Homecoming . . .

[gale_force]

The Embryon's strategist is currently perched on the edge of a Convenient Nexus Landmark, nursing a purchased cup of tea*. All manner of glimmering coinage from countless worlds coats the bottom of the landmark's fountain; Gale's hard put to find many he recognizes in the mix. He digs some change from his pocket, and flicks a penny in. Superstition

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[teradyne]

And lo and behold, there's Argilla picking her way through the crowd. One new gun is strapped into a holster at her hip, brushing up against her gray skirt-

Wait, gray?

A second look shows that she's dusted off the Embryon's old junkyard uniform in favor of this mission. She seems a little unsteady, although whether it's because of what she's wearing or where they're headed is anyone's guess.

"Gale, I'm all set. I managed to get a side arm for this, so we won't be unarmed or get slowed down by any heavy weaponry." Much as she'd like to bring her rifle, she can understand that it could be a hindrance.

[gale_force]

Ah, the unmistakable pink hair. He wasn't expecting to see Argilla in her uniform, though. The thought crossed his own mind to pull his set out of storage, but going back to the Junkyard is enough for him; there's a certain comfort to wearing his 'real' clothes for this expedition. Not that his attire is that much of a deviation from his uniform -- sturdy, grey fatigues, a black microfiber shirt, boots (with concealed knives), and a shoulder holster for the Beretta he purchased last year. Oh, yes, the hood, too.

"Very good. Again, I doubt we will meet any resistance." He knocks back the last of his tea and tosses the cup into a nearby trash can.

As he moves back towards Argilla, he begins programming coordinates into his PINpoint. Seems someone isn't aware that there's more to the entourage than he and Argilla.

[teradyne]

At the moment Argilla is hoping that the group will be limited to just them, and that they'll be able to PINpoint out before anyone else shows up. This would explain why she keeps glancing over her shoulder and scanning the Nexus.

"I'm hoping for the same thing. Still, I don't want to go in without being prepared for the worse. No telling if there aren't any A-" she cuts off before saying the word 'AI' "a-antagonistic forces there." Ugh, that sounded weird.

[gale_force]

Once all interested parties are making some physical contact with Gale, he activates his PINpoint. Cue a flash of light and the usual drop of the stomach.

It might take a few moments for eyes to adjust; the Nexus looked bright in comparison to their destination. Before the Embryon, stretches the familiar wash of midtone grey and shadow that signals a return to the simulated battlefield. Despite the overcast sky, there's a notable lack of precipitation. Dry as a bone.

And it's quiet. A very loud kind of quiet.

Gale watches his fellows curiously as he pockets his PINpoint.

(( Just moving right along. If Roland and Argilla want to finish anything up in the above thread, go right ahead. :3 ))

[water_crown]

Serph's reaction produces mixed feelings. The familiar landscape seems to produce a good reaction... For a moment, he seems more relaxed and natural. More at home than in those cities inhabited by countless people who don't live for war, superiority and right to paradise. The Junkyard is what he was born for. This is where he should be.

Several seconds later, however, he seems to realize that there is something very wrong. Disappointment slowly settles in while Serph looks around the group, and finally raises his head to look into the sky. When he speaks, his voice is blank and almost upset.

"It doesn't rain."

[teradyne]

Argilla squints as the lights die down, trying to figure out where exactly they are. For a moment she can't figure out where the ground is; everything blurs together into a long mess of grey shapes

[gale_force]

Gale walks briskly, winding around rubble and cresting embankments that might have, at one time, made fine trenches. Despite having visited a few times already, Gale is very aware of the tautness in his nerves -- they'd never be walking this openly during the actual war.

Up and over a few more rises, and the fissure that is Muladhara stretches perpendicular to their approach. 'Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home'? It certainly doesn't look like it's changed much aside from being less damp. The orange lights are still glowing softly -- something to drive away the deep shadows and illuminate the writhing forms of the relief sculpture scattered on various walls.

The elevator is already in place, and Gale wordlessly, patiently waits inside.

[teradyne]

Argilla peers over the side of the canyon lip, down into the lower levels and caves that used to belong to them.

...Or maybe they still do; no one else is here to challenge that claim. Argilla bites her lower lip as she keeps staring down, wondering if their little group really do have a right to this place.

And what it means for them if they do chose to take it.

She abruptly forces her eyes shut and turns away from the drop off before she lets herself open them again. That's when she spots Gale and Heat waiting in the elevator. She makes her way over to it, and ducks inside the cage.

"Feels strange, doesn't it?" She asks, and restlessly shifts her weight from one foot to the other. "Almost like coming home-" Her teeth click together after saying that. Of all the things to talk about in order to keep the silence held back, that wasn't something she wanted or meant to say.

[water_crown]

Serph walks into the elevator last. It takes a little more time for him to take in the sights of Muladhara from afar... Gather just enough confidence that it's real and will be waiting for them once they move down the elevator. Their base in the Junkyard. The place they struggled to leave before, and which he's relieved to come back to now.

"Because it is home." He speaks up once he's in place. After some consideration, he adds. "Our hometown, at least."

He found that definition in one of Gale's books. Hometown not as a place where one lives, but as a place where one was born and grew up, only to leave as age took its toll. Considering Muladhara's status in their lives, it seemed like a fitting description.

[Cielo-Argilla-Gale]

[ziohazard]

Cielo has gone quiet in the conversation, both out of disinterest in what the other Embryon are talking about and the fact that he's lagging behind. He walks slowly, arms linked behind his head, feet shuffling along the concrete.

He sucks in a deep breath and, just at that point where he was about to let it out, he hears a rather familiar jingle of a bell. And then, little padding footsteps. Then...

'Mrowr...?'

There's a kitty in the Junkyard! A black cat with one silver ear and a collar around its neck.

"Ey dere little bro..." Cielo makes an abrupt turn down another corridor, following de cat.

[teradyne]

Argilla mimics Serph, if only because that means she doesn't have to actually look at anyone. She also scans the upper rim of Muladhara, looking up at the lifeless sky before going back down to glance at the pillars and corridors...

...And sees Cielo duck into one.

"Hey, hold up!" She starts towards it right as Cielo disappears from view, and gives a frustrated noise. "I'll go find him. It isn't good for any of us to wander around alone right now." Following that, Argilla does a very uncharacteristic thing; she doesn't wait for confirmation or agreement. Instead, she breaks into a jog and also vanishes around the corner.

[gale_force]

Gale glances between Serph and Heat before turning to see Argilla's retreating figure. He addresses his leader. "I should follow; I will return shortly."

He's more than a little curious as to why that cat is here again. He follows Argilla and Cielo at a more leisurely pace. He's never understood Cielo's fascination with the small, furry creatures. Hm. Troublesome.

[ziohazard]

Once the others go around the corner, they'll see Cielo plopped in the middle of the corridor with de kitty. The blue-haired boy smiles and holds the cat in the crook of his left arm, scratching behind its ears with his right.

"Aww... jus' like old times, eh li' bro? We sure pulled a fast one on Gale and his guards, ja!" Cielo laughs, then looks up to see Argila closely followed by Gale.

"Oooh hey again, you guys!"

[Heat+Whoever else decides to come]

[water_crown]

One familiar face is still around, though. A familiar grey figure emerges from around the corner that leads into the strategy room, probably attracted by Heat's screaming. As usual, Serph seems cool and focused. Nothing can devastate that shield.

He raises his hand to show it to Heat, and cants his head to the side curiously. Of course, he has a tag ring on him. Serph never abandoned it, even after leaving the Junkyard.

[water_crown]

Because Serph and Heat are connected with a pretty orange string of carnage, power and conflicting methods. Such is their karma. God has such a twisted sense of humor, after all.

Serph isn't sure giving Heat explosives is good at the moment... But then, he wants to see if his tag ring works in this new Junkyard as well. He nods and follows Heat into the vendor room, his hand rising in preparation of the ring.

The ring's smooth black surface easily slides into the keyhole on the panel. A simple turn of his wrist, and there's an audible click. Suddenly, multiple panels slide out of the room's walls and floor. Weapons, ammunition, medicine. Everything a Junkyard soldier could wish for.

Serph smiles faintly. He missed doing this.