the_last_resort | (no subject)

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Who: Grainne, and everybody who saw Grainne's post and wanted to go on the exploration
What: Exploring Quadratus, specifically a nice mountain trail
When: Nov 18
Where: Out in the wilderness
Notes & Warnings: There's a mini plot involved with the exploration team, so they will be interrupted along their hike. Feel free to make a subthread for meet and greet, any CR ideas, picture ops, et ctra! I'll make a thread for the encounter where they get ambushed once you guys are done tossing things out, during when they stop to take a break.

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The small expedition had been prepared for. All the items were in place for the group going, and all it took was one step into the transporter to their starting site. Grainne had made the arrangements and asked for the company, so she felt it her duty to wait and greet everyone before they headed off.

She stood nearby idly, wondering if she should take one of the heavier things to carry.

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Jade's proclamation makes Elle beam. "See? Knew you'd like it." She stands back a bit so that they can take the prime sightseeing spots, fingers linked loosely behind her back. She's happy to at the very least have been able to bring them to this place. Not her route, not her world, so she can't take pride in those things, but she can be happy for having participated in sharing something for them to enjoy.

"Yeah, but just the once," Elle admits. "But don't worry, I won't get us lost. I've got a good memory and a map, besides."

Considering Jade's question, Grainne sat down on a rock to enjoy the view for a few moments. "It's quite wonderful. If it weren't for the trees and vegetation being different, I would think I was home. I may have use for such pictures, I suppose I could put together a book of native plant life and various uses." She grew a little more thoughtful near the end, but smiled and shook her head.

"I have no doubt you can lead us out with no trouble, Elle. Some time when we settle for the night you will have to show me that robot thing you have, I've never seen one like it before."

Standing then, she started looking for interesting plants to sample and take back to the research center.

Edited 2014-12-05 10:50 (UTC)

Jade took her camera out of her S.A.C. and waved it around. "It's here if you need it." She'd rather not pick up plants she wasn't familiar with, especially with those warnings she heard about the wildlife.

"Hey, Elle," she turned to the other woman. "If it's digital, I can try to download the map. I can put markers on it in case we ever got lost." Combining both of their items would help them out even more.

Elle laughs a little at Grainne's description of the Pip-Boy. "Alright, you got it."

When Jade turns to Elle, she mimics her body language and does the same. "Yeah, sure!" But then she pauses, expression growing sheepish. "I, uh... I'm not really good with technology, though, so if it doesn't work, I can't promise I'll be able to figure out a way around it..."

The leaves rustle, first like it might be no more than a passing herbivore, but then the sound increases, comes from all sides. There's strategy in this, and timing, waiting until two members of the party were looking at their devices and not their surroundings. It's not the behavior of any type of native species.

A dozen blaster barrels piece through the underbrush, the hands holding them and the faces half-hidden by bushes and mottled shadows green as the plants around them.

"Do not resist, humans, or we will shoot."

Grainne had frozen at the first sign of the sound, listening intently. She did nothing as they closed in, though. With her powers being on low since she came to Quadratus, she wasn't sure if she could protect Jade and Elle successfully.

There were many of them, and they were approaching stealthily. If they had wanted to kill, they no doubt would have opened fire already. Such a thing made her believe the ones in the bush wanted something else. Grainne's hunch was confirmed when she heard the words spoken with an alien voice. It was very impressive that they could remain unseen by a Servant that long.

Slowly, she raised her hands and motioned for the others to do so as well. Better not to risk it.

"I believe he means it, ladies. There is little enough for us to resist with."

Jade heard the unusual noises too late: by the time she was able to grab her dai-jo and get into a defensive fighting stance, the three were surrounded by guns. Taking one a small herd of DomZ with a partner was not too big of a deal for her, but humans with weapons were a completely different situation.

Gritting her teeth, she slowly set her staff down, never taking her eyes from the bush behind her. The worst thing for them to do were to get caught by a surprise back attack.

Elle first dismissed the rustling as the wind, then an animal, and she was starting to turn towards the sound a second too late. She tenses, feet planting, her hand immediately dropping to the pistol hanging at her waist. Goddammit. She grits her teeth. Should've, should've, should've, it's her responsibility to keep these people safe. The magazine for A Light Shining in Darkness gives her six shots; not enough to put an end to this right now. That would put them in danger. And it's still her responsibility to solve this in a way that's best for Jade and Grainne.

Slowly, she lifts her hands.

"What do you want?" she asks evenly, eyes slightly narrowed.

One of the green-skinned band steps out from the brush to stand in front of them on the path. He's tall and heavily muscled with massive arms and a neck so thick that his shaved green head looks small and pea-like perched on top of it. Gold earrings dangle from his ears and gold bangles drop in chains over his chest. He crosses his arms and looks down at the women.

"You will come with us. Then we will talk about what I want."

Grainne didn't recognize his species, but it hardly intimidates her in the long run. She didn't cow or quiver, but stood up to him, her arms still raised. "In that case, I must ask that you treat these young ladies gently and not to manhandle them. They are under my protection. We will cooperate but I must ensure their safety."

Jade shot a look at Grainne when she offered all of them to be taken? Was she serious? But on the other hand, there was no way they would take on the entire group, which was more well-armed than them. Maybe there really was no choice.

"Grainne," she managed to whisper, "what about you?" Heroic or not, she didn't like the idea of their guide possibly senselessly sacrificing herself.

Elle frowns. Under Grainne's protection -- ? But she's the guide, she's the one who's supposed to be... It's not that Elle is the type to fight for responsibility out of dominance, or something like that, but -- She doesn't understand why Grainne is saying this. But she's also not about to break out into an argument of "no, I'm the one who should feel guilty about this!" in front of hostiles.

She thins her lips and tenses further, but stays silent.

The Orion looks at each of the women in turn, and concludes that Grainne is the leader and the other two are her bodyguards. So he addresses his answer to Grainne, while giving quick glances at Jade and Elle to make sure that they don't attack.

"I give you my oath that if you do not resist, none of you will be harmed by us."

A small tense knot in the back of her shoulders relaxes ever so slightly, though Grainne stays wary. That had been a bit of a gamble but it paid off, and maybe if she played it right Jade and Elle would make it through. It didn't matter what happened to her, she could likely get out of any situation short of being run through her heart, but the other two were far more fragile.

"Trust me," she whispered back to Jade, "I will make sure nothing harms you."

She nodded to the Orion. "We will not resist." Turning to catch Elle's eye, she gave her a pleading look. "Elle." It was just one word, hoping she would catch on. The last thing these people would want is Elle mapping their hideouts, or wherever they were being taken. She didn't want it being discovered later and used as an excuse to hurt.

Besides, Elle had a good memory, right?

Jade took a few moments to look back at Grainne, taking in her words. She sighed. Realizing that she had no choice, she compressed her staff and put in back in its place.

"Promise," she said to the Orions.

Edited 2014-12-09 14:57 (UTC)

If they're not after violence, if they're not after money (because they would've asked for it already), then Elle's not entirely certain what to expect. Information? ... What definition of "harm" are they operating off of? It's putting Elle more on edge. But at least, wherever they go, she has her Pip-Boy.

It takes Elle a moment to catch on to what Grainne might mean. Maybe to the outside, it looks like Elle is the most likely to resist, but given the fact that she's thinking the same thing as Grainne in that moment... She nods once, slowly. She folds her arms across her midsection in what's normally considered a defensive position, but she's using it to cover up the screen on her Pip-Boy. "Alright," she says with a frown. The words are for Grainne, the presentation for their attackers. "Fine."

Because of what she and Jade were doing before they were ambushed, the map subscreen is what's showing right now. As soon as they start to move, and they aren't being directly stared at, she'll discreetly press her thumb on the button that'll switch the screen over to the health status display.

"A smart decision, humans, to not fight us. Now you must be blindfolded. We can't let you see the way to our lair."

Which ultimatum implied that the Orion expected them to live and to return to Blackway at some point, otherwise keeping the location of their smugglers' den secret from them wouldn't be necessary.

Grainne let out a breathe of relief. As long as they didn't do anything unexpected, they would get out of this all right. She nodded, albeit looking unhappy. Well, there really wasn't much choice, they were outnumbered and the Orions would likely hurt one of the girls. Grainne could have taken care of the entire troop herself if it wasn't for that.

It's a good thing the green men thought she was human.

"I'll hold you responsible if one of us trips, Sir Green." She submitted to a blindfold, only making one growling noise when it covered her vision.

Jade let them blindfold her followed suite, careful to step high as not to trip on anything. There was no way she was letting one of the bandits get near her.

It was incredible: a hero of her planet, and here she was getting captured on another. It was a relief that they didn't notice her S.A.C. hanging on her belt, or at least they were unfamiliar with it. As long as they didn't take it, her camera and supplies digitally stored there would be safe, and at least they still had their communicators in case they were in immediate danger.

It's not a bomb collar. This is what Elle tells herself. She can deal with a blindfold. And it's not like she's going to be truly blind. She quietly flips her Pip-Boy's screen as they start to walk.

Elle circles the question again and again in her mind. What is it they want so badly? She knows there's no point in obsessing over it, she's going to find out once they get there, but... There's no way at all to prepare for this, not even to brace herself. Well. She's going to have to rely on improvisation and her typical sheer, dumb luck. And I've got plenty of practice with that.

Once the Orions have all three of the women securely blindfolded, they lead them off the path, deep into the forest, walking for over an hour over rough terrain.

Then, instead of leaves and twigs and dirt under their feet, there are rocks instead. Shortly after, the blindfolds are removed to reveal a cave, lit by lanterns that emit a steady electric glow. There are chairs set up, eve a few cots, and cooking provisions against one wall. In the back, almost outside of the light's sphere, crates are stacked up high. It's a cozy little smugglers' den.

"Now that we are safe from interruption, I will tell you humans why I have brought you here." He crosses his beefy arms over his chest. "My daughter is missing. You will find her and return her to me."

Grainne blinked, the look on her face clearly stating that was not at all what she expected to hear. Ransom. Maybe. Up to date information about Blackway? Possibly.

"Your daughter?" Her voice is a bit weak and uncertain all of a sudden. "I... I mean, not that we won't help, but..." Shut up, Grainne. "Where did you last see her?"

Edited 2014-12-11 13:01 (UTC)

Jade shot the leader a confused look. "You brought us here for that? What didn't you tell us sooner?"

It wouldn't be the first time she was lied to about why she was going somewhere. Granted, the IRIS Network was an organization hiding from the government and needed its secrecy, but this time it was unnecessary. If the bandits wanted to hide their base, they didn't have to go there.

She sighed. "Whatever. I'll help."

Elle stares at the leader. Wait... They've been kidnapped so they'd help find someone's missing daughter? Really? All this secrecy, and the gunpoint, and... Really? She takes another good look at the cave, finishes by studying the Orion.

All of this secrecy has to have a good reason, because otherwise none of this would be happening. And they seem to have a decent amount of manpower... So, there has to be a reason why they're not putting those resources towards finding his daughter. It could be that, for whatever reason, they just can't spare the people, like what happened a lot with the NCR. But hiring mercenaries is always an option, right? Except, maybe the quarantine makes that harder. And, besides, this is already a pretty heavy situation, maybe they don't want mercenaries involved in case they turn on them. But there's no guarantee that anyone they kidnapped wouldn't try do the same, if only out of spite, even under pain of death. (Elle knows too many people that stubborn.)

Regardless, all of these things she's thinking through, it's bringing her to one conclusion: the likelihood that they feel they don't have much other choice but to resort to these measures is decently high.

(Or, you know, it could be that Orions don't know how to ask nicely for help and kidnapping people is what they know they're good at. But hey, Elle's still new here. She doesn't know to come up with that assumption.)

Slowly, Elle nods. "I know you didn't exactly ask, but it's pretty clear we're willing, anyway." She shrugs. "But... You decided that you specifically wanted us to do it. Why us?" This is something else that's niggling at her, because she can't even begin to guess the answer.

He looks to Jade first and answers her question.

"Patrol. Manhunters. Those cowardly Black Sun spies. Here, it's safe to talk. Not so out there." And kidnapping is what they usually do when they want someone to go to a specific place.

Then, to Elle, "When I saw you in the forest, I knew that it had to be you. You are females."

"Enough with questions. Here is what you must know." This, he addresses to Grainne although he expects the others to listen, too. "My daughter has been missing for one native week. She left from this place to travel to the town, but never returned. We searched for her but could not find her. I think the Black Sun cowards have her. If so, I will crush their deceitful skulls. But first I must have proof, and my daughter safely back with me."