Welcome to Gaia! ::

00:10

Billy: Entering Omega phase! *a keyboard and a viewing screen open out of the control panel*

00:05

Billy: *inputs code and screen flashes green for moment* Alright, final phase Yagatan!

00:04

Yagatan: *holds up button* SIGHT! *button flashes yellow*

00:03

Billy: SOUND! *a button below the screen flashes yellow*

00:02

*both buttons become green*

Both in perfect unison: DREAM!!! *press buttons at same time* COVER YOUR EARS EVERYONE!

00:01


*a deafening electrical scream can be heard from the bridge*


00:00


*all vehicles drive off the ramp and hang in the air for less than a second...when suddenly a bridge of energy appears to close the gap between the incomplete bridge and the entrance to the structure ahead..all vehicles land safely on it...the sound stops but can be heard echoing throughout the city*

Billy: We...WE DID IT!

*all vehicles drive through the opening, slowing to a halt just afterward* Critical emergency shutoff ACTIVATE! *pulls a lever which causes an arm to extend from the side of the bus, breaking a glass switch on the wall, which then causes the energy bridge behind them to immediately disappear and a large wall closes off the entrance*

Yagatan: Now, onward to the subway! YA-HA! *thinks: I've always wanted to say that.*

Billy: Actually, I think we deserve a short rest after that bulls*** we just pulled, who's with me? *uses the arm to press a button on the wall and dim lights illuminate a tunnel in front of them*

Yagatan: Ahhh, but I just said something incredibly dramatic.

Oh, we won't be seeing daylight again until we reach the end of the exit tunnel...which is on the other side of the subway. This is only a secret entrance to the subway that is only accessible via that energy bridge that we just shut off. Now I suggest we take a few minutes to recollect ourselves and make sure nothing's broken. Oh, also *motions to Sunako, pointing at his ear and then giving a thumbs up*

Yagatan: Well, while you're all doing that I'm-

Billy: NO you're not! If you really need to go that way so badly we'll go with you! You have the most detailed map of the subway and its secret routes currently on hand.

Yagatan: *crosses arms* Fine, I'll wait for the group. Hmph!

Billy: Now, another thing before we start this long, arduous trek through the subway, there's an emergency supply of rations in a compartment on the wall over there that I suggest we grab. There's enough frozen supplies to last a group of a hundred for a month, so we should take as much as we need.

~meanwhile~
Jake: *beep beep* Hm?

Scott: What's that?

Jake: It looks like they've safely made it to the entrance tunnel. Things must have gotten bad if they had to take that route. Well anyways, that's still the easy part. The hard part is getting to the exit tunnel. Just a little farther though and I'll be able to speak to Billy over the com.

Billy: Well, now we only have one option: that exit tunnel. That is the only safe exit from the subway, though I think it may also be the only safe exit from the city. Now I'm going to go grab some rations and put them in the bus's refrigerator storage. *pushes a button on the control panel and a large refrigerator opens from one of the walls* If anyone feels like helping, they're welcome to join. *opens the door and walks out to the tunnel wall and starts gathering things from the emergency storage* Yagatan, come carry some of the supplies.

Yagatan: Yeah, yeah. *goes over and takes some of the supplies*

~Yeah, you know where these guys are~

Scott: I wonder why they've stopped.

Jake: My guess is that they're gathering supplies, which is a very smart idea. Billy must have Yagatan in check right now, which means that he probably won't go off on his own now.

Scott: So once they leave the entrance tunnel and reach the subway you'll be able to com Billy?

Jake: Yeah, his bus's receiver should be within range enough to pick up the signal at that point.

Bark: You think they're gonna make it okay?

Jake: Oh, don't worry. If they made it this far safely, I'm sure they'll make it to us. With how long it took them, they've probably got some people with them to help. I just hope the ferry has enough room to hold however many it is.

Scott: You've held a chunk of a building on here before, so I'm sure you can hold a few extra people along with Billy's bus.

Bark: Yeah, this is a really big ferry. I'm surprised it hasn't been classified as an army-class carrier yet. *laughs*

Scott: If the army knew about it they probably would. *laughs*

Bob: So we're going to follow them?

It doesn't look like we have a choice in the matter. Grab what supplies you can and start moving. *Takes food from the refridgerator*

Newguy: *helps gather supplies*

Hybrid: *Walks over to Val.* She makes a good point. How did you two survive out there alone with no connections?*Looks over at suna-chan* If your out here does that mean, Vincent is going again.

Billy: *loads a few more rations onto the bus* All right, that should be enough to get us to the other side. *walks back out to the tunnel and looks over at Vincent and Jason* Now, I advise you to stay with us. I doubt either of you know the route to the exit tunnel from the subway. Whether Sunako has a map of the subway or not, noone outside of my immediate group knows its location. Also, she may be a battle gynoid, but she can only do so much in close quarters such as these, am I wrong? But, if you really must go, then at least take this. *takes a small SD card from his pocket* I had brought this with me in case my bus had been destroyed and we would have to rely on Jake's laptop. Luckily, that didn't happen. Now, this map is only as detailed as mine because Yagatan is the only one of us to have really scoured this place from head to toe.

Yagatan: Well, I wanted to find the perfect place to keep my weapons.

Billy: Yes, and he hasn't had the chance to transfer his findings over to our maps being that his map his hand drawn. *says those last words with a slightly annoyed tone*

Yagatan: Hey, at least wrote it down on something.

Billy: *gives Yagatan a cold look* Speaking of which, Yagatan's map is the only thing in existence with the location and the passcode to our weapons stash. This map only has the exit tunnel on it and a lot less secret passageways.

Yagatan: My map is like the guidebook to a dungeon.

Billy: *gives Yagatan another cold look*

Yagatan: Also, it's an awfully long way to go on foot. Believe me, I know. And plus, I'll be able to give you back your katana when we reach my weapons.

Vincent: Why is everyone talking like we're about to leave the group? What Jason said was true, but we're all in the tunnel together, so we'll all leave together.

Jason: I'm sorry everyone misunderstood what I was saying. What I really meant was ....well...basically I just don't trust you guys. *points to Val's group*
It's not that we're suspicious of survivors, we're really suspicious of newcomers who suddenly join our group. My friend, Vincent, has a bounty on his head and we have people after us.
*turns to Yagatan*
I am going to expect that sword back as soon as we reach whatever weapon stash you're going to.

Vincent: I really do have a map of the tunnel system though. It's all here on my laptop, so I do know where we are. I'm surprised though, Yagatan. You say you have secret passageways in this subway system? Why would you need them? Who are you really and what do you do? That is obviously not a normal bus.

Sunako: *still talking to Val*
I trust you, Val.
You seem like a very nice lady.

Billy: Oh, well I do apologize. From how everyone was talking, I thought you were leaving.

Yagatan: You sure do ask a lot of questions. Well, we generally use the secret passageways as shortcuts and for an emergency safeway through in case of, well our current situation or any other situation that may have arisen. I, personally, scoured this place for the most secret location because I didn't want anyone to find my precious babies.

Billy: You and your damn swords.

Yagatan: Hey, they were both heirlooms passed down from both sides of my family. And the third my father had custom made just for me when I was born. But I'm getting off topic. Me and my group are, for the most part, normal people. We just have certain traits that noone outside of our immediate group usually knows about. And I'm pretty sure a squirrel could tell you that's not a normal bus.

Billy: There's no need to be rude Yagatan. My bus has been augmented several times over by myself and our other heavy weapons expert, Bark. Though, the power core was designed by Jake. And that is a very lifelike gynoid. Jake is going to go crazy over how advanced her AI is.

Yagatan: *blink blink* I just realized, it had totally slipped my mind.

Billy: What?

Yagatan: I have one of my spare yagatans in one of your bus compartments.

Billy: ...you WHAT?! I thought you had taken it already! You mean to tell me that we've had an extra weapon on us this whole time?!!

Yagatan: Well, there's no point in getting mad about it now. *goes over to the side of the bus and taps just above one of the wheels, which causes a sheathed blade to come out* Ah, yes, how I've missed this one. *unsheathes it, it has the number 3 engraved on the side* I do believe you can have this back now. *hands Jason his katana* Oh, when we get to my stash I have to give you one of my special cleaning clothes. *pulls out his and takes all the dust off and polishes the blade in one swipe then pockets it again while sheathing his blade*

Billy: Well in any case, we should be heading out now. Everyone that doesn't have their own vehicle, onto the bus. Yagatan, you lead the way, being that you know more of the secret passages than I do. *gets onto the bus and sits down in the drivers seat waiting for everyone to board*

Yagatan: Will do. *hops onto his ATV*

~Outside the exit tunnel~

Jake: I wonder what the hell is taking them so long to move that damn bus three meters forward?

Scott: They're probably still gathering stuff. Also, I have a feeling they're recollecting themselves from some bulls*** stunt that Yagatan made them pull.

Bark: Most likely. *Bark and Scott chuckle* Hey, are those army ships?

Jake: Yeah, but they can't see us due to the cloaking, but I should probably cut our radar just in case. I guess those two will just have to wait a little longer to chat with us until those ships pass by. Terminal standby. *closes his laptop* Grrr...I can't even work on my AI while they're here. Oh well, I'm so close, I know it won't take much longer...

((Weapon lesson: For those of you who don't know, a yagatan is a kind of bayonet that can also be used independently as a sword. This should explain more about it))