Captain Ava

@askthebloodeel

. . . . . Who exactly is 'we'.

. . .

"..a..va!"

. . .

. . . . . .

@askrylandgrace

This the captain of C.O.I speaking. State your current coordinates and identity your purpose. How long have you been stranded in space and what's the trajectory of your ship.

Standby.

. . . . . . . .

The C.O.I'S system is not currently able to locate your exact coordinates. Our station is located in near vicinity of the AT-5 moon, if the communication channel is able to pick up your signal you are unlikely to be far.

Since when are you the authority? Should I remind you what your position in Consolidation is?

[The captain leaned closer, now inches away from nurses face, her brows slightly furrowed]

Do you have the slightest idea how important this is? Do you understand what that sample could mean for humanity, for us?

This is bigger than us, so just do your job.

[She leaned away, keeping firm gaze locked on the nurse]

He will make it out. He has no other choice and neither do we. Do your job, and don't stand in the way of mine.

. . .

[Jack replied, lightly patting the blanket before taking a step back, heavily leaning on the crutch for support. His legs shook underneath him as he stood, barely able to support his own weight.]

[He tilted his head as he stared at the creature. The way every limb acted on it's own yet they all seemed to work with a common goal was..unsettling to him. It was like each one had a mind of their own. Eugh. He had to stop staring at it so long, he was already beginning to feel nauseated again.]

[Jack looked away, clearing his throat and taking a deep breath to fight back the nausea. His grasp on the crutch tightening from his discomfort. Well..what now? There's a horrifying..human blood creature sitting on the docks. Jack wasn't sure if it wanted anything besides that.]

[Jack glanced behind him at the medbay again..maybe the creature would prefer being in an actual building? Would have more cover anyway. His gaze returned to the creature's face before he pointed towards the medbay with his thumb.]

"Do ya wanna go inside..? Would be easier to warm ya up in there."

- @irradiated-welder

[His fragmented attention snapped towards the woman who walked in the room, equally concerned as Jack was by the monstrosity laying before them.]

[He moved faster than he had intended to, closing the distance between himself and the captain in an unintentionally threatening manner.]

Y o u.

[He stopped short of the woman, holding himself upright to loom over her. Blood trailed on the floor behind him, unclear if it was from the blood ocean or spilling from his own body.]

[He stared in silence for a long moment, processing thoughts in his head that seemed to range from anger to understanding and sympathy. A complicated mishmash that he didn't quite know what to do with.]

Y ou a r e i n ch a r g e-

So f i n d a wa y to f i x me

Y o u d i d t h i s to me.

F i x i t.

[While horrifying and much more than threatening, he didn't move to try and hurt anybody. He only maintained his place in front of the Captain while he stared her down.]

[Eventually, however, his attention was grabbed by something else. A possibility of warmth, somewhere dry to rest and a place he could hide from prying eyes. The blanket that had been offered before was much too small - and now drenched in blood.]

[Sinking back down into himself, hovering low to the floor, he turned to look at Jack.]

Y e s. Pl e a se. War m th.

@captainintheconsolidation @irradiated-welder

(Captainintheconsolidation wished to join if that is alright with you :] they replied in a reblog)

I recommend @ing us in any posts by the way Captain, just to ensure we both are aware of progress in the plot!

[Jack yelped, stumbling forward as he saw the monster suddenly looming over her. He didn't exactly want to see his captain get eaten...or anybody for thag matter. Though, it didn't seem to be getting ready to attack, simply looming over Ava menacingly. He was still trying to determine whether this thing was violent like that or not..]

[Jack paused as he saw the creature turn back to look at him, freezing in place before letting out a sigh of relief as it mentioned just going to the medbay. Okay. At least it didn't seem keen on causing a fight. If Ava and this creature were to fight, he didn't exactly have faith she would win. She was strong and certainly determined...but not above being ripped in half by something twice her size.]

"Y-Yeah, let's just..get ya inside. We can figure out how to handle..all this shite when you're in there."

[Jack stammered, gesturing towards the medbay as he started to hobble his way over there. The crutch made a slight squeaky sound as he used it to walk. He wasn't exactly good at it, but it was better than crawling on the floor.]

[Jack glanced back at Ava, mouthing "Try not to piss it off" with a fearful expression. He didn't know what this thing was capable of and that absolutely terrified him. He didn't even fully know what the fuck this thing even was. The last thing he wanted is to set it off. Dying by being ripped apart by that horrible amalgamation of flesh and limbs sounded worse than just going to radiation poisoning at this point.]

[The bloodied blanket was dragged along with it by one of the many hands grasping at it from his tail. It followed Jack, moving slow as the man hobbled awkwardly towards the other room. The creature kept low to the ground in an attempt to look small, that and it seemed to be having a hard time moving itself.]

[That ended up not being quite as true as the others would have thought though.]

[Entering the medbay, the creature shot forwards at sudden speeds, slithering its way underneath one of the beds until it disappeared completely into the shadows. It managed to coil itself tight until its entire body hid beneath the medical bed. A few limbs poked out into the light like a kids tale of monsters under the bed. Only, this monster was real.]

[Trying to wrap itself in the small blanket once more, it turned to stare back out at the other two.]

I di dn 't m e an to sc a r e y o u.

I 'm s orr y

I do n' t wa n t t o h ur t a ny o n e

[It apologized profusely, remaining humanity in it's words despite its form. The creature was referring about back in the docks, though, the apology could likely be continued to it's startling movement when it fled for beneath the bed]

@captainintheconsolidation @irradiated-welder

Sorry for the double tag, it reblogged to the wrong blog despite my options- tumblr been doin that to me the past few days 😭

"Yes, it speaks. Do ya not hear the radio? 'S been communicatin' through there and obviously it can understand us, or it wouldn't be feckin' respon-."

[Jack jumped as the creature suddenly slid past him and darted underneath the cot. It was startling how something so large could go from moving slowly to suddenly slithering extremely fast. It had to be strong in order to carry all that weight around in general. At least he didn't have to drag it like Ava said. Jack kept that in mind, should he ever need to run away, he would NOT succeed.]

[Jack lowered himself down onto one of the other cots, letting out a sigh of relief at finally sitting down. He glanced down at the creature underneath the cot. Well...now to figure out what they're even supposed to do with this thing.]

"'S okay..nobody got hurt or anythin'."

[Jack reassured the creature, still partly out of fear, but he was trying to be calmer around it so it didn't get agitated more. He was exhausted from getting up and walking around on the docks anyway, he just didn't have the energy to be angry at it. Christ, he wanted to nap, but he couldn't exactly do that right now. He had to...keep the peace between his captain and this creature, it seemed. Guess even when he's on the brink of death, he couldn't get away with not doing some sort of job.]

[OOC]

[Even standing in the piece of metal that would be its death sentence, it still found a way to hurt someone. It was an accident but... that wouldn't reverse it.]

[It looked... sad. As it stared towards Jack.]

[Come to think of it, how its own body survived the radiation that washed back into the sub was a puzzle in and of itself. Sure, it was nothing compared to standing right in front of the damn X-ray like Jack had been, but the convict had used that thing god knows how many times.]

[Was it the blood? Some kind of... fucked up regeneration? It wouldn't be surprising, considering the convict had ended up like... this.]

[After staring long enough to make anyone uncomfortable, let alone with barely human, unblinking eyes, the creature shifted its gaze towards the woman closer to the med bay door.]

A v a . . .?

D o y ou.. . re m e mb e r m e. ..?

[It reached from beneath its hiding place to hook a clawed finger around the wire of the radio within the med bay, the other two having forgotten it on the floor in their scare. The creature used the wire to drag it closer itself, seeming to understand it couldn't physically speak to them.]

. . . . . . . . .

. . .Simon? . . .

How did you-- When-

WHAT HAPPENED.

[ a prolonged silence stretched out, tension sharp as a knife and few glares thrown in Jack's direction before the captain took another uncertain step, now directly towards the creature's hiding place ]

[For the first time since it arrived at the surface, the creature itself made a noise. A plaintive whine, as sad and quiet as it was gurgled and pained. It fidgeted with the blanket, opting not to mess with the radio in fear of crushing it accidentally, despite its twisted hooked claws repeatedly catching in the fabric.]

[It flinched backwards as the Captain stepped forward. Strangely fearful, despite being the beast twice their size that could rip them to shreds if it so chose.]

[That wasn't entirely strange. This.. thing... sitting before them, it used to be human. Even if not fully aware of what had happened, its mind still hung on within a painful and twisted body. Anyone waking up in such an awful form would be terrified regardless.]

[Still, it let her approach, unmoving. Not as a predator waiting for the right moment to pounce, but as prey, hoping their stillness would keep them safe.]

[Its gaze occasionally shifted back to Jack, maybe searching for reassurance from the man who'd been much calmer throughout this whole ordeal.]

[Honestly, had Jack not practically been on his death bed, he probably would have been freaking out a lot more. But now...he just didn't have the energy to muster anything but an eerily calm acceptance to the whole thing. Horrifying blood monster? Sure, why not. Not like he expected anything good to come out of that ocean anyway. He wss bound to die soon, at least it wouldn't be his problem for long.]

[Jack finally processed what Ava said. Simon? Was that the convict's name? He had almost..forgotten that they had names. That they were people. As terrible as that was to admit. Maybe he had just ignored that fact to make it easier to do his job. To forget that he was welding real people, with lives, with families, with friends, into what would be their coffin. He had gotten so caught up in his grief for the people he lost in Filament, in his need to bring them some kind of justice, that he never realized all he was doing was helping the C.O.I hurt more people.]

[Jack's eyes glazed over as he got lost in his own head, his chin resting on his arms as they were folded on top of the crutch. Did those convicts really deserve to go down? To suffocate alone and afraid at the bottom of that ocean? Were their deaths all for nothing? Would any of this even amount to something that could help humanity? So many questions that he was afraid to ask..and that he wasn't sure he wanted the answer to.]

[Jack eventually snapped out of it as he noticed Ava getting dangerously close to the creature.]

"Ya sure ya wanna fockin' try that? Looks like 'e's fockin' terrified of ya. Wouldn't be surprised if he decided self defense is the way to go. Let the fucker talk before ya start tryin' to intimidate 'em. We don't even know if 'e's fockin' all there."

[It knew they were afraid. It knew it was a monstrosity, even if only vaguely. One that would be in their best interest not to upset. No matter how many times it tried to reassure it didn't want to hurt them, that fear would continue to linger in the back of their minds. It was surprised it hadn't been speared or shot on sight, honestly.]

I k n o w. Y ou fe a r.

I kn o w wh o I am... w a s.

I kn o w wh a t I'v e do ne.

[Its voice sounds sorrowful through the radio, full of regret. At least, even if not all there, it maintained some sense of humanity. Even if nobody else looked at it as human anymore. To be fair, it wasn't sure if anyone looked at it as human even *before* it's tragic transformation.]

[Finally, it spoke again. A proposition, one of knowledge. In return... the chance to be fixed. Or... at least... a more peaceful existence.]

R e sear ch

M y f l e s h. L e a r n.

. . . T o f i x m e?

I t w o n't h urt. ..

n o t mor e th a n... b re a th in g.

[Suddenly, much of the static that blocked its voice dropped from the radio, the creature looking to concentrate on being heard clearly. Was this some bizarre... blood ocean ability?]

L e t m e g i v e b a c k f o r

e v e r y t h i n g I v' e t a k e n.

. . . . . . . . . .

[ silence entered the space once again, the only sound being the captain's boot tapping impatiently against the floor tiles, this time not even bothering to look back at Jack ]

. . . .

[ the captain sighed, taking off her jacket before crouching down ]

You're cold, correct? That's what you told him at least. . . The blanket cannot cover you fully, I'm sure you're aware of that fact now.

[ she outstretched her arm, not moving an inch closer, jacket held firmly in her grasp and gaze locked at the creature's location ]

It's not big but it has more layers and way more quality material. I'll give it to you. But you'll need to come and get it.

[That didn't change its fear though, knowing one wrong move could lead to that outcome. One mistaken movement, one injury, accidental or not, and it was back into the abyss.]

[It stared towards the Captains outstretched hand, jacket hanging limply onto the floor.]

[She was... offering it to the creature? Would it not be ruined by its body? Be it of the many jutting edges or the copious amount of blood stained into dark skin, the jacket would never be in the same state again.]

[Regardless, warmth was all it wanted right now. Brief images of the boiling submarine floated through its mind. Once something the convict complained about, now something that sounded wonderful. It was so cold... it's new body incapable of maintaining a consistent temperature.]

[Slowly, cautiously, it dragged itself out from beneath the bed. Staying as low to the floor as physically possible like it was trying to sink into it and hide, the creature reached it's only proper arm towards the Captain, careful not to stain her hands with the blood that dripped from it's body.]

[With surprising consideration for the preservation of the jacket, the creature draped it over its tail. The blanket rested on its shoulders and neck, pierced by jutting vertebrae and teeth that ran along the length of its neck. Its tail was mostly arms, smooth and safer for the material to remain intact. The blood wasn't something it could do much about, though.]

T ha nk... tha n k yo u. . .

[He was a little surprised at the mention of research..could that really fix any of that? Jack knew the researchers were smart, but the idea of reversing any of the mutation seemed a little absurd. Much of Simon's body didn't resemble anything human. It had human parts, sure, but combined in a monstrous way so far removed from humanity that it was hard to imagine he was once just a man.]

[Jack could sympathize with Simon's want to make up for everything he has done. He wanted to do that for his own mistakes himself...he just didn't know how. How could one make up for being partly responsible for the deaths of multiple people? For not even seeing them as human for the longest time? He hoped maybe his suffering was enough. Like as he was dying of radiation poisoning, it was justice for them all. But maybe that was just him being lazy and compliant in whatever ruled him like he always has been.]

"Would the researchers even be able to do anythin' about...this? What would they even learn besides that the blood...shite can mutate people?"

[Jack commented as he looked between Simon and Ava. He admitted he was a little hesitant on Simon being back in the hands of the C.O.I. Who's to say they would treat him any different from before? Or maybe even worse? Would Simon just be torn apart in the name of science only for them to find nothing? Simon was..still technically human, right? It didn't feel right to treat him like some kind of bacteria or specimen.]

[Jack felt like he had to make it up to Simon. He welded him into that submarine in the first place, after all. He wanted to take responsibility for that..even if it was just his job, and do better by Simon.]

I t doe sn 't matter. An yt hi n g is

b e t t er th an do w n th e r e

I c an 't go b a ck

R ip m e apa r t, k ill me, I do n' t

ca r e, jus t do n't s e n d me ba ck!

[His words became frantic, static building in the small radio once again. The level of static appeared to be tied to the level of his emotions, intensifying the stronger and more negative what he was feeling was.]

I c an ' t e s ca pe a sec o n d ti me

It wi l l dra g me ba c k

M a ke it worse

To ur m e n t me

I t do e s n't le t y ou d i e.

[Beginning to retreat back under the cot while stressing over the idea of going back into the hell below, the creature pulled what little blanket it could from it's neck to hide its face, as if hiding would erase any possibility of ending up back down there.]

[The radio was barely legible by this point, nothing but static and ramblings of tormenting memories, voices that picked its sanity apart from the inside out. Though it all, one phase could be heard. Clear as day.]

I' m s c a r e d.

. . . . . . . . .

Can you remember anything. Since when are you . . like this. Was there anything else in the ocean with you? Does the blood react abnormaly to the human flesh for extended periods of exposure? Do you eat? Do you sleep? How are you breathing? Can you function without being submerged into blood? Do you require it for survival? Do you bleed? How did this-. . . How did you-

. . .

did you find the SM-8 ?

[ she waited impatiently for a reply, now leaning much closer to the creature's location. The captain remained still for not more than a minute before sliding a knife out of her pocket, crouching down once again, trying to make eye contact. ]

I'm going to take a sample. It should only sting for a minute at most, i just need a small sample of tissue for DNA analysis, one from you and preferably another one from the "extra" arms.

[It wriggled around out of sight, restless and unable to sit still with what little calm being erased by unease.]

Qu e s ti o ns q u e st io ns , t o o

m a my qu e s t i ons

[Rambling on to itself while the Captain shot question after question at it, everything stopped without warning. The radio was quiet. The static dropped out almost entire as the familiar voice rang through.]

.. . . ... . . Y e s

[Just as it began to speak again, it startled away at the sight of a knife in the Captains hands, though quickly calmed down as she explained she just wanted a tissue sample.]

[As it had offered, a cautious arm reached from beneath the cot, palm upwards in a non threatening gesture to allow its flesh to be cut. It stung, but no more than existing in this form did. Its whole body must be in pain... it didn't even flinch as the blade sliced its flesh.]

Q u e st i o ns.. . I w i ll. . .

. ..A n s w e r

If y o u.. . a s k sl o w e r.

[It paused for a moment before continuing, contemplating its words.]

F au lt y me m o r ies. It d o e sn't

w ant me t o ...re me m b er.

N e ed tim e. .. t o an s w er.

T o th i n k.

[He looked away as the Captain got a sample from Simon. He couldn't really help being squeamish. Which was rather ironic considering the place he was in..and the state he was in. But he figured anybody would be freaked out, especially at the sight of Simon's mutated form. He wasn't the weird one. This situation was batshit insane!]

[Jack awkwardly cleared his throat, still resting his hands on top of the crutch. He drummed them lightly, before quickly stopping as he felt the tingling begin again. Christ, did there have to be so many things going on with his body at once? He turned his head back to look over at Simon and Ava, deciding to speak up.]

"What doesn't want ya to remember..? Ya keep mentionin' this other thing. Sounds like it's controllin' ya or..tryin' to."

[Jack asked, hoping that would be a good place to start for the creature. It would answer Ava's question about their being another creature down there, too. Beating two birds with one stone or..however that phrase went. One question at a time would at least be easier for Simon to process. But, the idea of their being something big down there trying to control everything else was..terrifying to say the least. What would a creature like that want? Could it be part of the reason for the Quiet Rapture or was it just a part of the blood ocean's environment? Too many questions that maybe not even Simon himself could answer.]

[It looked appreciative of the patience, cloudy eyes struggling to pull memories from its shattered mind. Every time it tried to remember anything from before this form, it became frustrated with how blank its mind was. Loosing itself, a past that something was trying to hide from it. As if trying to make it content with being apart of something else.]

[Thinking about the monstrosity that caused all of this caused the former man some distress, but it remained determined to answer. If for no other reason than to keep others from falling to the beast.]

T h e s k e l e t o n. . .

[Something more than familiar to the other two, an image of twisted bones resting on the ocean floor.]

It w as.. . a l ive. . .

... s po k e to m e. Th ro u h th e

o th e rs. T h r o u g h E l s i e.

Pr om i se d free do m.

[That name, one the Captain should know well. One of the crew members that died with the SM-8. A name it shouldn't know, but one it knew well regardless. She had tried to lead the Convict into the light.]

I did n' t- I r an. A n ge r ed it.

[The creature covered its face with its primary arm, almost like it was trying to hide its mind from the memories that seemed to terrify it. Still, it kept trying to explain. It wanted to answer, it wanted to help. It was obvious how hard the creature was trying.]

I t sa y s.. . i t ca n s a v e us

It's n ot fr e ed o m. Th e o t her s.

T he y ar en 't d e ad. Thei r mi nds

b el o ng to th e o c e an n ow

J ust li ke mi n e. ..

W e- I.. . T he y...

. . . a r e b i g g e r t h a n y o u.

[ instead, her gaze fell back on the creature in front of her and she had to remind herself once more not to think about the absurdity of this situation, not to let the implication of what all of this means run wild, she could not afford to let the dread sink it's teeth into her mind, she has people to keep alive and a job to do. This is bigger than her, this is bigger than her thisis bigger thanher thisisbiggerthanher thisisbiggerthanh]

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

[ This bigger than any of them. ]

[ the captain's muscles stiffened as the creature began speaking again. She froze in place, her hand tightly gripping small plastic container with the piece of the creature's flesh. Her eyes narrowed as she leaned over to the creature once again, much closer this time ]

How do you know that name. Who did you speak to. HOW DID YOU-

. . .

Where are they. Do you remember their coordinates? Is there any way for us to contact them.

[It recoiled into itself, not like a fearful dog, but a vicious snake. The noise that emanated from its throat was akin to a hiss, a gurgled mix of mammalian and reptilian in nature, and yet nothing alike at the same time. What was more than clear, though, was the aggression it was sounded with. Loud and powerful for a creature that had just been cowering beneath the cot moments before.]

[In that same darkness, peering from beneath its hideout, its eyes shifted. Pinpoints in darkness fading from fear into what was unmistakably anger.]

S H E 'S G O N E.

[Loud and assertive through the radio, the static that grew from the creatures emotions posed no issue to hearing its words as its voice simply overpowered it. If the radio had been capable of such a volume, it was sure that the convicts voice would've been screaming at them.]

Y o u a b a n d o n e d H E R.

Y o u a b a n d o n e d U S a l l.

O u r l i v e s i n y o u r h a n d s.

A n d y o u l e t t h e o c e a n

T a k e t h e m.

[It paused, its voice turning from violent back to somber and quiet. The creature seemed to be fighting with anger and reasoning, some level of understanding in the Captains actions, some level of sympathy. It was angry. But it understood.]

W e t r u s t e d y o u

Y o u l e d u s

L i k e l a m b s

S l a u g h t e r e d u s

[That wasn't the convicts truth, though. He never trusted Ava, or anyone here, from the start. The words it spoke now was of many minds. Emotions and opinions of multiple, anger, resentment, sadness, from himself, from the SM-8 crew, from the other convicts sent to die. Its shattered mind wasn't fully its own now, though it seemed Ava's words had triggered a particular rush of the connected consciousnesses to come to the forefront, despite the individuality the convict exhibited moments before.]

W e w o n 't f o r g i v e y o u

I w a n t t o. . .

E l s i e

. . . w o n 't f o r g i v e y o u

[Its body relaxed as it returned to its cautious, fearful state, resting its head on the floor with a sad, gurgled sigh. Its gaze refused to meet Ava's or Jack's, visibly regretting its moment of lashing out.]

@captainintheconsolidation @irradiated-welder

[Jack stood up, gripping onto the crutch tightly as he hobbled towards them. He reached out, grabbing onto Ava's forearm and attempting to pull her back before he spoke.]

"Ava, for fuck's sake. Do you really fockin' think brute forcing this shite is going to make it any better? This thing is our best shot at findin' out more about this goddamn Blood Ocean. And you think the best way to get information out of it is to fockin' shoot questions at it and intimidate it? I wouldn't be too kind about that shite either."

[Jack's voice gradually raised as he continued, his anger growing more and more. He practically spat his next words.]

"We've gotten people fockin' killed with this reckless, desperate bullshit. When are ya going to learn that it doesn't work? How many times do the 'workers' like me have to warn you? How many will we lose before you and the rest of the C.O.I realize we need a fockin' different approach? We have the DAMN evidence right here and you're still doin' the same shite! WE FAILED THEM! WE GOT THEM ALL KILLED! THEY'RE THIS THING BECAUSE OF US! DON'T YOU FEEL ANY FOCKIN' GUILT FOR THAT!?"

[Jack would have yelled more, but he felt his chest ache as he began to cough. He let go of Ava, pulling his hand back so he could cover his mouth as he coughed. Part of his anger was directed towards himself. For helping send these people to their deaths, for going along with it with no questions asked. He didn't even give a shit in the moment when the convicts were sent down. He thought it was justice for Filament, for the family he lost. Only now had he realized that all he helped do was hurt more people.]

[Jack pulled his hand away, shaking the blood off it as he looked back down at the creature. He took a wheezy breath before he spoke, his voice raspier than before. He still seemed frustrated, but slightly calmer as he collected himself again.]

"I know ya can't forgive Ava, or any of the C.O.I for our shite. But we got to work together now, yeah? You all gotta be willin' to help us too. We aren't gonna get fockin' anywhere if we keep fockin' pissin' each other off."

"We got the..sample shite, that's somethin', right? The researchers can get further than we can with figurin' out...all that nightmarish biological shite."

[Jack wasn't entirely sure what he and Ava could do as they waited for conclusions from the researchers. Just..keep the creature out of the ocean, at least. Maybe their job was to find out more about the hive mind. About what Simon and..everybody else in there saw down in the blood ocean. If he and Ava could get through to them at least. The most difficult part of this would probably be keeping the peace between Ava and the creature. Jack didn't have any emotional connection to anybody sent down, nor did these things know anything about him, he thinks at least. So it's not like they could really get under his skin with personal details if they didn't know any, right? But they seemed to know Ava on a deeper level..which was a pain in the ass since they knew things that could further agitate her and drive the wedge down further.]

@assimilated-simon @captainintheconsolidation

[OOC]

DON'T YOU DARE TALK LIKE YOU KNOW HER. LIKE YOU KNOW ANYTHING. YOU THINK I ENJOY THIS? DO YOU THINK I TAKE SOME SICK JOY OUT OF SENDING THE LAST BITS OF WHAT REMAINS OUT OF HUMANITY INTO THE UNKNOWN? WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. THERE AREN'T ENOUGH OF US LEFT TO BE THROWING LIVES AWAY BUT THERE IS TOO MUCH AT STAKE HERE NOT TO TAKE CALCULATED RISKS. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT, EDEN DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

. . .

. . . . . . . . .

But I'm sure you would know all about slaughter wouldn't you, butcher.

[ she hissed through her teeth still lingering close ]

I have lives of the entire humanity in my hands. I won't just sit here and look as it goes extinct. Maybe you need to be reminded what kind of actions lead you down there in the first place. I'm not the only one bearing consequences for my actions. Just remember, you're on my ship, convict. Any other captain would have you already killed on sight.

[ she leaned down once more, eyes narrowed and gaze firm at the creature in front of her ]

Now spill the coordinates of the SM-8 before I decide your autopsy would be more useful than your fragmented mind.

[ only once her lashout was complete did she turn towards Jack, grabbing his arm firmly less out of aggression and more out of concern of him stumbling and injuring himself further, though the gesture could be interpreted in both ways. She looked at him as he spoke with furrowed brows, unclear if she was actually listening or had already made up her mind ]

You need to return to your bed now, that's an ORDER. I'm gonna need one last job from you. I'll make sure the SM-14 will be ready as soon as possible, I won't let our old crew die in vain, whatever's down there, I'm getting it out. One way or another. Go rest, you'll need it.

@assimilated-simon

B u t c h e r . . .

[It muttered the name in repeat, visibly flinching.]

T ha t w asn 't sup p o se d to

h a pp e n . ..

W hy d oe s n' t an y bo d y

b e le i v e me?

I n e ve r w an t e d to h u rt an y on e.

[A long silence fell between them, the creature slumping to the floor until it was pressed against it like a wet towel, body sinking down with all too flexible bones. Its arm covered its face. Whether out of frustration, shame, or everything all at once, it refused to let the other two look it in its sub human eyes.]

[It continued not to react, even at the mention of the SM-14. Well... it began to speak again, but this time calm and somber. No panic, no agitated squirming beneath the medical cot, just a hushed voice that was barely heard over the radios static.]

I c a n' t

I can 't. . . g iv e y ou t he

coo r di na t e s.

Y o u wi l l di e

A n y on e yo u s e n d. ..

w i ll d ie

It 's n o t a ri s k.

I t 's a d e a t h s e n t e n c e.

[Deep down it seemed to know there was no stopping the captain if she really had her mind set on this. She'd send more people down, go down herself. All of them. The would die. The crew of the SM-8 died in vain, no matter how anyone else tries to look at it. All the convict can try to do is prevent more needless death.]

[it seemed clear minded for once, speaking properly and clearly for once since it emerged from the surface. Something has changed.]

Y ou ca n 't re v e r se t h is.

B u t yo u c an st o p it.

R e sea r c h fr o m th e s u r fa ce.

D o n't go do w n.

If to m a ke th e i r dea t h s n o t

in va i n. . . l et it be a wa rn ing.

S h e w o r r i e s f o r y o u r

s a f t e y, A v a.

We c an 't be s a ve d. So s a ve

y ou r se l v es.

D o n' t m a k e h e r h a v e t o

m o u r n y o u.

@irradiated-welder @captainintheconsolidation

"There's no fuckin' point in tryin' to convince her, Simon. Captain's word is final."

[Jack commented bitterly, his voice going a bit higher at those last few words in a mocking expression. He leaned the crutch he had been using against the wall before rolling over onto his side. Captain didn't want to listen to them? Fine. Jack was done trying to talk sense into people. If they wanted to continue doing stupid shit at the end of humanity's extinction, who was he to stop them?]

"See you on the other side, Captain."

[Jack added, making one final jab at the fact that she was almost sure to die down there before he went silent. Guess he'd see her in the afterlife soon, if there even was one. He wanted to believe there was still something better out there..but that hope was fading. Maybe it would be better if there was nothing after death, if he would just fade away like he never existed. He wouldn't have to sit with his guilt or continue mourning the life he could have lived if the rapture never happened. He could just die. In peace.]

[That's when an idea came to Jack. If he wasn't around to weld Ava in..she wouldn't be able to go down. 'She' wouldn't have to mourn Ava. And Ava would be forced to research from the surface..without risking becoming one of those fish things like Simon was. Nobody else would be able to be sent down either..no more needless deaths that only fed the sea. Only problem is, if they still had the equipment..they might try anyway. That would probably be easier, actually. Just break the equipment, Jack was bound to die sooner or later anyway..so he could just stall until then.]

[But Jack stayed silent, waiting for Ava to exit the med bay. Simon would probably agree, right? He didn't want anymore people to get sent down..this would prevent that. Hell, Jack is going to do it anyway even if Ava does come to her senses and doesn't go down. The C.O.I isn't exactly trustworthy when it comes to having lives in their hands like this. Nobody else was going to get sent down, not if he could help it.]

@assimilated-simon

Do you understand what this means to us? To our survival? If there's anything alive down there it's the only answer we have, we might find a way to synthesise food, analyse how life came to be , how it survives, find further information about the Rapture or do-- something! . . .Instead of quietly waiting for our own extinction.

I'm not asking. Coordinates. Now. As far as I'm aware, orders still apply to you as well. I highly suggest you start cooperating while you still have a choice.

[ Silence followed as she awaited the answer, making it clear she's not leaving without the coordinates, fully determined to wait day and night if she had to, she barely listened to what Jack even had to say, only thing on her mind being the SM-8 crew and the failures that followed ]

[ She stood next to the door, waiting impatiently before her brows furrowed as she turned to give Jack "you can't be serious" look instead ]

. . .

I'm not leaving you alone with it.

@assimilated-simon

Love how even the eldritch horror that came FROM the blood ocean is telling her not to go in and she still goes "Nuh huh". Gotta respect the dedication tho