PSL--Explorer's Setting (New Crew arriving!)

[my_belfry_of_fun]

The Explorer's Craft was a smaller ship--maxed at 15 people. The Arethusa was nice for all of that, and still in the early stages of its Exploration. Only 1/3rd staffed, it had just brought on two new crew-members.

Current Crew consisted of Professor John Robinson as the Captain, Gune in Engineering, "Nurse" Joy in Medical, and general crew members Jayne Cobb and Turanga Leela. It seemed an easy going (mostly) ship, and the current crew was treated to an announcement on their Omni-band at the arrival of 2 new crew-members along with their vital-statistics (height, weight, age, place of origin, general skills). Professor Robinson seemed fairly hands off and willing to delegate things, as the Arethusa was currently en-route. Their 'mission' for this exploration was to visit a resort planet, and study it's economy and how it remained so Utopian. Gune was nice, if easily distractable, and the only 'obvious' alien although some suspected Leela. Jayne mostly spent his time verbally sparring with Leela or keeping to himself, while Nurse Joy simply seemed content and willing to help. Curious at times, and clearly intelligent, but she wasn't one to make waves if they weren't needed.

Information on the Omniband
Name:
Age:
Height/Weight:
Place of Origin:
Skills:

Each crew-member wakes up in their bunk, wearing the ship's uniform. They will have some possessions from home. (The uniform is generally black boots, blue BDU pants and Jacket with a name patch, and a black t-shirt or tank-top underneath.) Each crew-member also posesses an omni-band. A small ring-like device that is designed to be worn like a collar or a bracelet, and that can be expanded or contracted. It may act as a communicator and mini-computer.

Comments

[redarrowqueen]

Thea was still looking at the ground but she was spilling things: the sinking of the Queen's Gambit and her spiral into party girl deluxe onto her mother's death at the hands of Slade Wilson. "Easier to just go numb right?" she finally gets out in spite of herself. "Can't let anyone see me weak. Still terrofied of becoming her again."

[light_of_willpower]

Letting her speak, maybe whatever was making him feel comfortable opening up, was doing the same for her? He'd been around a few times before, when she'd seemed to need someone to lean on--and he was a good listener.

Weak though? Going through loss didn't make someone weak. Grief was part of life. Giving up...that made you weak. Maybe trying to go numb had been her way of giving up? It made a weird sort of sense, even as he just listened.

"I've never been numb." No, Trunks had always felt--far too much.

[redarrowqueen]

"Was it ever tempting?" Thea finally asks in a near whisper. Spilling so much of her past had taken its toll but in a weird way it was oddly healing, maybe now she was finally facing her demons? But in a small leap of faith she does offer Trunks her hand,"I know now I was just in a desperate place, not able to trust much less face things."

[light_of_willpower]

Tempting? Maybe...he'd thought maybe it'd get better, once they were dead. Once the Androids were gone, people avenged. Rebuilding was starting, and that was good right? Progress?

Even with the threat of Cell still out there, Trunks had hoped he'd stop feeling hunted and wary. Trying to keep an eye out for others, aware that he had to keep them safe--was the only one who COULD put up any fight against 17 and 18.

"I don't know." He finally said quietly. "I wonder, because I've never known how not to feel."

The hand surprised him for a moment, and his head tilted. "I think Joy recognized it was tense for both of us...she did more than I did." Maybe it was just exhaustion after the last few missions, that had drained them and made them able to open up and trust each other a bit. He did take it after a moment. "I appreciate the trust though, and I don't think you're weak. As long as you don't give up, you're not weak."

[redarrowqueen]

Thea's guard was indeed more lower than usual but somehow she was able to reveal things and trust Trunks. But she already could thanks to battles, they had tag teamed plenty of times due to their skill sets. "You're not weak either, we're in this together." she could speak after a few minutes.

[light_of_willpower]

Some people would think he was weak--Trunks could just imagine what his father would think. Even if they'd achieved some measure of respect and regard between them, the saiyan prince would view wanting to forget, to consider the idea of using alcohol or drugs as an escape, to be a weakness and not-permitted. Whether it was unforgiveable, Trunks didn't speculate; he could not tell how Vegeta would think, in some ways, even now.

More likely his father'd be more scornful because of the loss of pride, taking that kind of escape route.

"I'm used to it." Trunks just said quietly in response to Thea, giving her hand a squeeze in thanks. "The not-being-able-to-escape-feeling thing and all." Just to clarify, as he did appreciate her trust in turn.

[redarrowqueen]

As they walked Thea finally had the courage to ask one major thing,"So you mentioned awhile back my ki was wobbly, can you explain how it works? I mean I've seen it in action so you can kinda see why I figured meta human." she admits since the last part had been tricky to explain early on. But it also made them a good team since she could handle long range to his close attacks.

[light_of_willpower]

Using ki attacks also meant Trunks functioned well solo, or as support while she or someone else needed to reload, since he could work with blasting from a distance. Not just in close-range, where he was more effective. Considering he was used to being a solo-fighter, it paid to be versatile.

Moving his hands back to his pockets, her question pulled him out of the malaise his thoughts had been in. "Meta-human would still apply to those able to use 'ki', as we discussed though." She hadn't been wrong in calling him and Leela 'meta humans'--just not the way they were using the term. It had been a bit silly, but still a good discussion topic, while they were exploring the engine area when she'd first arrived.

"It's..." Starting, and then pausing as he tried to figure out how to explain. "Well, to start with, ki exists in all living things. It's a kind of tangible force that is there because something lives." Checking to be sure she was following that easily enough.

[redarrowqueen]

Thea nodded, it made sense now that she had seen the idea in practice. "Life force, that makes sense now that its sinking in." she admits,"But how can ki be wobbly?" she asked. "I just remember you saying it matched my shaky state so its been on the brain since." she tried to explain.

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks stopped, turning and staring at her for a moment. Studying her, then tilting his head. "It's a lot less wobbly now, but low. Probably because we've all been doing so much, on missions." Meaning they were exhausted--hence the vacation.

"Accessing ki, and using it, can be trained and often is, via martial arts. Think of it, in its most base form, as a way of being centered. Of your whole body and mind and soul being aligned and in balance." A hint of grin. "I'm sure you've felt that a few times, while you've been superheroing about."

[redarrowqueen]

"I'm intrigued." Thea was honest. "And I've felt like, like being in the zone when going for a target." she tries to explain what she's thinking. "And to be honest I've hit my share of low points lately, especially these last couple of missions."

[light_of_willpower]

"Then you've felt it, likely. With training, you can learn to sense it more and use it." Moving to start walking again. "Master Martial Artists in my world were able to, at the very least, access and utilize their ki to help them fight longer and more effectively. Some also learned to focus it in ways that allow them to use it as blasts, or to float and fly."

Things she'd seen him do, actually.

"At the very least, it can be used as a way of sensing and warning others. That whole battle-aura I was talking about, when we first met."

[redarrowqueen]

"Pretty much all the things I've seen in battle." Thea realized. "Like you biding me time to reload and that one time you got me onto that roof to provide cover fire." all the pieces falling into place now. She nodded at how Trunks explained the battle aura. "Looks like I'm still learning things, never a bad thing."

[light_of_willpower]

"Saiyans were a warrior-race, so kind of naturally adept at training and manipulating ki, among other things." Not that he spoke often about his mixed-heritage. Usually if they got personal, he listened or offered general stories. Occasionally he'd share something, but it usually didn't involve him personally either.

"It can also be used to sense how strong an opponent is, so it's also good to learn how to mask it." Something that had also saved his life many times.

Moving one hand out, he held it up and out. Letting ki gather just at the palm of his hand. Manifesting almost as a burst of light, resting against his palm as he held it for her to see.

[redarrowqueen]

Thea nodded as Trunks spoke. But at the same time just seeing the idea of ki coming to life just blew her away,"Compared to me you have something pretty unreal." she finally admits. Her eyes however spoke volumes, she really was blown away since this explained so much.

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks let the ki fade and dropped his hand. "It's pretty rare where I'm from too. My mother was an anomaly, in that she hung around master martial artists, and aliens, so ki-manipulation was a regular thing."

A pause, and a hint of smile. "She never learned to sense or use it though. Most people don't." Hopefully most people would never have to learn just to survive, but it had been so for Trunks.

[redarrowqueen]

Thea could only nod, Trunks has seen more than she has and it showed. "Seeing what you can do explains a lot however. And you know I'll listen if that ear is even needed." she could speak after what felt like ages.

[light_of_willpower]

A nod, and a quiet "Thank you." before he let that fade. Easier to talk about ki, and focus on that, as they'd come to the beach. By now it was getting past twilight into the darker pre-night part of it, and people had mostly packed up and left. Tide was coming in, washing away older signs of people having visited.

"But yes, so when you were exhausted and after your rough arrival, your ki was off-balance. It reflected your state, so to speak."

[redarrowqueen]

"So that would explain the whole wobbly ki thing from that first night." Thea nodded as she linked it all together. "I was a mess and it showed in the ki." she made sure she had the idea right. But at the same time since they were near the water an idea brewed: she was just waiting for the right moment to make a splash attack (all in fun too).

[light_of_willpower]

"It showed in a lot of ways, no offense." Trunks murmured, but hopefully she wouldn't be upset. "I think it's more--I could tell you weren't normally like that because I COULD sense your ki. It's clear you've had some training."

[redarrowqueen]

That was when Thea jumped at her opening and playfully splashed Trunks. But her smile is showing she's only kidding and playing, no ill intent at all. "You kinda asked for it you know that right?" she joked mid giggle fit. But it was a small sign she was regaining some light.

[light_of_willpower]

They definitely needed a vacation; he'd normally be more aware of someone's movements--even someone he trusted. So he's a half-second too late to realize what Thea has planned, even though he gets his arm up and crouches slightly to minimize the splash. "Hey! I didn't mean any offense."

But there is a grin. The water didn't bother him that much, and he got that she was playing. Two can play though, and he's tired enough to let himself indulge in some silliness. Especially after the not-quite-deep emotions of earlier.

"Besides, you know you're not winning this right?" Oh no, that is a smirk. BE warned Thea because that is a smirk.

[redarrowqueen]

"This means war!" Thea was giggling as she made another splash shot. "But you know what? This is the most fun I've had in ages!" going for another splash of water in the process. She's smiling for real now, she's needed this as much.

[light_of_willpower]

Some people would dodge, even splashes of water. Most would just splash back. Neither of those intersecting pools of people involved Trunks though, who just walked purposefully closer to Thea. Still with that smirk, as water didn't bother him.

Nope, he is instead moving to grab her around the waist instead. Bodily picking her up and over his shoulder a bit, then jumping and using ki to fly a little bit further out. Far enough out it's 'safe' anyways, before turning her over and dropping her into the water.

[redarrowqueen]

Thea lands with a grace usually seen with a bow in her hand, but instead of snarking off at a goon she's laughing. "Round one goes to Trunks!" she giggles. "But its only the beginning." using a spin kick to send some water at Trunks.