards, to good old Captain Gepard, but....no, that was different. Like a cat batting around a mouse for good fun. This feels more like dancing on a minefield of sorts.]

[The man comes closer, putting that hand against him. Sampo's heart starts jumping up into his throat, a needy, excited little thing. But there's caution, too, some measure of bitterness tinging it all.]

My bluff? [What bluff? He never bluffs.] I say what I mean, and I mean what I say.

[He presses his hand against the other's chest, maybe to pull him in, maybe to push him away, smile on his lips, diamond-like eyes sharp.]

I'm here to help out. Of course I am.

.....................................

[transmit]

[ There is

absolutely nothing fun about this, Elysium would like to say. But, perhaps, his expression says it all. The bluff was that it wouldn't have been so simple for them to evade each other if they weren't both actively avoiding one another, evident by how the moment Sampo chose to make himself available, poof, there he was. ]

Are you? Hm. [ Here to help out, that is. Terse and like an increasingly taut string, his gaze briefly shifts to the hand at his chest.

Somewhat mean-spirited… a half-gloved hand rides up the length of Sampo's leg, finger hooking under the band of what undergarment it finds. Audibly, he snaps it ever so slightly askew as he both leans forward then digs blunt nails into his skin——a warning, delivered right next to his ear. ]

Shouldn't you be pushing me away, then?

[lovebombing]

Hh-

[He winces at the snap, breath hitching at the nails into the soft muscle that follow. Naughty, naughty. But this is not some half-drunk meeting in the middle of some hazy night. They're both stone-cold sober.]

[It would be easier, if he was drunk.]

[Sampo in most circumstances would whine and hem and haw, ever playing the agreeable, lovable scamp, but he knows, he knows Elysium would see through that a mile away. Instead, he presses the heel of his lovely laced shoe into the toes of the other man's shoe, aiming for discomfort. His teeth shine.]

I should call your bluff instead, my fine fellow. You can manhandle me all you want. You wouldn't go all the way. [His hand digs its own nails into the other's chest, as mirror. (A part of him imagines a tail that isn't there, winding and tightening around the man's leg.) He hisses.] So really? Don't kid yourself, here. Let's get back to work.

[transmit]

[ There they go.

Despite the pain lancing through his foot, Elysium smiles through gritted teeth. ]

You're imagining it though, aren't you?

[ Which, really, is a win as far as Elysium's concerned. With that, the scoreboard's equalised, and he unwinds himself with a sharp laugh, tapping the toe of his foot to pavement as if to shake the sting out. ]

I'm glad we could finally reach an agreement; you didn't have to make it more difficult than it had to be. [ Whether or not this had been for the best remains to be seen, but as far as reunions go, it could've gone far worse.

But, he's turning his ocular back on; when exactly he'd gotten distracted enough to turn it off inadvertently, he isn't thinking about that. So, with a two-fingered salute he turns his back on Sampo. ]

Let me know when you're done on your end—or don't, if you plan to keep running with your tail tucked between your legs. We have a long day ahead of ourselves, old friend.

[lovebombing]

[Elysium moves off of him. What a strange, strange little mixture of emotions - relief, the sensation of losing something he wants to hold onto, acrid annoyance.]

"More difficult"? With the way you touched me, one would think you're obsessed. I didn't decide to dress like this. Someone's getting a little emotionally overinvesteddddd~

[He ends the word with a sing-song. He can't help it. He knows he's a wonderful thorn in people's sides. Here, its overtly intentional, aiming to hurt, aiming to...do what, exactly?]

[He brushes over his skirt, a little more irritated at himself than with Elysium.]

Why should I let you know when I'm done? Want to schedule a rendezvous already?

[transmit]

[ that would've worked, like, four tags ago, get with the program, sampo

As is, Elysium merely looks onward blithely. In a way, it's as though he's shed the baggage that has weighed him down for the past two weeks. And while it's replaced with a different load, it is one he's far better equipped to carry.

For a moment there, whew, it's almost like he forgot this was who was probably laying underneath the pretenses of all their games—and not something, or someone else. The time on the beach? A distant daydream, illusion. ]

Aren't you the one overcompensating, now. No need to be upset that things aren't going the way you expected them to. But, look. You're the one who approached me? If you want to go ahead and be all lone wolf out there instead, be my guest.

[ irreverent, irreverent. that's the name of this new round. ]

[lovebombing]

Fun fact! Did ya know? Lone wolves aren't even a thing. A wolf that's alone is just likely to die.

[There's a pointed look at that one, but he knows Elysium isn't looking.]

[He should turn and leave. He should go. He's good at going. What's the point of this? Like digging fingers into a scab just because its there, just because it needs to be picked. He's no masochist, is he?]

I just came to check on your map, there. Really, really. [He raises his hands, as if saying you can't blame me for being curious, officer.] Say? A question. You're not planning on doing anything risky, are you?

[transmit]

[ Now, isn't that the emotionally overinvested question?

As much as he thinks it, he can't exactly bring himself to say it. Sampo can't see it either, how he opens his mouth to speak but falls silent, only to close it in consternation. He even stops in his tracks.

Between this and the fact check …. ]

If you're feeling responsible for me, you shouldn't be. My life isn't so worthless that I intend to throw it at just anything or anyone. In fact, I happen to see it as rather precious. [ He throws in a laugh, purely for levity. When really? This is probably the most serious he's been. ] Don't think about something that didn't happen so deeply. I'm sure that was a once-in-a-lifetime exception for you, too.

[ still gotta take the time to scrub it from recent memory, tho ]

[lovebombing]

They say that when people get into real tough circumstances, it shows who they really are. Do you think there's a mite of truth to it? Cowards run. Heroes throw their lives forward to save their loved ones. Leaders throw around orders. That sort of thing.

[Was it really all fake? From tip to toe? From skin to soul? He reaches up to rub at his forehead, shaking his head in unsubtle exasperation.]

It sure was. Not every day you see the end of the world, huh? [Ugh. He feels like he wants to throw up, and he doesn't know why.] I'm not responsible for you. Believe me.

[transmit]

You really couldn't have picked a better time for this, could you.

[ He starts, exasperated, and yet, it doesn't have nearly as much bite to it as it did before—if, at all. It's even more telling that he doesn't move from where he is, hand on his hip as he exhales a tired sigh. It's one thing to tell yourself you'll never talk about something, it's another when you're confronted with it directly and made to witness another's sorry state over it, at that.

… ]

Were you always this lame, man? You're acting more like it's the end of the world now than when it actually was.

[ Is what he says, but he'd seen glimpses of it closer to the tail-end of the memory. He'd never had the time to ruminate on it, or perhaps he'd never wanted to. But, there's also the thought that now would be the best time to walk away. Would there ever be a better time to sever whatever the hell was going on in between them? And yet, he'd always been bad at that, for better and for worse; even when he'd run from Iberia, he'd ended up returning years later.

He wonders, then, if that's what's happening here. ]

If you need a punch or two as a wakeup call, I wouldn't mind the warmup.

[lovebombing]

What? Me, lame? No way. This is just a chat between pals.

["Pals".]

[Funny. But he's feeling a little of the spotlight on him so he

steps out of it, slipping his mask back up, perfect and smiling and as jovial as ever. He laughs a little, strolling forward so he can lean in and try to catch Elysium's expression. Is he smiling? Probably not. He'll smile for him.]

I'll pass. I'd really like to spare my handsome face. Don't be so mean! [A little playful poke to the shoulder - he can't help himself, really can't help himself - and returns his hand back to his personal bubble.] Either way, pal, what happened, happened. Let's focus on being heroes and helping the rest. We're still here, you and I.

[Alive, for better, and for worse]

[transmit]

[ Why does Sampo keep expecting Elysium to simply go along with him? That may have held true weeks ago, but it hasn't been the case since, not even once. Elysium's smiling, his mouth a tight little curve—Sampo manages to poke his shoulder, sure, but Elysium just as readily grabs his wrist before he withdraws, too. ]

You're the one who brought it up, and now you want to let it go? [ His grip on Sampo's wrist tightens. ] I only made it easy for you before because I couldn't be bothered, but you're really starting to annoy me, you know that?

[ "Annoy" he says, but his smile has grown wider, like he's looking at a new challenge. ]

Like I said, let me know when you're done—or don't. I'll know either way, try me. [ And there Sampo has it, his hand thrown back at him——Elysium's all but saying shoo with the motion. A snake, or a bird. Which one outpaces which? ] Maybe I am invested, wonder why?

[ for better and for worse, truly ]

[lovebombing]

You don't look annoyed.

[His turquoise eyes flit between that smile and the grip around his poor wrist. As if that could keep him. As if he wasn't some scaled creature poking its nose into the sun, still considering its comfortable happiness in the shadows.]

[His hand is released. Even so, there's a spike of something akin to excitement, a dancing jester that has been thrown a coin. He grins widely.]

I wonder why.

[He doesn't want the man to have the last laugh, so to speak. He's grabbing that hand back to put a little kiss to his knuckles - before the man can react, he's dancing out of his space, back to the alleyway, out of reach.]

Best of luck with the routes, dear Elysium! Catch you on the flip side. Don't let a worm eat you! Sampo Koski would be so so sad if it did. Hahaha, I bet you wouldn't even taste that good.

[And just like that, with a wink and a smile, he's gone.]

[It isn't over until its over, though.]