2025-09-13 - World 007: Preliminary Expedition

Micah trudges through the space in jeans, a white tee, and a green shirt left unbuttoned with its sleeves rolled up. The pack he brings today isn’t full of medical gear (someone else was assigned to that today), but lots of empty containers to collect plant specimens in. Assuming there are specimens to collect, of course.

Seeing that water bottles are set out, he grabs one and twists the cap off. He’s not even super thirsty, but he is a little nervous.

After Angel's last trip to a new world, she is making sure she is armed and has plenty of ammunition. A quick check of both of her pistols before slipping them back into their hip holsters. At least she isn't bringing a rocket launcher. Angel is dressed in Security uniform with the addition of sturdier boots and a tactical vest jam packed with what every young lady needs on a trip to a new world - sunscreen, flashlight batteries, flares, pitons, magazines, small atomic weapon. Maybe not the last one. A 50 feet coil of rope over one shoulder in case they find themselves on a cliff. At least there's another Security person here this time.

"Can I just ask that if I, or anyone else, is searching a dimly lit area where there could be monsters, please don't yell as loud as you can to see if I'm alright thus waking up the creature" Angel deadpans before tapping her ear piece. "We have these to talk. Quietly and calmly."

Phineas has not had the opportunity to go world searching. When signing up, he put his name in, and here he is. A backpack on his back. His head does that upnod to those found here.

He's dressed in light layers as he doesn't know what kind of atmosphere they are going into and wants to be ready for whatever is to come. He has heard of some of the stories of what has been going on, and he's trying to be prepared. He also takes a water bottle to keep his hands occupied.

Asher has been through the portal at this point to most of the registered worlds. They're even getting used to the vibration of bones back and forth, as much as their insensate self used to hate feeling things they're used to having numbed. What Asher isn't used to is traveling to worlds that can be intentionally programmed and chosen. They cannot wait to see the code worked on so long and hard actually put into action with their own two silver-swirled eyes. The only question? What's been dialed in? What's the Frequency, Kenneth?

They wave to Caroline, then go over to watch her program the runes in, staring at the codes as if they can read them. "Oh, niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice." They're wearing jeans and their favorite embroidered canvas sneakers. Their Werewolf Bar Mitzvah tee is tucked in, and there's a grey hoodie over the top of it, and their purple backpack is over top. They're also carrying a Park Services EMT duffel. Angel gets an upnod, a full agreement about no yelling when quiet is safer, and then Asher asks, "Do we have any actual objectives on this pass? Or are we just testing the accuracy of the DEACode?" They also introduce themselves, just in case. "I'm Asher, EMT." Phineas gets a wave, once they realize they recognize him from that night with the butterflies.

Michael is prepared with his own pack and weapon, dressed in a pair of black BDUs and combat boots along with a long-sleeved black fitted t-shirt and a jacket over that with a number of pockets that contain necessary odds and ends -- flashlight, rope, a few tools and the like. He joins the others, giving an up-nod to those gathered. He glances over toward Angel and raises a brow slightly. "There's a story behind that one," he says.

Caroline gets a nod of his head, familiar with her from previous excursions.

"Oh, there is a story alright" Angel confirms for Michael. "Hopefully one that does not have a sequel." Upnods for the other members of the crew. They look like they know what they are doing. Possibly. At least they're all agreed on no shouting.

"Why is it called Kenneth? Now I'm going to spend the next few hours trying to make up what the letters could mean. Kinetic Extradimensional Nutrino Nullifying Ergonomic Transportation Helix?" Angel muses before frowning. "Never mind. Let's get going." A moment to prepare for the queasiness of the travel before she follows Caroline through.

Michael gives a nod to Caroline. This trip will be one they have no information on, and that seems fine with him. He shoulders his pack and then moves toward the portal to take a step through. He smirks just a little over at Angel and says, "No sequels." He didn't plan on shouting anyway. He takes a breath and then through the portal, moving out of the way of the opening on the other side as soon as he's sure of a safe place to stand (provided that there is one).

Micah lowers the water bottle and looks around at the assembled group. “What’s up? I’m Micah and I’ve been to, uh, one other world. I’m here for plants, but I can patch people up, too.” He looks at Asher here, the one on official medical duty. “If you need another pair of hands.”

He seems ready to go, though, and stuffs the water bottle into a pocket on the side of his bag. “There was a memo, I think,” he tells Angel as he checks his straps. Any last words people might have, he hears out, but then it’s off through the portal to experience that weird, vibratory sensation one has when stepping through these things.

Asher lifts the strap of the duffel bag over their head, moving it from over their left shoulder to a cross-body wear that keeps their hands free. They adjust the straps on both their bags, and as Angel asks about the name... That maybe sounds right? They try to remember the 'official' story. "Something like that." If Angel was off, she was at least close. "Originally, we were inspired by R.E.M." It really was named for the song. "I forget what Dilly back-filled it into so it would seem official and not just be an ear-worm." Micha offers more hands, and Asher is not dumb enough to turn that down. "Always." And they tell him, "It's the standard pack, but, there are extra gloves and masks from the normal inventory, and the back zip packet has specimen bags."

Phineas takes the warnings seriously. He waves lightly in Asher's direction, but his focus at the moment is on entering the world when everyone else does. It is hard to stay focused because even if he does not show it, he is excited. "Phineas." Offering his name as he finishes stepping into the new world.

It's always a little disconcerting, that whole trip through the portal to the other side. Michael takes a breath of the heavier thicker air and says, "Well.. we can breathe it. Let's hope we don't pass out." He heard about that trip. For a moment, he just takes a second to look all around him, taking in the landscape, the sunset, whatever plants and animals happen to be around. Then he sees the sea and just looks out over that for a while, taking it in.

"It's getting dark and it looks like it's going to start raining soon," Michael observes, mostly to himself. For the moment, he doesn't move, remaining near the portal and keeping an eye on the others as they begin to move outward.

Angel takes a deep breath once through the portal. Followed by a scowl at the humidity. "I think I overdressed" she mutters to herself before whipping out some sunglasses from her vest along with a baseball cap. It may be cloudy but there's still a glare and the cap can keep rain out of her eyes too. "I'm Angel Blake, Security" she finally remembers before glancing at her weaponry. "Saturday nights can get pretty rowdy."

Angel quickly takes in their surroundings and then calls out to Micah. "Wait. Don't go too far away. Jungles are known for their wildlife, and most of it can kill you with a bite or a sting. And for all we know, the plants could eat you too." She takes the rope from her shoulder and tosses one end to Micah. "If you're going to wander off, tie this on. Now you can never get more than fifty feet away from someone else." A look to Michael. "You have enough rope for everyone? Could tie one end on a tree...assuming the tree doesn't dissolve the rope."

It seems Michael has the sensible idea of protecting their exit, so that leaves Angel to try and herd the cats as they head out to snoop around. Over the comms she notes, "Keep in touch. If you get in trouble, let us know over comms and try to head back to the beach. Please, do not think anything you meet looks cute and has to be petted."

Beach vacay? Tropical rainforest? A little bit of both? Between the white sand and the jungle, it's hard to spot in the setting light whatever they'll find if they go further inland. But Asher is down for the thick heat and oppressive humidity. The rain clouds are a little worrisome, only in that way of having lived through acid rain panic and fear-mongering in their youth, but... It's probably fine. "If anyone starts feeling itchy or spots rashes on yourself or someone else," Asher mentions, "Give a mention, especially if the clouds let go and we're wet." Asher smirks at Michael. "And we don't even have the Alphabits-Warnings from Parker to give us the early warning. We'd have been toast without knowing it was possible ahead of time." They were there for that one.

Watching as Michael keeps an eye on the group, Asher spots Micah looking curious about the jungle. They make mention, "I'd like to grab a water sample from the shore," where the ocean is frothing. "And a quick pH test of it." Asher is not an expert in weather science, but... They're pretty sure that if the seas aren't painful, and the humidity is breathable, it should indicate that the rainfall part of the evaporation, condensation, precipitation cycle will also be ok.

Phineas looks thrilled when they enter this world and the beauty to be found here, such as the sea and the jungle. He doesn't know where to look first. Micah appears to know what he's doing, so he follows in that direction.

"Michael Dawson," says finally, since everyone is still giving names. His attention, however, is on their surroundings. He looks into the sky, looking to see if he can see any planes, airships, birds, pterodactyls, and then out across the water, seeking boats, sea monsters, anything that might give them some idea of what sort of world they're looking at.

Michael shakes his head and tells Angel, "Let's not.. tie each other together. That reduces maneuverability and in a jungle, there's going to be too much underbrush and growth in there, we'll all just end up tied in a knot and stuck. As fun as a little bondage is, now is not the time."

He nods to Asher and says, "I'll keep an eye on you while you take the samples. Angel? Keep an eye on Micah and Phineas, yeah?"

When Michael offers to keep an eye on them, Asher nods, appreciating it. Getting washed out to any sea would suck. Getting washed out in one that's not even a part of their own world? Worse. "Thanks." They shrug off both their backpack and the medical duffel, and leave all of it on the dry part of the shore. They grab two plastic specimen containers meant for urine samples, but, they'll hold sea water just as well. Pulling on neoprene gloves, they carry both towards the water, watching the pattern of waves long enough to hopefully manage to crouch at an edge that won't get them soaked but where they can lean forward to scoop up one sample to tuck into the bag to take back to the actual science folks, and one they can do a quick pH dip on back at their bag.

Asher doesn't see what Micah does, which... Probably for the best. Tentacles in the sea would be freaky enough. From the jungle? Nah. Asher is too busy looking out at the waves, at... At what? They squint. They call over softly, "Hey, uh, Michael?" They point out some very jagged, spiked, almost fanged protrusions. "What the heck is that made of?" It's clearly not rock, at least not the kinds of rock Asher is used to seeing on Earth. But they have no clue what it actually might be instead.

"I wasn't going to tie us all together, just to something that was not going to wander off" Angel clarifies for Michael. "Not being able to go chasing after anything in a jungle is not a bad thing." For now, she only holds the other end of the rope that Micah ties around him, though it takes great willpower not to yank him back immediately as he warns of spotting something. "Walk slowly back, Micah" is suggested...firmly.

And then something else catches her eye. Something in the sand. "Hold this" she requests of Michael, handing him the rope, before walking carefully over to another section of sand. She crouches down, frowning. "Human like footprints. Barefoot. We are not alone." Her gaze follows the tracks as far as she can though they will soon be lost if the rain gets stronger.

"We want to try and follow some tracks or check what Micah saw?" Angel asks before there is a third option. She follows Asher's point and is not happy with what she sees. "Asher, perhaps you would like to back out of the water for now?" A glance for Michael. "Do we want to shoot it? See what reaction we get?" A reaction from the jungle too perhaps. Though it may not be heard over the rumbling thunder.

Phineas looks up and over to see what Micah is pointing at. "Tendril? Huh?" Phineas seems confused about what he saw, but he seems to agree with what Micah saw. "Yeah. That is so weird." He tells Micah, "I feel like I just stepped into a movie or a book that is alive. I can't really find the words to explain it."

Michael has his eyes on Asher when they go down to take the water sample and so he isn't watching the edge of the forest where the slithering is occurring. Instead, he's just listening to all the sounds of clicking, birdsong, the water rushing up against the shore. His gaze sweeps over toward the protrusions that Asher is pointing out and he takes a step or two in that direction to look. "I don't know.. but let's take a few steps back away from whatever it is. I'm not sure if that is natural.... and if it is natural, those might be teeth." He would not be surprised if they were teeth. "No, Angel, we do not want to shoot anything right now."

Asher hadn't gone into the water, just to the edge. And they're already heading back for their bags even as Michael is suggesting it. They nod to him. "Right?" Bone-white, jagged... "Kinda makes me want to hum the Jaws theme." But when Angel suggests shooting at things?" Asher's expression looks appalled. "You really want to introduce ourselves with gunpowder and high velocity projectiles?" So much for a clear head not yelling into darkness. Asher isn't actually sure on chain of command here. Security and medical both have authority to pull the team out, but, what if the two sides disagree?

Looking back at Michael, who they've worked with before, glancing to see his take about it. They're immensely relieved to hear him say what they're thinking. Asher suggests softly and calmly to Angel, "We're still very close to the portal, and probably don't want to go further than we can get back through it fast. But I think a little more looking is probably fine." They aren't willing to make that call alone though. And Caroline gets a very grateful salute. No casting magic missile shooting at the darkness jungle. "If your security spidey senses are tingling to the point you're feeling trigger-happy, though? It's time to go back instead. It's up to you two, but. My vote is whichever one doesn't spread gun violence outside our own world. One plague of it is enough. Retreat is always better than attack."

Angel's brow furrows as she is lambasted from all angles. "I really need to work on my delivery" she deadpans. "Of course I'm not going to shoot anything out of hand. Besides..." A gesture out at the moving rocks. "Don't need too. It's obviously a living creature that lies in wait for its prey to pass over. But we also have footsteps to follow if you really want to know what's going on here. I'm all for withdrawing if that's what you want but the point of exploring is to discover the unknown, and you can't do that without going into it."

Angel indicates the direction of the tracks. "Anyone want to follow them or do we go home?"

When Micah pulls his bag out and talks about his containers, Phineas reaches to grab one. "So you're thinking sand or something else?" A curious tone in his voice when he asks that. He might not be paying attention to the others around him and sticking with Micah. It helps him to give focus to at least one in the group. Sorry, Micah, you are it.

The jagged white lines may be far enough out, but Michael prefers to err on the side of caution, so he just motions for Asher to grab their samples and then come back away from the water to join the others. Then he begins to move in Angel's direction, toward where the others are examining the footprints. "We can follow the footprints, see where they lead, but let's take it slow and steady and keep alert. Whoever is here knows the jungle better than we do." It's only then that he glances over toward Phineas and Micah to see what the two of them are up to after making sure that Asher is with them.

Asher tucks the samples in their backpack, and straps the pack and duffel back on before following Michael and the rest of the group towards and eventually down the path. They've got their water sample stashed away, and the disposable gloves are still on their hands. But otherwise, they're just following, and keeping an eye on their surroundings and the people exploring them.

Angel glances down at the tracks. "Then let's see what is..." She slowly removes her sunglasses before adding, "...afoot." A rumble of thunder fills in for the expected scream before she is leading the way. No unarmed people ahead of her. The sunglasses tucked away and a flashlight retrieved from her vest as they approach the darkness of jungle and undergrowth.

"Hopefully, whoever made these tracks knew what they were doing and where they were going. Slow and easy and as quiet as you can be." A tilt of her head at the wall of plants they are approaching. "And let's hope that there isn't an alien Poison Ivy."

Phineas can do shells. He likes shells. He thinks they are cool, and he moves to go and collect however many can fit in his container that he borrowed. Once he's done with the collecting, he's playing follow the leader and finally looks around to see what the rest of the group is doing. A smile on his face. He finds this fun even if there is a tendril spotted.

Fortunately, flashlights are not something that they are lacking, and Michael takes out his. He keeps it aimed low toward the ground so he won't destroy anybody's night vision as their eyes adjust to the dimness. He keeps his attention on their periphery, watching for anything that might come at them or move to either side while he lets Angel take point. He will cover the rear, his own sidearm close at hand and a knife on his belt. He doesn't take either out now, but they're there in the event they are needed. He moves along as quietly as possible, taking slow deliberate steps as they move forward.

Michael continues on, not seeming to mind the rain. The water trickles down his neck and into his collar, dampening his shirt. He leaves the jacket open since it's hot. Fortunately it's not a heavy jacket, but it's definitely more than he needs for this weather, but at least the rain washes away the sweat from his brow as they make it further along the narrow path. His flashlight beam remains low or the most part, just illuminating the path that he walks in front o him, and then periodically arcing out to either side of their path, catching on the leaves and the trunks of nearby trees and whatever creatures might flit, fly, or slither in the darkness nearby.

"Yep, kind of" Angel replies to Micah with a lot less enthusiasm. Her senses directed to their path and the walls of foliage around them. No stepping on roots for her, you never know if they'll object. "Everyone okay?" she asks over the comms as rain slaps against the bill of her cap - but at least it stays out of her eyes. For now, both ends of the rope are with Micah.

"It is exciting." Phineas agrees when he hears Micah. He has his own bag, and so he puts his shells in there. Pulling his hood up from the hoodie he was wearing when the rain started to come down. "Yeah, I am good," Phineas answers Angel.

Michael is fine with them proceeding along slowly, even when the footprints start to get wiped out and they can no longer see them. They are heading in the same relative direction and that is fine for now. Thus far, he feels awake and alert and not suddenly sleepy, and that's a good thing. He doesn't even mind the rain. The wind and the pelting nature of it is better, to him, than the stillness of just sweaty mugginess.

The siren going off further in the jungle, however, gives him momentary pause. He stops in his tracks and looks slowly around, checking to see if any lights have come on to accompany the siren in the rain. "Well... there's definitely someone here.. with enough electricity to have a siren of some sort. But is it warning them about us? Or something else?" That is harder to tell.

The moment the siren sets off, Angel drops to one knee and her left hand becomes a raised fist. Hopefully, her compatriots have watched enough movies to know that is a request to stop. "Anyone think they tripped a wire with feet or hands?" she asks quietly over the comms before nodding to Michael's words. "The person we were following was barefoot. That's not to say that barefoot people can't build alarm systems but anyone with that kind of tech would probably protect their feet in terrain like this."

The rain driving down. The refreshing wind threatening to become an icy gale. "I'm happy to go have a look if you don't feel safe but if these alarms are for us, then there may also be booby traps. Or, as Michael says, something else set off the alarms. Something out here with us."

Phineas was following along and even doing the single-file line thing when he heard that sound. It sounds out of place here, and he tries to figure out where it is coming from.

"Yeah, I wonder," Phineas answers Michael. "Are we expecting a white polar bear to come out or something?" Not that this is the kind of weather for that kind of creature, but still, he asks.

He does pause when he sees Angel's signal.

"Is this what those Midwest tornado siren things sound like?" Asher doesn't know. But their first train of thought is some kind of a weather warning as the tropical rainfall is getting stronger.

Michael nods in agreement with Angel and Caroline and says, "Alright why doesn't Angel scout up ahead and take a look and the rest of us start slowly going back the way that we came. I'll wait here for Angel. Caroline, can you lead the rest back? We'll catch up." But that way there's progress being made and Angel isn't being left on her own either.

"Good thought, Asher" Angel is quick to reply to the medic's idea. "That we means we have two options once more. One, run forward through the dark and the unknown jungle to find the place with the alarms and hope they let us in to safety. Two, get the hell out of here and come back another day...like Caroline said." She considers Michael's suggestion before reluctantly shaking her head, "As much as I would love to meet the person I have been following, it is time to get out of here before we end up in Oz. We're hear to look after you guys. Michael, you take point? Watch your feet, everyone."

There is a look and then a nod to Caroline when she offers her suggestion, coming from Phineas. He seems to be prone to that idea. "It sounds good to me. I think we learned a few things here today." Like the tendril he thought he saw or didn't. He's not sure now. He turns to head back to whence they came when it seems that is what will be happening next.

At some point on the retreat, Asher hands the medic duffel to Micah to make sure he has what he needs if things start to go sideways. They'll rely on their magic if they have to. They stick close with Michael to make sure Angel has any cover and backup they need, trusting Caroline and Micah to get Phineas and all the samples back. Once everyone is safe and back on the right sides of the portal and back to the Brass House, they're lowering the hood of their jacket to wring the rain out of their hair that had soaked in. "OK, Kenneth. That was cool af, but, next time? We need to look at your weather runes, and maybe try find some place a little less hungry." Not that Asher has a single thing to do with the choosing or the programming. They just know how to read what the experts have set in for it all.