♤ Network - [Video]

[deal_me_in]

Glad to see my bar didn't burn down while I was gone. How we all doing here? What exciting mysteries have we dug up in the mines? New additions? Subtractions?

[By the blue-greenish ambient light and the dark countertop he sits at, Cayde's probably at the bar he speaks of. He holds a mug of coffee in one hand, his other free to gesticulate.]

Aaand for those of you that might not have noticed your favorite Exo being absent- sorry Felwinter- well, I've been out at the other city this past...wait, how long's it been anyway? I counted enough sunrises to be at least a few weeks, give or take. I mean, did we ever figure out how Agrii weeks and months work around here? Or is everything just reeeally long?

Anyway, I digress- I...promised Kyle I'd make a report or something but it looks like the Graq connections have been made already. For those of you not in the know, they're some...squatty dog-bear-looking people that we ran across on a particular space adventure. That story gets complicated so you want details, you come find me.

Now- circling back, there's a lotta evidence out in that other city suggesting that these Graq lived there. Structures. Melted rock. Of course there's some other stuff that don't make sense but if it did then it'd all be too easy, right?

[He waves his free hand dismissively.]

I'm not one to info dump but if anyone wants to share or whatever, I'll probably be around for a while to catch up on things around here.

Saw the new additions to the tank. [He nods off to the side somewhere, flashing a smile.] That your doing, 'berto? Thanks.

Oh yeah, kid? Um- right. Can't just.... too many dang kids around these days- Helmet's kid? Drop by when you can, hole's ready for you to work your magic.

And Billy? Lemmee know when you're free, kid.

That it? All right then.

[He points at the camera, finger and thumb poised like a cocked gun.]

Cayde, out.

Comments

[wearingthestars]

[Oh! Billy's eyes widen a little.]

Seriously? You figured out a way??

[deal_me_in]

Kid, I've found there's very little that can't be solved with a handful of explosives.

[wearingthestars]

Where the hell did you get explosives? Should I be bringing a first aid kit?

[deal_me_in]

From our last planetary outing. Just took me a while for me to remember where I put 'em.

Hey, we're not the ones getting blown up. It'll be fiiiiine.

[wearingthestars]

That sounds like a line straight out of some PSA about peer pressure.

[He grins.]

You wanna do it right now, or-?

[deal_me_in]

No one's pressuring anyone!

[He's still grinning however.]

I'm good to go if you are!

[wearingthestars]

Remind me of that when I'm reattaching our fingers.

[He smirks and tries for a salute.]

I'll meet you down there?

[deal_me_in]

Oh geez, it's not like we're going to hold the things! Clearly this also needs to be a lesson in setting explosives.

[He gives a nod.]

See you there.

--> Action?

[wearingthestars]

Yeah, big shock. I've never set off explosives.

[Cue the gasps from the audience. Billy shut off the feed, feeling excited in a way he hadn't in a long time. He had a network of support he trusted to keep him safe, but knowing that place was inaccessible would calm that anxiety in a way nothing else could.

He teleports over, trying not to look as anxious as he felt to be this close to the space again.]

Action!

[deal_me_in]

[The Hunter makes some decent time even if he can't teleport, but even being able to jump and leap across and down buildings only cuts down on the time so much. Billy thankfully isn't kept waiting that long, however.

He jogs along once he's reached the road, a bag slung over a shoulder, one hand grasping its strap to keep it from slipping, the other raised in a wave.]

[wearingthestars]

[Oh good. Billy brightens a little and puts on a smile, waving in return and moving to meet Cayde. He wonders absently if this was the kind of thing they should run by people first- the community at large, or just the people devoted to keeping Billy save, but he doesn't think he could handle if it they did and people tried to stop them.]

Hey. You're sure this is safe?

[deal_me_in]

[Cayde on the other hand just thinks he's doing everyone a favor here. Also, it's been a while since he's gotten to blow something up. It'll be therapeutic for both of them.]

If I'm being honest? It wouldn't be an explosive if it was safe. But don't worry, we'll set 'em and be well out of range. Although if you wanna like...magic a barrier or something to keep the explosion contained within the tunnel, I won't argue.

[wearingthestars]

A barrier, right.

[Billy totally wouldn't have thought of that.]

So what kind of explosive is this? Is there like...a button or a fuse, or-...I have no idea how this stuff works.

[deal_me_in]

[Cayde fished around the bag he'd brought, bringing out cylindrical object with a wider base.]

Button. I think these ones are keyed into a signal, so we just have to set them and then get out, hit the switch and b-koooosh! Good-bye, tunnel!

[wearingthestars]

You think? [That lack of certainty was a little scary, but Billy tried to push it from his mind. Good-bye tunnel. That's all that mattered. He tried to give a more certain nod. He wasn't worried. Who was worried?]

You do this sort of thing a lot, huh?

[deal_me_in]

Oh yeah. Just not to stationary objects. We got all these fun grenades usually, more helpful in a fight or setting up an ambush. 'cept they wouldn't do much for a tunnel.

[He holds up the detonator.] These? They'll do the trick nicely. You wanna help set? [He holds one out, gesturing with his head in silent inquiry for if Billy's ready to head in with him and do this.]

[wearingthestars]

[Fun grenades. Oh how different their lives were. Billy nods, looking a bit pale, but still determined.]

Yeah. Let's do this.

[deal_me_in]

[Cayde gives him an encouraging nod, swinging an arm around Billy's shoulders as they head on in. ]

We'll go a little past midway, ring these babies around the walls and ceiling, set a few just behind so they'll trigger when these go off.

[wearingthestars]

[Cayde's confidence is reassuring at least, and Billy chances a smile as they make their way in.]

Tommy's either going to think this is awesome or chew me out for doing something so stupid.

[deal_me_in]

Funny how fine a line there is between those two possibilities. I doubt anyone would fault us for the reasoning though!

[That's Cayde for you, full speed ahead. Once he's set on an idea, he isn't mincing words to get it done when they can just do it.

If he's on edge about going back in here, he doesn't show it, walking them towards the back of the tunnel, glancing at Billy now and then to nake sure he's looking all right.]

[wearingthestars]

Eh- [Billy doesn't look so sure, knowing how people reacted to Drake wanting to examine him. But he still feels like this is necessary to keep everyone safe, whether they agree or not.]

If no one else is going to take care of it-

[He's definitely looking a little anxious, but he tries to put on a brave face, chest tight. What if it takes over now? What it pulled them inside and started forcing him to see those things all over again??]

[deal_me_in]

That's the spirit!

[This Exo won't go without a fight, or at least he's determined not to. He just doesn't want to think about how easy it was for them to go back and forth without really knowing it sometimes. ]

Well, this looks like the place.

[He's quick to busy himself with sorting through the explosives in his bag before his thoughts drift towards how effective this all would really be.]

Have at it, kid.

[wearingthestars]

[Flying up to the ceiling, Billy affixes his there, looking to Cayde to make sure he's doing it right. He vaguely hums the mission impossible theme song to ease the tension.]

[deal_me_in]

[Cayde sets a couple along the wall, glancing up at Billy with a grin. Did he know the kid could fly? Huh. He gives him a thumbs up, pointing to the bag he left on the floor. Since Billy's got the fancy flying skills he can finish up with the ceiling row.]

[wearingthestars]

[At least it's a less shocking discovery than Cayde's showing off at the hospital. :-P He collects what he needs to continue with the ceiling row and wets his lips.]

...these can't get triggered without the button, right? Like if I breathe on them wrong?