revivalproject | Beyond the Boundaries

WHO: Dustin, Felwinter and Link
WHERE: Westward, ho!
WHAT: Felwinter finds himself in...interesting company as he finally sets out for a long put off expedition beyond Temba's city limits.
WHEN: Later this month
WARNINGS: N/A

Organic beings needed preparations, supplies, for a trip. Felwinter remembered these things when he contacted Dustin. 'Star roof', probably wasn't much of a message, but he knew Dustin would understand. He left a more detailed message there, penned and folded under a rock: 'I plan to set out in five days' time. If you wish to join me then pack accordingly and comm your confirmation. Several days out and then back, unless we find any reason to extend our venture. If you have anyone you trust to come along, then so be it.'

He wondered if he was being too generous.

Link would once again find himself under much scrutiny by the helmet-wearing warlord. This time they're at least not on a rooftop, but the mood is probably very much the same. Again, there are questions, and again, Felwinter isn't certain where to even begin. Or rather, he knows what to ask, but he has a feeling that he's better off not knowing. That unseen gaze shifts to Dustin with the impending sense of a query and yet none forthcoming.

And then finally, Felwinter turns, shouldering his pack as he starts on towards the city's outskirts, pausing to cast an expectant look at the two as it seems he's going to accept this extra company after all.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Dustin dips his head into his hand, rubbing his lightly-fuzzed chin. Felspring and Felwinter both bring up good points; whatever - or whoever - is maintaining the Network has to be somewhere nearby, or there has to be a local relay for it that they can discern, in order for it to function the way it does. Assuming that wireless communications via the Network are at all analogous to what Dustin knows from Earth, anyway.

He's opening his mouth to try and quantify those thoughts when Link interjects first. Dustin pauses, quietly thankful that Link has stopped mutilating a corpse as his eyes automatically snap to look at him. His first thought is that this is a stupid question - the Network isn't a physical thing that can be found, obviously, duh. But a moment's consideration later tells him that that's not the spirit Link is asking the question in, and slapping his curiosity down entirely wouldn't do any of them any favors.

Dustin sighs, shifting his hand to prod at his temples. "I know what relays look like where I'm from, but we can't assume that the ones used for the Network will resemble those at all," he admits. "What was involved in setting up the Network in Sh'Ka, Felwinter? Do you know if anything like that had to happen to get the Network working in Temba?"

A network would be difficult to explain without getting into some background. Felwinter considers how to do this, mentally trimming down unnecessary details.

"Networks do not necessarily have a physical presence outside of the connections it manifests through. The ability to communicate through these tablets is through the connection of a network. But there is usually something transmitting- sending the information, but these can vary in form."

He glances from Link to Dustin then. "I believe it was a collaborative effort by Stark and Cal Kestis. Such relays had to be made and then installed in Sh'Ka, but I do not know further details than that. The network prior had already been established, as with many things in Temba, so I am not sure of the early state of the network or whether it was something that was also built from the ground up."

Link looks from one to the other. He's not entirely sure he follows the explanation. They need to find a thing that doesn't physically exist - except for the bits that don't?

But - maybe they have a lead?

"Tony will know?"

"Stark probably would," Dustin acknowledges, delivered with the same level of enthusiasm as a slowly deflating balloon. "Cal too. Either way, the relays might not have the same kinds of security protocols as the communicators do - they could provide a backdoor into finding the source. Or we could build one that's meant to do that specifically."

Felwinter hums thoughtfully, the nods at Felspring to dismiss her. The Ghost decompiles in that same shimmer of light, folding into some space between spaces.

"Regardless, we will likely not be finding out anything more in regard to a network or a system here. I am not sure if further travel will yield anything else useful, but I leave the decision to the two of you as to whether we should continue or not."

He turns his head towards the deeper marshes. It was already proving more dangerous than their earlier trek with just the drastic change of terrain.

Link, however, just looks at Dustin. Really, Link would happily keep going. Sure, the terrain is getting difficult - but that just makes it interesting. Link's confident he could handle any dangers they might encounter. And who knows what else they would find?

But Dustin...well. Link has certainly noticed that Dustin struggles a bit to keep up. Will he want to keep going?

Dustin stares back at Link for a few seconds, level and blank, before he realizes what's going on.

"--I-I can keep going," he says with a flush of his face, sounding distinctly offended. "The terrain is still navigable, the Marshbears are surmountable threats. I want to stay long enough to get some plant and soil samples and see more of the non-documented wildlife."

"Very well."

Felwinter doesn't feel it necessary to debate, and he hadn't meant to single out either of them with the suggestion to turn back. He looks at the both of them again.

"We'll press on, but if the terrain becomes any less stable further out, I will not be able to go very far without substantial places to set foot. Felspring will inform us if there is any foreign movement in our vicinity."

Well, if Dustin wants to keep going - who is Link to say otherwise? Besides - Link's still curious to see what else they'll find.

So they keep going, at least for a little while. But they can only do so for another day before the terrain gets too difficult for Felwinter to keep going. At that point, they need to go back.

But that's okay. Link's already found more than he can carry. He's got to get some of his new collections back home now, after all.

Beyond the Boundaries

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