---

---

His lungs burned. That's all that Charlie could think when he finally stopped running. His lungs fucking burned. He hadn't been the most active person before prison, but his stay in that shit hole had not improved his physical capabilities. After finally regaining his breath, although by that point his legs were shouting obscenities at him in the form of aching pain, he began taking account of everyone. It appeared as if some more people had joined them, but he didn't think anyone had been lost. He nodded, smiling at their success. Suddenly, his newfound joy was shattered by Athena's shouts. "Brains! Get the fuck up here!"

Sighing he made his way up to Athena. "What the fuck is it?" he asked, trailing off as he looked down upon the valley. His mouth agape at the massive tower below his brain began to sift through the possibilities. The only thing he was sure of though, was that they weren't the only people to have been here. Which meant that they very well might not be alone.

He chewed on his lip, trying to come up with something to say. "I think this might be what J wanted us to find," he finally said, turning to Athena and the boy who'd been running with her. "Maybe it can work as a shelter of some sort, and it might even have supplies. One sec let me get Tobi," Charlie said, wanting a second opinion from his friend. He turned around and called for Tobi. "Hey Valade! Come see this!"

_@TheFourthIV

@Wintergrey



"You are now more likely to keep your leg and as I previously offered able to form a cooperative partnership with myself. said Velvet as she once more studied Ian with no visible sign of empathy.

To the south once more was heard the sound of something large approaching.

"We were told to head north with all haste and if that sound is any indication with good reason.
I realize that following instructions from an unknown entity goes most likely against your normal modus operandi as it does mine but in this case I chose to for the time being accede to them a better understanding of our present situation and comply.
You may join me or remain here I will not seek to entice, threaten or beg you to do so but stress that the reality of our position doesn't lend it's self to an extended period of deliberation. I will remain for another thirty seconds after which alone or in your company I am headed north."

Velvet steps back three more paces her emotional expression flat, almost bored as the unknown beast thunders out it's challenge or warning whichever may be the case.

As she waits for Ian to decide a strange creature shuttles past on multiple legs drawing barely any notice or emotional reaction from the creepy calm little brunette. It is about three and a half feet long and gives off a sharp almost peppery scent and shows no interest in either of them before disappearing into the underbrush.

@RumikoOhara

---

---

Ian watched her curiously as she set to work on his legs. He kept his hand clenched on the spear, just in case. In truth, as calmly as he joked around, he didn't know this girl. Besides that the way she acted was just strange. No emotion anywhere on her body. Her face seemed permanently blank. Almost bored. She was the complete opposite of Ian. Moody and uptight. Perhaps he could change that, rub off on her a little bit and help her to lighten up. Hell he had no idea what exactly she had been through before, but they were on a new world. They were the kings and queens. They were the rulers. They were the gods. They could be whoever they wanted.

"Velvet Moons? Really? God that's so lame." He tried out her name. It was terribly boring. He shrugged unapologetically. "You can be anyone, you do realize that. We are free. Free! We aren't bound anymore, not that I ever was. But seriously, have fun with this shit. I'm Pleasant, if you were wondering... or maybe Jackson... Uh... no, I remember now. It was Pleasant, you can call me Pleasant. I'm Pleasant both in name and person." He winked at her. "And I must say my... how did you put it... 'presence to satisfy my human need companionship.' Yeah that. You won't be disappointing. I am the most companioning person you know. The companioner. The most companionest." Ian made fun of her robot-like speech by completely butchering his own.

Standing up next to Velvet, Ian's head turned with hers as the crashing sound echoed through the forest. "North? Wait a minute. I thought we were heading South! Ugh! Now we have to turn around and head back." Using the spear like a walking stick, he moved only slightly in the opposite direction of Velvet. The direction of the giant growling beast. Pausing he spun 180 degrees on his good foot and started heading North. "Come now Velvet, I told you we should head North." Passing her he began walking up the hill. "Come now don't fall behind, I'm only giving you... twelve seconds."

---

---

Having advanced robotic legs had its perks. For example: running. Rae was very good at it. She caught up to the group in short time, sprinting away from whatever goddamn hell beast was on their tail. She was near the front of the pack when the tremors finally ceased. Rae came to a stop, her breath slowing. She looked around at the other teenagers. Some were scared, others frantic with delight at having outrun a monster. Most were starting to dig into whatever rations they'd scavenged from the crash.

Rae put her hands on top of her head. She had a grand total of two food packs in her oddly supplied bag. A hand dropped to hold the rifle's sling wrapping across her chest. Better to save the food for when she actually needed it. A sharp voice cut through her thoughts.

Her eyes snapped up to see Looney standing at the top of a hill a little ways off, calling for Charlie. Rae's eyebrow twitched up in curiosity. Now what would a psychopath need him for so urgently? Rae started walking towards her. Charlie did too, along with some other boy Rae didn't recognize.

When Rae got to the top of the hill, standing beside the boy, her eyes went wide. It was a tower. She didn't hear whatever it was Charlie said before he turned around and walked back down the hill. She was too busy staring at the undeniable proof that humans were on this planet. Or had been at one point. The boy said something, some awed expletive that Rae didn't catch. But it was enough to bring her back to the present. She turned her head and looked at the remaining two. Then back at the tower.

Her smile shrank and grew wicked. Rae nudged the boy next to her to get his attention. Raising an eyebrow, she nudged her chin in the direction of the tower. With that she started walking down the hill, pulling her rifle to hold it in her hands.

---

---

Kaleb laughed at the challenge, bolting down the hill after the pretty girl. She was faster than him, but he wasn't about to give up so easily. He was still slightly winded from the group's fearful flight from the roars in the forest, but he wasn't about to ditch the chance to run free after almost a year in a cage.

He was eager to see the construct up close, he wanted know more about the people who'd been here, or if they were still here. The girl had issued the challenge, but Kaleb would have ventured down to investigate anyway. It was better to have a friend- or rather someone to watch his back. Technically he wasn't friends with anyone here, but maybe they would all have each other's backs. Kaleb couldn't imagine splitting up, not with things out there like the fanged hell sloth or unknown factions who might be in league with the Quiz. He neither wanted to be eaten or imprisoned, and they all stood better chances together than apart. He hadn't counted, but he was pretty sure they were missing a few people, no doubt lunatics with trust issues. Not that he trusted these guys, they were all criminals after all, but still...

He was startled from his thoughts when something moved in the grass just before him. He was moving too quickly to halt his momentum and instead he leapt over the small creature- or whatever it was, with a cry of; "Fucking hell!" He stumbled to a stop and turned to look, but whatever it was wasn't there anymore. He didn't want to stick around looking like an idiot jumping at shadows, so he shrugged it off, pretending he hadn't seen large eyes and sharp teeth in the dirt, and hurried to regain his previous speed. The girl was much further ahead of him by then, so he called out to her. "How'd ya get so fuckin' fast?" he shouted breathlessly. Robots were slow things (they weren't), having robot legs should make her just as slow (it shouldn't), or so he grumbled to himself internally, despite the obvious major flaws in that logic (technology makes everything better :P).

@c3p-0h

@Wintergrey





Velvet listened to Ian weighing his speech patterns and balancing it with his body language and came to the conclusion that his was a contrived personality self constructed and designed to shield his intentions, fears and motivation.

He for reasons she couldn't yet understand thought playing the madman was a good defensive strategy trouble was that his class clown personality seemed to have infected his primary personality. She herself suffered from personality disorder because of her secondary personality Eris who was an overlay that had been established in her cortex cpu by her former handlers. Unlike Ian though her disorder functioned in protective manner by shielding her against interrogation and even neural probes.

Pulling the compass from between her breasts takes a bearing sight

"It appears that we need to aim towards the hills just ahead." she said pointing towards what was obviously higher terrain that eventually became mountains.

She looks back over her shoulder when the beast cries out once more. "Lead on and I shall follow"

Everett didn't waste time arguing with the others. He crawled his way from the wreckage grabbing what he could on the way out. A crash kit, some food and what he hoped would pass for jacket later on. As he moved around the wreckage, Everett did everything he could to stay out of the sight of the survivors.

For some reason he remembered something about heading North. Was it from... Jay? ?was it from the others? It may not be the smartest thing in the world, sneak off on his own but he wasn't about to hang around with all the murderers, psycos, that was insane! He fully realized the stupidity of that thought.

He did his best stay out of sight, untill he saw something that LOOKED just flat out dangerous, but Everett wasn't gonna stick around to find out. He met its eyes, and locked gaze before turning and running away. Everett was thankful he didn't have run all that far before finding a group of people. "Run mother fuckers! Ruuuuun! Theres a six fucking turkey behind me!" Everett shouted out.

---

---

Rae laughed as she ran, reveling in the feeling of freedom.

"Natural talent," she called over her shoulder at the boy's question, flashing a cheeky smile. Seeing him so far behind her lit her eyes up with satisfaction. Her smirk grew and she pushed herself even faster. She skidded to a stop when she finally found herself before the massive black tower. Her breath came in puffs. Her smile started to fall as an expression of wonder and curiosity took over her face. The outer wall was sleek and shining, climbing impossibly high into the air. Rae stared up at it, trying to make out what could have made it. And why. The boy behind her was all but forgotten. Slowly, Rae raised a hand and reached out. The tips of her fingers touched the solid black material.

The whoosh of something cutting through the air was her only warning as an arrow embedded itself in her left shoulder.

The force of the impact caused her to stumble back, and it was all Rae could do to keep from falling over completely. Stunned, she looked down at herself. A thin, wooden shaft was protruding out of her, just below where her collarbone met her shoulder. Crimson blood was already blooming like a flower on her skin. Rae could only stare at it in stunned silence.

Then the pain registered. It arced like lightening through her body, forcing tears to her eyes. Her mouth dropped open, a strangled sound of pain escaping her. Her right hand reached up to grasp the arrow. The movement was jarring, sending more pain shooting through her. Rae looked up, still in shock, to try and find the source of the attack.

Velvet had at first tried to wait for Ian hoping he'd come to the same conclusion she had and that was to move quickly north but he had become too focused on something outside of present reality and she'd abandoned him to his fate.

Sure it was cold hearted to leave behind a human being suffering from some unknown mental breakdown but survival out weighed compassion. She chose to save herself and seek better chances.

She wasn't an expert in her present terrain but Vel was skilled in Stealth and Concealment and adapted her talent to the natural world. She became a ghost in the thick undergrowth moving with positions to rest briefly and listen for pursuit or whatever was out there before moving to the next.



Velvet caught brief hints that caused her to slow as she came almost in sight of the huge construction in the hidden depression.

She took nearly ten minutes to crawl on her belly to a position where she could begin a survey of an enormous structure.

Fields of fire, observation points, obvious entry points and possible entry points began to be cataloged by the petite brunette as she made a diagram in her mind for reference.

It was while trying to complete her mapping task that Vel is interrupted by a fellow Female prisoner who exposes herself to the structure and adding to Velvet's understanding by being shot with an arrow.

Primary weapon ranged Archery.
Hostile level lethal
Negotiation class unknown
Proceed with observation only

Athena didn't like this; she didn't like it one single bit. It all felt much too... convenient. Even if it was a human structure, why was it so close to where they crashed and why was it abandoned? It still appeared to be in working order and the outside didn't seem to betray any long-past conflict. So there must have been intelligent humans to have made it but where they were was the question that kept hammering into her head. She hated logic but she was a cynical bitch and things rarely, if ever, had good outcomes.

It definitely wasn't supplies but her and Brains were radically different, she supposed. He was a mindless rebel and she was involved in organised crime. Where he united people and saw hope in even the bleakest of times, she took advantage of other's misery and relished in hardship. It was interesting that he even chose to regard her, given the fact that she challenged him to execute one of the other Juvies but then again, she had most of the group's firepower. Her mind was so lost in presumptuous thoughts that she failed to notice Legs and some other kid sprint off down towards the structure. She only began to notice when the screaming started.

It came out of nowhere, a storm birthed from deadly silence and for a brief second, Athena was caught up in the confusion but her mind righted itself and she made sure she was in no immediate danger before reaching for the rifle on her back. Flicking it to an active state, it began to hum with new life as Athena crouched to one knee and peered through the scope, scanning the trees. What she found confused her to no end. A white haired girl, appearing no older than them, was curiously hugging the edge of the trees on the far side of the clearing. What was strange was the bow clutched in her hands. If they had the technology to build the structure in the centre then why the hell would they need bows?

The girl paused, fixed her bow round onto her back and reaching for her hip, produced a large tusk that apparently was also a horn of sorts, given the loud noise that echoed through the forests. Athena had a sneaking suspicion that they were about to become heavily outnumbered with no strategic advantage whatsoever. Aka, they were heavily fucked.

Growling, she kept her eye locked on the scope and watched as the white haired huntress put away her horn and produced a mean looking knife before advancing forward, directly towards her fallen hunt. "Fuck! We're never fucking listening to J again! Go North he said! We could have fucking stayed at the ship and standed a chance!" She burst out suddenly, throwing the rifle to the ground and turning in disbelief.

She knew what she had to do, she just didn't want to do it. Mainly because she didn't give a shit about what happened to Legs. "Brains, take the rifle. If that bitch tries to kill us, make sure to leave a sizable hole in her chest."

Ducking down, she made certain of the presence of Leg's knife before she set off down the hill, moving at the same pace as the white haired huntress. When she reached the kid who had run down after Legs, she pointed back to where the others had gathered in silent command and moved onwards, a frown setting on her face.

She reached Legs before the huntress did but the girl seemed to stop anyways, her head tilting in silent confusion as Athena took her place over the fallen Juvie. "Unless you want to die. Don't even fucking breath." She whispered down to the girl who she had previously threatened to kill. She hated doing the exact opposite of what she originally intended. It was bad for her image.

Turning, she regarded the curious girl once more. "We mean you no harm. My friend here had no intention to offend." She murmured, her voice soft and reasonable. The girl didn't respond at all and only turned her eyes towards a spot in the treeline. Other horns suddenly sounded, quite a lot of other horns, and within a few seconds the treeline was full of warriors of all shapes and sizes. One thing seemed to unite them, however - they all looked violent and particularly angry. They must have easily outnumbered them twenty to one but that didn't interest Athena. What interested Athena was the beast of a man that was advancing on them by horseback, his bare chest exposing a gallery of tattoos and scars. He would have been hot if it wasn't for the monstrosity that followed behind him - the beast from earlier.

It all happened so god damn fast. One second, Rey was charging down the hill, followed by a boy, the next, she was on the ground with an arrow in her shoulder. A fucking arrow! He tried to call out to Athena, stop her from heading down but to no avail. He hefted the rifle up and peered through the scope. He steadied his breathing, trying to calm himself down. A crowd was gathering behind him and he didn't need them panicking. He watched as behemoth of a man rode out on a horse to most likely murder Athena and Rey. And then the situation go ten times worse when he noticed the monster that was following the man like a dog. Are you fucking serious? He slowed his breathing again and focused the rifle on the man. He was aware of the warriors gathering at the treeline but he'd be damned if he went down without taking out their leader.

As Velvet watched the odd example of territorialism between dominatrix and local savage. She grew uneasy when the stranger blew a signal horn knowing it was time to crab in. So by the time the summoned horde appeared Velvet was beneath a layer of leaves hidden under a stiff bush at the base of a tree.

Three men stood within 20 meters of her hiding place, the closest 8 meters.

This was their familiar ground of course but the hadn't come expecting to track but attack and The little freckled faced former operative was an expert at concealing herself and in this natural environment found the possibilities limitless.

So like the bunny for who Velvet is named she stays still and silent amidst foxes trusting their distraction to occlude her presence.

While she hides she uses her time to reflect on her past experience here and comes to the conclusion that because the calls of the huge beast causing not a stir among the three males near then it is known to them or in their control and in either case a sign that they 'd been driven into a trap.

Dam the probability of survival had taken a strange turn for the better given Intel, time and rapid adaption or a nose dive if she were discovered at this tense junction. So to increase her options Vel drifted into a meditative state to slow breathing and still her body in a statue like state.

---

A chase away from who knows what, was not what this girl had assumed would happen when they were on earth. She imagined a great, pieceful mass, that would await them. It would greet them with open arms, and they would once again settle in. A breath of fresh air from the harsh ways the space station had.

She definitely got her,'breath of fresh air,' and also a splash of cold, and harsh reality, after being sent down to earth as if she was some sort of lab rat. Either way, she was super exited about it, but know she was down on the ground, it made her hate the ark more and more.

The first thing she did was run out onto the earth and decided that she would go with the group who was actually going to follow the advice the chief had given them. She went not because it was the right thing, but because her curiosity took over. She wanted to know more about what was out there, what it looked like, and most importantly she wanted to expldeadly.

A simple discission, that became deadly.

They went north, like they had said to, and instead they ended up being prey to some huge hairy beast. Almost everyone ran including Aly. She ran as fast as she could not looking behind her. She wasn't sure if anyone was following her or if she was alone. She didn't like the fact she could be alone and didnt want to confirm something like that.

Aly ran as fast as she could. She did her best to fight the earths wilderness, which slowed her down a lot, but refused to give up. Tiredness and fear, overcame her at the moment, never a great combination.

She tripped over a stick, landing on her hands and knees, she huffed, "Fuck!" She mumbled to herself between her heavy breaths. She layer there waiting for a moment. She expected something but there was nothing. She wasn't sure what exactly she was expecting, but it was far from nothing. Maybe some help, or maybe screams or shouts, or being teared to shreds. It wasn't till she caught her breath she realized how little she payed attention to her surroundings.

She layed on the ground for a few seconds before she reached out and grabbed a decent, stable stick and swung it around, but there was nothing there. Aly felt slightly embarrised even though she assumed there was no one there for real. She wiped of her knees and her elbows, finishing off by wiping her hands together. She eyed the stick and picked it up. She thought that she might as well use it as a weapon in case she came in contact with some other dangerous creature.

She held it in her hand as she took another step toward, followed by many more. She was more catious of her surroundings. She walked for a few when she heard the voices of the others. She let the stick fall to the ground and jogged over to where they were coming from.