Mysterious Circumstances (pm to discuss joining)

[slippedhalo]

Kate smiled enigmatically and shrugged.

April smiled, knowing by now that Kate wasn't usually this 'hands off' and respecting her for having the self control to allow them to figure this all out for themselves without her input so they could learn to work together and find their strengths. She was getting the point of all of this even if the others didn't. Taking off her pack, she peered inside. "Ration bars, dried fruit and nut packs, and water packs." She announced.

The others looked into their packs and found the same. They unpacked enough for lunch and made places to sit in a sunny spot.

Kate checked the time on her arm implant. "Yes, it's a quarter to one." She said. "Erik, your stomach can tell the time well." She joked.

 

[Othermoose]

Erik laughed loudly. "It's one of my many talents." He joked popping a handful of mixed nits into his mouth. Erik looked around the group and saw that everyone was eating except for Austin. Erik caught April's eye and nodded at the teen, who was currently lying face up in the grass next to April, staring at the sky.

 

[slippedhalo]

April shoved a dried apricot into Austin's mouth and the look in her eyes when he moved to spit was very clearly an order to eat. She would not watch him starve.

Kate didn't act as if she'd noticed and instead discussed the beautiful cattle in the dome with Nat (but she'd noticed).

 

[Othermoose]

Austin begrudgenly ate the apricot, chewing it slowly. He was about to complain about it when an idea struck him. He smirked at April before opening his mouth widely, giving her a look that said: "you're going to have to feed me."

 

[slippedhalo]

April sighed and rolled her eyes whispering, "Child!" at him but still feeding him fruits and nuts one after another. In between, she took bites herself as well until he fed her back.

Natalia saw the couple feeding each other, all lovely dovey, and made a finger gagging throat motion to Erik which got both of them laughing together.

Kate concentrated on her own lunch, missing David. "I wonder how the others are doing in their educations." She commented.

Natalia realized how Kate must feel like an extra wheel. "David is probably doing great." She said, trying to sound encouraging. "I bet he misses you too." She added.

Kate smirked. "Too...Yes." She said, nibbling some almond.

 

[Othermoose]

Austin smiled as he and April fed each other. He was feeling happy until he heard Erik and Natalia laughing. His face fell back into its usual scowl. He flipped off Erik and Natalia before getting up. He walked several yards away from the group, making sure he was out of hearing range, before he laid back down in the grass, with his back to them. He still wasn't really comfortable with public displays of affection. He loved April, but he felt vulnerable showing any emoting besides anger. "Why can't I just be normal." Austin thought angrily, feeling unworthy of being with April again.

 

[slippedhalo]

April rose from her spot and followed Austin. "Come back, They're in a good mood and just teasing. They're not seriously making fun of anyone." She said. "Besides, I want to make sure you eat well. Please, come back. We need to all stick together. There's dangerous stuff around."

 

[Othermoose]

Austin reached up and grabbed April's hand before gently pulling her down onto the grass next to him. "I don't want to go back." He said wrapping his arms around April, trying to ignore the thought that the rest of the group was watching him. "Lets just stay over here until we have to leave again." He said quietly.

 

[slippedhalo]

April kissed Austin but then sneaked a dried piece of banana into his mouth, relaxing against his body as she chuckled. "You're stubborn, noise puzzle genius." But, in his ear she added in a whisper, "...But, I love you anyway."

Kate finished her lunch and tried not to miss David as she and the other two talked animatedly about European culture, all purposefully trying to give April and Austin a bit of privacy even though they weren't more than twelve feet away.

 

[Othermoose]

Austin smiled and kissed April back. "I love you too." He whispered before he kissed her again more deeply. "And don't worry about Kate. Even if she wasn't with David, I'd still want you." Austin said hugging April closer to himself.

 

[slippedhalo]

April was glad to hear that. "Good. Because I like her. I don't want to have to tear her head off." April joked.

Natalia and Erik had finished lunch. Kate had also. As they packed up their things, April noticed. "I think it's time to pack up and go to the next part of the test." She said.

 

[Othermoose]

"Alright." Austin said, kissing April before standing up. He helped April to her feet and they returned to the group. Once everyone was ready and packed up, Erik took the lead walking in the direction of the cave. "So what's the plan, guys?" Erik asked the group as they walked.

 

[slippedhalo]

April moved up toward the head of the group, looking at the entrance thoroughly, light in hand. "I don't see any traps. I guess we go in. Somebody forego flashlight and aim rifle over my shoulder as we walk, ok?"

 

[Othermoose]

"I got you." Said Erik walking up beside April, with his rifle at the ready. Austin moved up to April's other side, his rifle also raised. The group entered the dark cave, going slowly forward. After a few uneventful minutes of going deeper into the cave Erik whispered: "maybe this is the wrong cave? I haven't..." He was cut off by a loud growl ahead of them. April's light showed a turn in the tunnel. "I guess what we're after is around that bend." Erik whispered. "You guys ready?" He asked, checking his rifle.

 

[slippedhalo]

The group moved forward slowly but efficiently. Both men flanking petite yet brave April made sense. Kate and Natalia took up the back. They could still see over April's head, so the formation was strong and made sense.

The growl was alarming, though.

Around the corner they saw glowing eyes and sharp teeth. "Blimey!" Exclaimed April as she shined her light beam on the creature...

 

[Othermoose]

April's light shined to reveal a smiling human face. It's red eyes shined cruelly as it opened its mouth to reveal sharp and jagged teeth. Natalia and Kate's lights revealed the creature's bat wings and large feline body, covered in spikes, leading down to its spiked tail. The creature roared in rage at being disturbed before whipping its tail forward. Several spikes flew off of its tail and flew towards April.

Austin jumped forward, tackling April to the ground as the spikes flew past her. Austin screamed in pain as on of the spikes inbedded itself into his thigh. Erik ran forward and began firing at the creature, narrowly dodging its tail spikes and claws. "Die motherfucker!" Erik shouted as his bullets tore through the creature's hide.

The creature screeched in pain before pouncing on Erik. He fell to the ground under the creature's weight, his rifle clattering to the ground out of his reach. "I'd rather get killed by the dragon." Erik thought bitterly as the creature prepared to rip his head off with its teeth.

 

[slippedhalo]

Kate put her light in her pocket as she reached for her rifle but shooting in the darkness only got the beast a clipped wing and a swearing former nun.

Natalia dropped her light, picked up a fallen rifle and shot the beast in the head. It hit the ground between Erik and the pile of Austin on April with a heavy, lifeless, thud.

April crawled out from beneath Austin and looked at his wounded leg, "I'll get out the first aid kit. Anyone else hurt? Can somebody quickly sweep the area? Make sure there's no more of those nasty buggers."

 

[Othermoose]

Austin looked down at the spike protruding from his thigh. It was black, and he could see about six inches of it before it disappeared into his leg. He reached down, and pulled the foot long spike out of his leg, with a loud hiss of pain. Austin watched his blood drip off of the black skewer. He couldn't help himself as he took a taste of his blood, before sliding the spike into his pocket. Austin tried to get up, but he screamed in pain before falling back down. "I can't walk, April." He groaned in pain.

Erik laid on the floor, dazed and shocked to be alive. "Fuck, that's my second near death experience today." He groaned standing up. He picked his rifle up and looked around the cave for any sign of more monsters. After a moment Erik called out: "it's all clear guys! No more monsters." He said walking towards the large box at the end of the cave. He opened it to reveal five matching scuba suits and five spear guns. "Great, Sea monsters. That's all we need." He thought lifting the crate and carrying it over to the group. "I've got the gear." Erik said watching April tend to Austin.

 

[slippedhalo]

Making their way across the densely forested island toward the area the map indicated they should go was a long, arduous journey with both men not at their best because of wounds. By the time they'd gotten to the coast, they were all in need of a break before donning the gear.

Kate informed, "I can go in with you but I'm not allowed to perform the tasks necessary to complete the test. Austin, you're staying on the beach. Natalia, you should at least go out in the water with them, you can be the last relay person if you aren't confident diving."

April turned to Erik, "Do you feel good about going down there with me? You Up to the task?" She asked, as she zipped up her scuba suit.

 

[Othermoose]

Erik nodded to April pulling on his suit. "Yea, I've got this handled." He said picking up his harpoon. "I just hope we don't need to use these." He said before slipping his mask on. Erik stepped into the water and walked forward. The water rose to his knees, but didn't get much deeper. He continued to walk forward for several yards until he fell forward, disappearing under the water. Erik's head popped up a moment later. He pulled his mask of and shouted: "there's a ledge here, watch your step! It gets deep after you step off!" Erik pulled his mask back on and waited for the others to join him.

 

[slippedhalo]

Kate patted Austin's shoulder. "We'll keep in contact. I'll open a channel. You keep watch to make sure nothing surprises us on the way out." She explained before tapping her ear bud to open a comm link between all of them, putting on her mask, and joining the other three in the water.

Nat and Kate swam out with April and Erik but stayed near the ledge, treading water. April dove down with Erik and they began searching. The water had been Crystal clear in the shallower area, but beyond the ledge it got darker and murky.

April spotted an unusual color lodged behind a yellow brown coral patch, it was pink. "Pink? That doesn't seem like a naturally occurring object. Let's get closer to investigate." April said to Erik via the intercom link they were sharing. Hearing her own voice in her ear felt very odd. It would take some getting used to, all these new technologies.

 

[Othermoose]

Erik swam towards the pink shape. As he got closer he realized that it was a large orb, big enough that Erik estimated he could just barely wrap his arms around. "How the hell are we going to move that thing? I can probably lift it, but it'll be a bitch to swim with." He said into his intercom, as he swam closer.

Once Erik was a few feet away from the orb, he felt a hand tap his shoulder. He turned around, expecting to see April, but instead saw a beautiful, and quite naked, mermaid. Her upper body was pale and lightly muscled, a flat stomach leading up to a pair of large breasts. Her face seemed innocent and playful, her green eyes sparkling mischievously through a halo of blonde hair. "Um, guys? There's a mermaid down here. What should I do?" Erik asked eyeing her long purple tail as is lazily swished through the water.

 

[slippedhalo]

April moved closer to the mermaid, hovering nearby, hiding behind some water plants, weapon drawn, just in case. "I've got her in my sights, Erik. Try communicating if you wish. I'll shoot her through the head if she makes any wrong moves." April announced to the group and him, via intercom.

 

[Othermoose]

"Um, hello there. My name is Erik. Can you understand me?" He asked the mermaid, his intercom projecting his voice through the water. She turned her head curiously at Erik's voice. She replied with a voice that sounded half like singing and half like a fish's bloop. "Can you understand what she's saying Austin?" Erik asked spoke into his intercom as it broadcasted the mermaid's voice to the rest of the team. "No. I'm not the fucking Rosetta Stone." Austin growled back, obviously worried about April.

Erik looked at the mermaid again before patting his chest. "Erik." He said. She turned her head curiously before copying his movements and singing a soft note followed by two bloops. Erik tried to imitate the sound she made but failed. She seemed amused by his trying to match her speech patterns and made a sound that seemed to be her version of laughter.

"April I think she's ok. Come over here and meet her, she seems harmless." Erik spoke into his intercom. He held in a laugh as the mermaid swam closer to him and began curiously poking at his legs.

 

[slippedhalo]

April tried singing the notes she heard which made the mermaid smile but shake her head. She continued curiously poking Erik' s legs.

Kate had an idea. She swam away from the ledge, toward the shore, "Natalia, stay there and keep your post." She ordered. "Austin, come out here, please. I think you can use the silver box and my left arm as your instruments. Try to see if you can translate this recording, please."