shipmaster | (no subject)

[ This would be much easier if their positions were reversed. But there's no choice. Miles is just going to have to hope he's strong enough to propel them.

Taking a deep breath, he plunges beneath the surface of the water. The glow of the energy pearl illuminates a faint circle of water around them. Not much, but perhaps enough. He strains to pull them both down towards the source of the current: a small gash in the bottom of the chamber, leading to territory unknown.

He manages to grab the lip of it with on hand, using the leverage to pull Bel down to his level. It's going to be a tight squeeze for either of them. Bel moreso than Miles. ]

[It does help that Bel isn't the dead weight of the drowned, or the dangerous thrashing of the panicked. They're just very, very determined to survive this. They help where they can, pulling when they are in reach, mimicking (if poorly) how Miles moves.

Miles is right though, in the slow push downward, that first involuntary gasp from burning lungs is met by air, rather than a rush of damning water. Something Bel is DEEPLY grateful for as they force themselves through the gash after Miles...

The current that takes them afterwards barely needs any swimming at all. Rushing headlong, the twists and turns throw both of them into the walls of the corridor with bruising force. It's only in the eddies created by an open door that Bel manages to close their hand around SOMETHING, and in turn drag Miles to a stop.]

[ That was a miscalculation on Miles' part. Of course the pressure would become intense once they were past the gap. He's fallen headlong into the current as soon they're past the gash, and it's only Bel's firm grip that saves him from continuing their bruising journey. Without it, his small frame would be easily whisked along.

He turns bodily, reaching back to grip Bel's arm with both hands. (The pearl he'd been using for light disappears, lost in the swirling current.) If he gets separated from Bel here, that will be the end of everything. They're lost enough as it is.

They need somewhere relatively safe to regroup. Miles looks up past Bel to what the captain has managed to cling onto. A broken catwalk, hanging down into the water ... He can hear the rush of the surface not too far above them. He gestures upward, trying to indicate to Bel that they should climb. ]

[Bel's expression goes from a pinched frown to an illuminated "ah." Bel drags them both close body screaming from the strain and, fighting the current those first couple of pulls.

As they get to higher waters, the pull of the current stills, and by the time both of them break, the water is deceptively calm, reflecting the emergency lights above.

Out of the water, Miles' suit is beeping wildly.]

[ Despite not actually having been without oxygen underwater, Miles finds himself gasping for air. He wants to find a place to lie down for a while now. He wants ...

Shit. His suit is down to a couple percentage points. He looks for the pearl he'd had in his hands, but - no, its glow is receding into the gloom. Dragged away by the current and thoroughly irretrievable. Instead, he has to fumble for his backup in the pouch. He doesn't breathe again until the glow dims and his power levels shoot back up to much more reasonable levels.

Safe. For now. ]

How much do you have left?

[They, having also just. Just leaned against a wall heavily, lifts their wrist. Inexplicably, it says 98%.]

It cracked when I grabbed the walkway. Seemed to work under water, thankfully.

Small mercies.

[ He reluctantly gets to his feet. Considering what resources they have before they go any further. ]

That leaves us with full power but only one recharge between us.

Edited (forgot a word, gg) 2016-11-06 20:30 (UTC)

[They pull their second from safety and hold it out. The glow adds to the emergency lighting to the room. The room is large, rounded (adding, one could presume, to the water slowdown below), with numerous walkways, some looking more stable than the others.

Bel swallows, frowns down at the pearl and then nods. That fight they could have if the needed to.]

Lets get moving, then.

[ Miles isn't going to start that fight just yet. Just ... something to note for now. His gaze flicks over the maze of walkway, trying to find one that stands out. If they take the wrong path now, they're probably screwed. Might be screwed already.

Hmm ... ]

Over there. In the far corner - that walkway has roots.

[ A twisty overgrowth of them, reaching down into the water. Making the path rather more choked, but possibly leading back up into the green room they'd seen before. ]

[Bel nods. It was as good of a chance as any. Anything with roots had to have a source, after all.

As they walk, the soft white light reflects off of the moist branches and curls of the roots seeking the water below.]

How are you doing? [Not for the first time, they're quite happy that Miles' bones were replaced, by large...]

[ Either the water or the fall would have broken something if not. He pushes a tendril out of the way as they walk. ]

Cold and regretting my decisions right about now. But my head feels just fine.

I will second that on being a top ten of your least popular decisions.

[Still...] We've got what? An hour? .. We surely can get somewhere.

Mm. Somewhere retrievable, if not outside.

[ He flicks another root out of the way. Ah, an access ladder going up. That's a good sign. He begins to make his way up. But there's still the matter of his other purpose here ... ]

You did rescue me just now. If you hadn't grabbed me, I'd have run out of power and drowned.

[They're quiet, chewing on this. The smell, as they ascend, is pungent, a bit loamy, and a slight acrid tinge above everything.

Bel has always been one most quickly moved by emotions, something Miles had unwittingly used early on and likely has played to since. The idea of it, that warm glow, something they desperately want wars against that pit of guilt.]

It's not- [Their expression is hidden with Miles climbing first, even if he were to look down, but the emotion in the herm's voice was clear.] It's not some plan. I can't see you go down again...

[ Miles fights down the urge to gag. At least he doesn't appear to be allergic to the stuff. Or maybe his suit is filtering it out for him. Either way, small mercies.

He does glance back down at Bel for a moment. ]

I know, Bel. You never intended to get me killed in the first place. Hell, you tried to take that position yourself.

[And then there's the next stage of grief: anger.

It's a good distraction from the cloying aroma of the vegetation.]

And you should have let me take it! I was better armed and better shielded!

[ Miles doesn't stop - they can't stop now, no matter what - but he continues to crane his back down. He shakes it sharply, his own voice starting to rise. ]

And what, you'd have survived that needler? Of course not. But you knew that from the start.

Edited 2016-11-06 22:54 (UTC)

[Every delay shortens their chances of walking out. Above Miles, the seal of the hatch has been popped and warped by roots, faint drops, noxious smelling and cold, drip down on him.]

I didn't know there'd be a needler! [Of course not, but they're not even going to touch what Miles had actually been accusing them of.] Besides, I wasn't a priority target.

[ Urgh. He swipes at his face, flicking away the goop with an unhappy noise. That hatch is ... probably not going to budge with his strength, but he's small enough to slip through. After he takes a moment to cut away the roots with his makeshift knife. ]

Anyone at the rear was a target. [ He snaps the words out. ] Why do you think I took the position from you?

Edited 2016-11-06 23:06 (UTC)

You shouldn't have! [They bit back, slinging an arm through a rung to save their energy while Miles saws through the heavier roots. Orangeish sap oozes with every cut.]

That's what you have people FOR.

[ It smells too. Like some hideous blend of syrup and blood. He keeps sawing stubbornly anyway.

One of the roots twitches towards him. Curling stealthily around his upper arm and getting a good grip... ]

You aren't just one of my people, dammit! LIke hell I was going to let you kill yourself over me!

And then look! At! WHAT HAPPENED! [And damn the tears in their eyes! The way the world wavers, it almost looks like the whole root canvased ceiling was moving. They shift grips to rub at their eyes, angrily.]

Do you know who would care if YOU died? Every last one of US!

Furthermore-! [They trail off, squinting with clearer vision...]

[ Miles sucks in a sharp breath. He's turned back to Bel completely now, allowing himself this one momentary pause. ]

That doesn't mean you get to sacrifice yourself for me! Fucking hell, Bel --

[ He doesn't get to finish that statement. The vine around his arm pulls hard - and Miles is lifted bodily, pulled back towards the hatch. Another vine goes around his neck. ]

[All the protests, all of the anger were gone in a flash. There wasn't any hesitation - Bel had been a mercenary too long for that. The era of combat and boarding the old fashioned way tended to weed out those that didn't young in their career.

The herm surges up the ladder, dragging their blade out of the storage compartment.]

Don't move!

[Is the only warning Miles gets before that knife is thrust up towards the tendril around Miles' neck.

Beyond them, in the hydroponic bed, a large plant began to rustle and lift, the leaves grown to unchecked size.]

[ Miles, too, is too used to combat to continue yelling. He instantly goes limp at Bel's direction, and the dagger sinks in easily. The vine around his neck goes slack ... But the one around his arm pulls him further up into the overgrown room. He just barely manages to catch a rung with his feet and hold on; his arm feels as though it's about to get torn from his body.]

Shit! This thing's moving!