Closed;

[donkeyballs]

» WHO? Alex, Amos, Naomi, Bobbie, Prax
» WHEN? Day 8 and catchall for may
» WHERE? Wandering around the Station
» WHAT? The crew of the Roci goes hunting for their missing members
» WARNINGS? Alex is going to get stuck in a door and there might be some violence initiated to try to get him out. Also: Catchall for other Roci crew threads. 


It felt a hell of a lot better, to have the three of them all together. Amos had a few days alone, and Alex was all too glad that hadn't been him. He'd only had a day to wonder how the hell he got there and where the rest of his crew was, before he found Amos. Then a couple days later they'd found Naomi. He was confident, now, that it was only a matter of time before they found the others - Holden and Prax. The cap and the plant guy. Alex hadn't even noticed when Prax had officially become someone he counted as crew. As family. It didn't matter. He was, now. And that meant that Alex was just as keen on finding him as he was on finding Holden.

He wanted to find the Roci, too, but he didn't have a hell of a lot of hope, for that one. Whoever or whatever had brought them here didn't seem too eager to give them a way out. He hated it - hated the idea that he was separated from her, that he didn't know where she was or who had her - but right now Holden and Prax were more important. Once they were all together, they could work on getting the ship back.

They'd started with the top floor and worked their way down. No door was left unopened (when they would open at all), no proverbial stone unturned. Despite the fact that they'd gone through a few floors, now, Alex was undeterred. They could still find them. And even if they didn't, that didn't mean they weren't on the station. Apollo's image had made it clear there was a hell of a lot more to this place than they had access to. So maybe they were being held somewhere else. But that didn't mean they weren't gonna try.

"Alright, I'll take this row," He said amiably, as if calling sides in a game of foot ball, walking towards a row of doors. He tried to open the first one, locked, and went for the next. "Anyone want to lay bets for what sort of person we accidentally walk in on, next?"

Comments

[tumang]

Problem was, Amos was getting more and more certain that whoever they'll accidentally walk on, it won't be either Holden, or Prax. The thought is not a happy one, nor one he wants to have, but it's logical. It doesn't make sense, that they wouldn't be around yet when the three of them had found each other the way they did, almost by mistake. If Holden and Prax are in stasis somewhere on the station, Amos doubts it's behind one of the unlocked doors, and if they are awake, how did they not see them yet? The station isn't that big.

But Alex has to hold on to something, and Amos, for now, won't be the one to tear him down. Not yet.

"Well, I'm personally hoping for some porn, man. It's been dreadfully boring so far."

[tekimetexeng]

Amos isn't the only one having doubts about this search. She'll keep plugging along, because she's fairly certain Holden and Prax must be here somewhere, but most people had woken up in corridors or common areas, and with the time gaps between the three of them... it seems a lot to Naomi like folks are being held in stasis and dumped out at their kidnappers' whim. Their time would likely be better spent trying to get into a sealed area, but she hasn't had any luck there so. At least this search is doing something. Occupying them in some way, and keeping Alex's spirits up.

"Just be careful, boys. This level is quarters too so maybe knock before risking getting punched in the face. No way of telling which ones are occupied."

[donkeyballs]

Alex chuckled at the porn comment, though he kept his agreement to himself, what with present company included.

Alex didn't even necessarily believe that they'd find them. He just knew he had to try. And if they didn't, he'd keep trying. Every damn day, until he found them. Because he couldn't wrap his head around the idea that the three of them could be there without the other two. It just didn't make sense to him.

And he wasn't about to give up on them now.

However, he actually seemed almost cheerful, in the way he went about it - the weight of his worry not present in his tone, or in the way he walked. It was far more calculated than the other two might assume. He saw it as part of his duty, to his crew - keep the mood light, when he could. It seemed to help. So he was doing it now.

"Don't worry, boss, I ain't out to get punched." To prove it, he knocked on a door, waiting for a few seconds. It didn't look like one of the quarters - a little bigger. Maybe off into a different section? So after a few seconds with no answers, he went to open it.

"No luck. This one's locked t--" He cut off abruptly. He'd just pushed a little hard on it - just to see if he could dislodge it - when suddenly the metal was like liquid and he stumbled forward, hands slipping into it like molten lead.

"What in the bleedin' hell--!"

[tumang]

It took Amos barely a second after Alex's strangled curse to be by his side, dropping everything immediately at the words and rushing over, only to see Alex with his arms up to his elbows in the door.

"What the - Naomi!"

He reached out, tugging at one of Alex's arms none too gently.

"How?" Following down along Alex's arm, he felt around the door, the metal completely closed around Alex, like it had been melted to fit around his skin. But the door was smooth, not burning, melted marks. It just fit snug against Alex's forearms. "Shit. Shit, if I had a welding torch - I'm gonna pull, 'kay?"

Without waiting much for an answer from anyone, Amos wrapped both hands around one of Alex's arms and pulled, hard, in the hopes it'd be enough to dislodge his arm...

[tekimetexeng]

'What the' is right, assuming it precedes 'fuck,' which Naomi is too startled to say herself when she turns to see what's happened to Alex. Doors are not supposed to do that. They're all solid metal, as far as she's seen, you can't just pass through it. And it already seemed firm again, if Amos' pulling was any indication.

She rushes back over, reaching out to press her own hand to the door. Cold and impassable, which means even if he does have some slip, Alex's hands are stuck on the other side. Pulling is probably a terrible idea. "--Amos, wait, you'll hurt him!"

But he's also right, they don't have any tools. They'll have to figure out what caused the door to lose integrity... some kind of phase shift? This isn't exactly her area of expertise.

hijacks this log

[marineris]

Bobbie isn't necessarily settling in, but she's trying to get into some sort of routine so her life feels a bit more regimented. Naturally, the gym is the first place she goes, because working out is the easiest way for her to clear her head. She can shut her thoughts down for a while, and right now, she needs it. Besides, she's sure things are going to go sideways sooner rather than later, and she can't get soft just because she's in a tough spot.

She doesn't expect to see Amos there, but maybe she should have. It pulls her up short for a second. She's in an odd limbo with the crew of the Rocinante. They got off to a rough start, and whatever understanding they had before she wound up here still felt tenuous. Now that's all moot because they don't even remember her, and she's not sure how to handle that.

Then again, Amos still has to answer for that flag.

"Burton. Come here."

[tumang]

Amos has been, you know, minding his own business. Going through his routine, early morning or late night workouts when the gym was mostly quiet and not full of people trying to decide how they were going to drain the pool.

He doesn't really care to help that particular mission, and he likes quiet when he works out. He doesn't really expect to be called out, either - especially not by someone he doesn't know. It rapidly clicks in his head, the 'gunny' he'd been talking to on the network, that seemed to know him and the Roci. He still has no idea how or why she knows them, especially when he takes her in now and immediately pegs her as military, from the way she stands to the way she's done her hair. Gunny.

Man, these military types are original.

He doesn't know why she's calling him over but call it curiosity, he walks over without hesitation, pushing back from the machine he'd been working on and stepping closer.

"Bobbie, right?"

[marineris]

"Yep."

To be honest, Bobbie isn't that angry about the flag anymore. This is more an obligation than anything else, and so when she throws the punch, aimed at his jaw, it's a quick one and done. She doesn't even throw all of her strength behind it. It probably still hurts.

"That's for the Martian flag on the bulkhead."

[tumang]

The punch comes out of nowhere, surprising and sudden. It does hurt, thank you very much, and Amos is knocked back a step, hand coming up to cup his jaw, brain rattled as he takes in the attack. It's quite obvious that she's completely calm.

He looks up, moving his bottom jaw from side to side as he straightens back up. He's got two options - one, punch back, start a brawl that he could be losing easily, especially since now he knows that she's a Martian Marine. Honestly, the idea is tempting, but it would be more interesting if her heart was actually in it, like that time with Miller. Option two, let it go, listen to Alex's voice in his head. After all, he kinda deserved it.

Or, actually, he could pick option three.

"You didn't even try that hard. Can't be that patriotic, can you?"

hijacks this again

[marineris]

[A few days after arriving, Bobbie ignores Alex's warning and heads to the bar. The booze might be awful, sure, but marines aren't known for being picky about their liquor. She's surprised to see Alex sitting at the bar for all his complaining, and of course she heads over and plops down next to him.]

Hey, sailor. Decided to suck it up, huh?

[donkeyballs]

Hey there, gunny.

[He looks up to see her, an honest smile spreading across his face as he shuffles a little to make sure she's got room.]

Look, I said it was terrible. Didn't say I didn't drink it every night anyway. [He reaches over to a bottle that was half empty, and grabbed her a glass, too.]

This one only takes like piss that's three days old, rather than a week.

[marineris]

[She smiles back, raising her eyebrows.]

Sounds like premium stuff to me. Top me up.

[donkeyballs]

[ He chuckled, pouring her a glass and then filling his own again, before setting the bottle to the side. He raised his glass, holding it out towards her.]

To gettin' off this rust bucket.

[ Somehow. ]

> > Bobbie and Miller

[donkeyballs]

"There's one person here from our system I don't think you've met yet," Alex was saying as he towelled the sweat off his neck, stepping off the resistance machine. Muscles were important, in low gee, and he was usually pretty good at keeping up some of his exercise, but he had to admit that between Raleigh and Bobbie he was getting a lot better at keeping on top of it.

Even if it meant he was sore all the damn time.

And his arm was still broken, so it was mostly just the machines that worked on his lets, but. Same difference.

"Probably should introduce you guys. Actually, lemme see if I can raise him on the comms." It was always a bit of an awkward shuffle to do this around the sling, but he kept the bracelet on his broken arm and carefully pressed the buttons with his good one, until it called out to miller. As soon as he heard the connection go through, he started talking.

"Hey, cowboy. You met Bobbie, yet?"

[pampa]

Miller doesn't do much of... much since arriving here. The call startles him out of a doze, reaching over the necklace on his floor to grab up the communicator. Guess he didn't make it to the bed.

"I've never even seen a cow." So he's definitely not a cowboy okay Alex chill. His voice sounds awful, like corrugated cardboard; and then he clears his throat. It doesn't really improve, just gets raspier. "Who or what is a Bobbie?"

[marineris]

Bobbie can't help but instinctively consider anyone from their solar system part of their team, because there are so few of them here, so she waits patiently while Alex connects. Her eyebrows go up at Miller's voice, and then go up even farther at his question.

"I'm a Bobbie. You sound like someone just finished strangling you."

[donkeyballs]

"That makes two of us." Cowboy still applied, get used to it, Miller.

He glances at Bobbie when she speaks, and can't help but agree with her, and so adds: "Yeah, you sound like hell. You eaten yet?"

[oorah]

[ after seeing the post on the network and alex's reply, frank had gone into panic mode. on the way from deck three he managed to contact alex, bobbie and kenzi in hopes of getting to the bottom of this. he has an idea of where the clinic is and so he heads directly for that end of the corridor, disengaging the magnets in his boots so he can walk lighter and quicker. bobbie seemed to think he was being dramatic, but kenzi had agreed with him that this guy probably wanted to murder alex, so??? he's not taking any chances.

frank draws his knife and flattens himself on one side of the door, about to storm in when he spots bobbie coming the other way. his eyes grab hold of her, motioning for her to take the other side of the doorway which is, of course, the second it opens. alex spills out and he forgets his rage for the moment, his kabar going back to the strap on his ankle so he can reach out for the other man. a heavy hand connects with his good shoulder and he drags him farther out into the hallway, a concerned gaze assessing him for damage. ]

What the hell happened in there, man?

[ usually he'd just go in and take care of alucard the old fashioned way. but this ship meant... giving people a chance. he's not great at it, but he seems to be willing to hear alex out despite his firm hold on him. ]

[marineris]

[Bobbie isn't quite in panic mode, because she thinks Alex can handle himself. That doesn't mean she doesn't consider that entire conversation to be both insanely weird and a terrible decision on Alex's part, and she's opening her mouth to ask Frank what his plan even is when Alex appears. Before she can ask if he's okay, Frank is dragging him out, which is a hell of an overreaction in her book.]

Hey, easy. Give him some space.

[donkeyballs]

[ Alex had been deep in his own thoughts when he stepped out the door, and he hadn't been expecting an ambush - so he looked genuinely shocked when suddenly he was pulled out into the hallway.

He looked fine, for the most part. A little more pale, a little more tired. And there was a bandage at his throat.

Still, he rolled his shoulder out from under Frank's hand, glancing quickly between him and Bobbie as if he could figure out exactly what the hell was going on here.]

I told ya. I just donated a bit of blood. Christ, Frank, what the hell are you doin' out here? [ He looked at Bobbie with an expression that clearly read "tell me he didn't talk you into this."]

[oorah]

[ bobbie's words register late, but he doesn't grab for alex again when the man shrugs him off. he seems... okay, which is the only thing that visibly starts to calm him, but his heart is still racing. ]

That's what I was going to ask you, partner. [ alex doesn't get to be upset that he's worried about this!!! holy shit. his fingers reach out, touching gently along alex's jaw to get him to move his head so frank can see the bandage. ] What were you thinking?

the day after alex's "donation"

[tekimetexeng]

As much as she'd hate to admit it, Naomi is starting to settle into a routine of sorts. Sleep and wake, eat and exercise, teach the non-space engineers about space things... and a daily sweep of the station, checking every corridor and locked door. That last, Alex does as well, and most days they do it together. Keeping each other company as they endlessly search for their missing captain. Holden has to be here somewhere, he just has to. Amos, Alex, her, Miller, Prax, the Martian marine Bobbie who claims to have been on the Roci as well... they all wound up here, released into the station within days of one another. So somewhere, behind some door, must be Holden. It doesn't make any sense to take a whole crew and not its captain. Not that anything makes any sense. The time loss or memory gaps, whatever they may be, Miller's very existence, none of it.

That doesn't mean she's going to just give up on him.

Alex walks beside her, the only sound the soft clang of their mag boots against the metal flooring. He's quiet today, uncharacteristically so, and she has to wonder why that is.

"Yen for your thoughts, Alex? You've hardly said a word in three decks."

[donkeyballs]

He's been trying not to brood about it. He really has. He was usually pretty good at putting on a cheerful face regardless of circumstance, but he couldn't get Amos out of his head a fthe search for Holden was coming up empty again. So his usual chatty self just wasn't present.

He shouldn't have been surprised Naomi noticed, a flash of guilt crossing his face before he smothered it. He could hear Amos snapping about being told about the bite by a stranger, and yet he hadn't been able to bring himself to tell her - didn't want a third fight in twenty four hours. So he let out a breath.

"Sorry, boss, think this place is startin' to get to me, is all."

[tekimetexeng]

Alex isn't the only one sitting on something that needs to be made known, and feeling guilty for doing so. Her secret is akin to betrayal, however, and she's reluctant to approach it in this place. Where they need to trust and rely on one another so very badly. It's not just the fear of it, the certainty that she'd be on her own once they knew... it's for their good as well right now. Or maybe that's just what she's telling herself. It's hard to trust her own judgment in that regard at this point.

"We've been worse places," she says carefully. "Something's bothering you. And Amos, he was like a stormcloud last night. And that's coming from someone who's never seen one."

[donkeyballs]

Alex has never been great at concealing his feelings at the best of times. He wore both his affection and his agitation on his face - so it would have been hard to miss the darkness that grew in Alex's expression at the mention of Amos's name.

"We had it out a bit last night." His voice was tight. "That's all."