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 Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 10:59 am
Before did not know what to expect when he stepped through the portal and into the outpost. Or rather the clearing that was connected to the path that led to the outpost. In the back of his mind, he thought he was summoned to go to the Jungle Outpost, assuming that perhaps he would be relieving another Trainee. After being stuck in the form of an odd, lizard, dog, thing, the Misty had no desire to be around the others for some time. So while it was weird as ******** that he was called away so suddenly, it was a welcomed respite.
Surely it wouldn't be more than a few days, five tops, right?
As usual, Before was going to be proven wrong. He had barely taken a few steps when dots began to creep into his vision. He rubbed his eyes. No change. If anything, it made it worse. The Misty shook his head. Oooh bad move on his part. Reaaaally bad move on his part. His equilibrium was shot and vertigo slammed into him, knocking the breath from his lungs and pulling the ground right out from under him.
A dull thud reached his ears a split-second after the sting of pebbles and rocks greeting his face was felt. A heartbeat later, it became apparent to Before that his stomach wished to make an offering to the ground in hope of appeasing it so he could possibly, y'know, stand the ******** up? With a groan, he proceeded with the Herculean effort of getting to his knees.
Yet another bad move on his part. Once proximity between his mouth and the ground increased, his stomach followed through with its earlier intention. He cringed away from the sour smell, wiping at his mouth with the back of his glove, regretting it as he would now have to wash the sick off the damn thing. Before pressed his lips into a thin, tight line, trying to keep himself from gagging on the acrid taste lingering in his mouth.
How much time had passed before Before managed to muster enough strength to trudge along the path to the outpost? He didn't know but at that moment, he didn't give a ********. Vanna? How are you feeling? he mentally asked.
Try as he might, Before could not make out the words his partner was saying. It sounded like his head was in a burlap sack while underwater. The harder he strained, the more distorted she sounded. And the more he tried, the stronger the urge his stomach had to further empty itself became. By the time he arrived at the outpost to relieve the person, he was drenched in a cold sweat and had thrown up no less than three times.
"B-Before, I-Intermediate Misty reporting fo-" the rest of the words died on his lips as he pitched forward unconscious.
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Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 6:14 am
"This is... what? The third trainee we've called to relieve us of this post?" the Moon Hunter grumbled in annoyance as he stared at the Mist trainee lying at their feet.
The Life Hunter nudged the unconscious Before with the tip of her boot, "At least this one made it to the outpost. We had to go and collect the first two at the portal. Guess whatever's making them sick hits basic trainees harder than Intermediates."
"Think there's some sort of pandemic back in Deus?"
"Unlikely. We'd be informed of a quarantine if that was the case. But I think we're going to be here for a good few more days. At least until HQ can spare an actual Hunter. Until then," the Life Hunter bent down to grab the young man by the ankles, "Let's get this one with the others."
The Moon Hunter looked like he was tempted to let her drag the trainee along the wooden floor. Thankfully, the glare beam the Life Hunter shot at him made him re-evaluate that decision. He linked his arms underneath Before's and on cue, they carried him over to the barracks where two other trainees were. The ill trainees were shivering under the covers despite the arid heat of the outpost and muttering gibberish about seeing things that weren't there.
The Moon Hunter grunted as he and the Life Hunter lowered Before onto an empty cot, the thin metal lightly creaking under the sudden weight. As the latest arrival began to fall into his own bout of fever-dreams, the Moon Hunter dusted his gloved hands against his coat. "If it turns out they're contagious, I get first crack at them."
The glare beam the Life Hunter shot at him made it very clear that she has dibs.
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Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 10:50 am
Bleary teal eyes opened to the sight of a ceiling fan lazily spinning overhead. His initial panic over his location was quickly overshadowed by sharp pain slamming into him so powerfully, he practically folded in two. A growl rumbled, low and wet, the sound originating from where the agony spiraled out of the Mist trainee: His stomach.
Before managed to surface from the wave of excruciating hunger pangs thanks to a voice. As it was female, he thought it was Vanna's but the repetition of "Hey, you okay?" despite his mental scream of "I'm starving."
"Oh is that all? You looked like you were in your death throes or something. C'mon, kiddo, we got some leftovers in the kitchen you can eat."
Before may have wanted to state that he wasn't a kid except his stomach's continuous growling was proving to be too distracting. The Life Hunter just laughed and swung Before's arm over her shoulder. "Your fever broke last night, roughly a couple of hours after the other two trainees recovered."
Other two trainees? Before was confused but didn't resist as he was led to the kitchen where an unfamiliar Death trainee was washing dishes.
"Hey, Glen," the Life Hunter greeted, "Stick around a bit longer, you're gonna get another set to wash."
"Yes ma'am," Glen answered in monotone.
Before was plopped down on a wooden chair and left alone to get over his disorientation. A bowl of gray mass that might have been green once upon a time was placed in front of him. Before snatched up the spoon and dug in, practically inhaling the contents without tasting anything.
Which was probably for the best.
"Can I do an Oliver Twist?" Before weakly asked, holding his bowl barely an inch over the table but poised to lower it back down in case he wasn't allowed.
"FINALLY someone who can appreciate my unique culinary taste!" a male voice boomed in delight. Two pairs of footsteps sounded and a Moon Hunter and an equally unfamiliar Sun trainee entered. "See? See? SOMEONE gets it!" the Moon Hunter pointed triumphantly at Before.
The Life Hunter gave Before a patronizing pat on his head, "Poor kid, the flu must have permanently damaged your taste buds if you want a second helping of his food."
The Moon Hunter took the ribbing in stride and addressed the three trainees present, "Now that you're all finally back on your feet, it's high ******** time we get back to HQ. Just watch over the outpost for a few hours so we can get another pair of Hunters to oversee you."
"Does that mean the mission I'm, uh, we got called on is just outpost-duty?" Before blinked.
If it is, it's rather disappointing. Vanna muttered.
"That will depend on the pair that replaces us," the Life Hunter again gave Before a pat on the head. "Don't worry, this is all routine. Glen or Lilah will give you the tour."
"Won't take very long," the Sun trainee named Lilah assured the Intermediate Mist.
In the back of Before's mind, he wondered if he looked as exhausted as Glen and Lilah did. To be tactful, he refrained from asking.
"And yeah, you do look like s**t," Lilah chuckled. "Not as bad as Glen did though. He had puke all over his shirt."
"Just caught me by surprise," Glen insisted, still in that bored droll of his.
The Moon Hunter snickered, "Awww, don't you two sound like such the married couple."
"Anyway, we gotta go. Oh and Before?"
With a tilt of his head, Before turned to face the Life Hunter.
"Next time you feel like baking something for the people in the Life Labs, how about some Food for the Gods?" she grinned and headed out of the kitchen.
The Moon Hunter quickly followed after her, his voice trailing as he asked "Wait he's the trainee that keeps bringing you guys all the homemade stuff?"
Before didn't quite know how to react. Other than grin this huge, goofy grin and look like he just won the grand prize in a contest of skill. "Sure! I'll totes consider it!" he called out before digging into the bowl of gray mass and stuffing a spoonful into his mouth.
Cue freezing in his seat and fighting the urge to black out now that he's tasted it while Glen and Lilah exchanged knowing looks.
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Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 11:19 am
Touring came and went.
Orientation came and went.
And Before sent out a ******** of messages in between.
Sadly, none were received.
Even more sadly, none seemed to care.
Thank God the Deus Twitter still worked! He learned something new about a fellow Trainee. Well, Before had always suspected it but never thought about it too much.
You don't think he's a danger to you, silly Before?
Iunno, I got you with me. 'Sides, he ain't got anything to do with me, yeah? If anything, I'm more worried for Dinah. He's tried to kill her twice already! Third time's the charm, y'know? > m>
I wouldn't be too concerned about her, silly Before. She's managed to keep her head hasn't she?
Y-yeah. Ain't like she needs me to protect her or anything. I hope he never goes near Story though...
The rest of his conversation with his weapon was cut short by the clarion call of alarms and his phone buzzing like crazy from request for back up.
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