TDM 1

[hohnkai]

AUGUST TEST DRIVE MEME

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ABOARD THE MOIRA

Whether adjusting to space travel has been difficult or not, there is always something to be done. From working to leisure, the Moira offers a multitude of opportunities to get to know your crewmates a bit better. Exploration of the ship is highly encouraged, but as another planet grows closer to being docked, things start to get a little hectic. You'll notice a slight change in the artificial gravity as the Moira is pulled into the planet's gravitational field; however, more noticeable changes can be found in the overall morale as you prepare to descend.

☄ on the aft:

Offering an unobstructed view, it's quite easy to see stars that are still light years away. Like your own personal observatory, things are relatively quiet since other members are busy. While visiting, your steps may feel lighter as the ship's gravity is affected most here, but don't worry! The barrier surrounding the aft will keep you from floating away. Take note: if you happen to find yourself alone, no matter how brief, you may hear a distant echo — like a voice calling to you. For the most part, it's harmless. However, those curious enough to attempt to heed those words may find themselves suddenly jettisoned into space through a momentary lapse in the Moira's safety systems.

Hopefully you're wearing your thermals! The MID relay will alert the ship of this emergency, but who knows how long it will take for someone to retrieve you.

☄ in the mess hall:

It's breakfast time! On the buffet lining the back wall, you'll find an assortment of hurriedly prepared foods, but it's not the rations you've been accustomed to since the last port. There are stacks of green pancakes that taste like stale yet metallic bread. Are those eggs? Yes. Do they taste good? Probably not. Since supplies are scarce, there isn't much else to eat. The water might seem a bit brown, but is that really water you're drinking? After a while, depending on how much you've drank, you start to feel lightheaded... That's some strong space liquor right there.

☄ on your own:

There are plenty of other communal areas on the ship to explore! Pick a place, and see where it takes you.

PLANET EXPLORATION

Welcome to Hyacintho!




WARNINGS for possible psychological trauma, suffocation, and hallucinations.

From the outside, Hyacintho appears to be devoid of natives. Its landscape is sparse of vegetation with many slow-flowing streams tinted a murky blue. Craggy rock formations jut up randomly from the ground, hinting at abrupt development and are razor-sharp to the touch. Upon further exploration, dome-like structures can be found and appear to be abandoned settlements. Some are smaller and clustered close to the ground while others are elevated and connected by swinging bridges. Watching your MID here is critical; it monitors atmospheric composition with steady beeps that signal hazardous conditions. Staying on Hyacintho's surface for extended periods of time is ill-advised.

☄ the dormant volcanoes:

Scoping Hyacintho's peculiar topography leads to the discovery of inactive volcanoes and lava tubes. Some are easily accessible while others take more effort to reach—it's a steep climb to the vent. The ground shifts under your feet and can make walking difficult. Yet, the closer you come to a particular one, you may notice subtle changes in temperature and the air smelling faintly of sulfur. Perhaps this planet isn't as latent as you first thought.

Around midday, vibrations are unexpectedly felt and whatever light from Hyacintho's suns is blotted out by ashy clouds the same color as the ground. Small pockets of blue lava seep from those sharp rock formations, and that light sulfuric smell has now become increasingly overwhelming. Time to make a quick escape back to the Moira!

☄ the delirium:

When something terrible happens, sometimes it leaves a trace, a wound that acts as a knot between two timelines. It's like an echo repeated over and over, waiting to be heard... Like a scar or a pinch that begs for a caress to relieve it. An itch under your skin or a memory fading before your eyes.

The faint sound of your MID has grown unreasonably loud. In the back of your mind, you know what it means, but you're too lethargic to attend to its warning. Where once you believed Hyacintho to be absent of life, it is now overrun. Falling back to the safety of the ship is now much too difficult to do quickly. Your limbs are heavy, the natives' faces blurry and unrecognizable as if they're a great distance away, but you swear you can feel them breathing on your neck, dragging their hands down your arms and back. You struggle, falling over yourself and are swayed by the delusions you are rapidly succumbing to. Yet, somehow, the Moira is just ahead. Within reach. Are you at the door now? Are your friends with you to drag you inside? Are they even calling to you?

You ask yourself why you're breathing so heavily.

You aren't.

---

OUT OF CHARACTER INFO

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For mature or graphic content, please label. Test Drive Memes are not game canon but can be used as samples in applications. For questions, please direction them to the FAQ. As always, be kind and have fun!

Comments

Commander Shepard - Mass Effect

[novacharge]

[ alignment/major plot choices can be found here, post priority: rannoch. ]

a. on the aft.

[ each ship is different — Shepard knows that just as much as she knows her own like the back of her hand. but the Moria isn’t like the Normandy, and the differences are hard to get used to. there’s no familiar hum of her ship’s engines beneath her feet, the default temperature setting is a bit colder than Shepard herself prefers, even the stars aren’t the same when she finally managed to go onto the aft and view them. but they're the closest thing to home here, so she finds herself there on occasion, just trying to make sense of it all.

it's not the only reason, however. for whenever she's there - alone - there's the voice calling to her. it gives her pause; while she's not a suspicious person by nature, her line of work tends to make sure that if you're not at least a little wary, you're probably dead. it's hard to describe even to herself, but there has to be a reason for it. it's that or entertain the fact she's hearing things and she's not that far gone yet. Shepard only wishes the more academic members of her crew were here with her, just to see what they could dig up. ]

b. the delirium.

[ it's as if she’s ended up in a dream. a familiar nightmare, only this time there are no laughing children, no ash covered forest - just the planet they'd arrived on and the faces of whoever had lived here before. not faces, Shepard thinks, they're here - pulling her down so she can't move, can't run. blaming her, she couldn't save them, she didn't even know they had to be saved, how could she when she's trying to save her own universe — I'm sorry.

something makes a grab at her, and Shepard nearly loses her footing as she tries to run — to where? the ship. not the Normandy, nothing can compare to her ship. the one she arrived on, the Moria. she struggles to regain her momentum, can see her goal ahead of her.

was it always that close? Shepard doesn't know, can't remember. losing her mind isn't a luxury she can afford and the thought frightens her almost as much as the hands and the breath on the back of her neck. she's faced down a Reaper; this should be nothing. is nothing. except for the terror edging in, pulling at the corners of her mind already worn down by sleepless nights accompanied only by ghosts.

she practically throws herself at the entrance once it's in reach, putting on a burst of speed to propel herself through. safe. for whatever passes for safe here. ]

c. wildcard! throw up something of your own.

a

[forwardmomentum]

[ ah, so miles isn't alone in the aft after all. he glances sidelong at the tall, redheaded woman standing not too far from him, looking around the room like it's holding some secret from her. hm, well. miles can appreciate that feeling, because it's much what he's feeling right now. he can't shake that strange itch in the back of his mind. it's starting to get on his nerves.

miles can tell at a glance that she's military; she has the bearing of an officer by his estimate, and he's not sure of her rank but she's commissioned, alright. definitely not someone miles would want to mess around with, certainly. after a few indecisive moments, miles takes a few floaty steps toward her, fully aware of how much more awkward the reduced gravity makes his already odd gait. he stands at something of an informal parade rest at her side, glancing up at her. hopefully he isn't interrupting any important meditation here. ]

Ship duty? [ it's an invitation to conversation by way of genuine inquiry. he knows the look of someone who's served aboard spacecraft for a long time, who's come to feel at home in it. ]

[novacharge]

And more. [ company. not unwelcome in the slightest - even if experience tells her the voice won't return while someone's there. Shepard gives her new companion a nod after a searching look before turning her gaze back up to the stars. ] I was raised on ships and stations all over the galaxy. This feels a lot more like home than anything planetside.

[ but it still doesn't feel like home. she can't recognize the stars - a stupid, changing thing even in her own universe depending on where one was in the galaxy, but still -- Shepard returns her attention to her companion. the stance, the question, makes her think she's dealing with someone who shares some of that experience. ]

What about you?

[forwardmomentum]

Oh, yes. Well -- on and off.

[ of course, lieutenant miles vorkosigan never got ship duty. admiral naismith, though, pretty much lived on it. ]

Well, at least one of us feels at home here. [ miles doesn't. in fact he feels quite ill at ease. this is not the ship duty he wanted. he gives her a respectful nod, though; usually he's not a fan of authority, and this officer most certainly has it, but strangely enough he doesn't find it objectionable. congratulations, shepard, you are part of a very exclusive club. ]

Lieutenant Miles Vorkosigan of the Barrayaran Imperial Service. Ma'am. [ he figures this conversation would go best if it's soldier to soldier, and while he's not keen on drawing much attention to any of his identities here, he's going to have to pick one to stick with eventually, and in an unusual role reversal, it's admiral naismith who's more likely to be the object of scrutiny here than lieutenant vorkosigan. he can leave the lord out of that for now, but no one on this ship besides ivan would know barrayar from a hole in the ground, anyway. ]

[novacharge]

[ that gets a curious look - she doesn't expect extrapolation if he doesn't want to offer it. ]

It's not quite the Normandy but it's still a ship. [ and it's better than being planetside for extended periods of time. being under arrest on Earth had been stifling -- although that perhaps had more to do with the fact that no one seemed to want to listen to her about the Reapers. if only they'd all listened to her back when this damned thing began, if only she hadn't died and left the cause to waste away.

or maybe they'd have just shuffled her off to the sidelines when it became inconvenient anyway. ]

Commander Shepard, Alliance Navy. [ Shepard pulls herself into a parade rest, and gives him a formal nod of military respect. she can't quite put her finger on his age -- his height makes him seem young, but his face throws it all into confusion. she can hardly tell if the rank is for someone unusually young or someone too old. hm. ] Can't say I've ever heard of the 'Barrayaran Imperial Service'.

[forwardmomentum]

Well, I've never heard of the Alliance Navy, so I suppose we're two for two.

[ he grins up at her. she's got a look he's become familiar with over the years, the look of someone trying to deduce his age. that's one benefit of his unusual body, at least; it's all too easy to nudge someone in either direction. ]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Commander. [ he returns the nod, and figures he owes her a bit of an elaboration. ] The Imperial Service serves the planet Barrayar, my home world. Well -- we're sworn to the Emperor rather than the planet itself, I suppose. I take it the Normandy is your command?

the delerium;

[thegoodlighter]

[ somewhere outside the door, a distance his senses can no longer perceive - was he a few feet away? ten? he'd lost track in the time he had spent outside. safety was in reach, but not for him. for minutes, but what seemed like hours, he had been growing increasingly delerius.

now, major adama was utterly paralyzed, as much as any would be by whatever agents was causing the strain, weariness and lethargy. but what had quickened his immobile state was the fear. the instant panic attack when he reached a certain point, rapidly causing an advance state of what was now utter paralysis. he couldn't even move his lips.

organs were still working, but slowly. barely. he was going to die. again.

it was literally exactly the same as when he'd been prepared to die, trapped in a lifeless viper as his oxygen ran out. except this time, he wanted to live. and that caused the sharpest pain he had ever felt, a burning line running from his heart to his gut.

even his mind was losing the ability to process his situation. with the subtlest of final movements, he managed to twitch his index finger just enough to fire his flare gun. then he closed his eyes.

his fate was no longer up to him.]

[novacharge]

[ she'd cleared her head -- thought she had, anyway -- when she catches sight of the flare. someone else? had to be.

Shepard doesn't think twice before jumping back out the door. she can see whoever it is -- they're close, closer than she was. easy enough to get, harder to pull back maybe, but now that she knows he's there she can't leave him. the ghosts press in on her less, shapes hovering at the corners of her eyes instead of around her. her feet catch on the uneven ground again -- she misses her armor suddenly, sharply, but manages to come to the man's side all the same. ]

Let me get you out of here.

[ it's the best reassurance she can offer, and attempts to wrap an arm around him, getting him to lean on her so she can carry his weight. the voices, the visions, come raging back -- strong now than they did before and Shepard has to scream at herself to get her legs to move again. ]

[thegoodlighter]

[ his mid is blinking, not that he notices. what does it mean when it blinks? at least it wasn't red. it was very likely to become yellow. he felt like he was about to go into a long sleep.

at a glacial pace, his senses regained minimum functioning as he was carried nearer to the door. carried? when had rescue showed up? all he managed was a groaned mumble.

still, an improvement. he was gaining function. not enough to be useful yet. he's going to feel very guilty and embarrassed later. if they make it back. is she having as hard a time as he was? clearly not. he tried to move a foot, but all it did was cause a stumble.

he cursed in his head. he hated being useless, or a burden. ] T-tank...oo.

[ sounded clearer in his head. damn. ]

[novacharge]

Don't [ her fault, she's sorry she's sorry she's sorry-- ] thank me yet.

[ she grits out, fighting off the images and the fear and the pressing need to run faster, you won't escape but run run run. Shepard manages to catch his stumble before he brings them both down; pulling him along with her. she doesn't know him, but she's sure as hell not going to leave him behind.

her foot catches in the door, and Shepard barely stumbles inside with the man - one hand clutching the doorframe as she gulps for air to clear her thread. again. it's slow, but the images seem to fade, pulled back away from her. ]

What the [ another gulp of air, and her mind empties of the ghosts further. ] crap was that?

A!

[makeherdance]

[ She's not the only one that's noticed the strange sounds in that area of the ship, and yet Joker can't keep from venturing back all the same. Still, this is the first time he's come across a familiar figure in this otherwise unfamiliar setting. As disorienting as being dropped onto a strange ship in a strange sector of space has been, he's been muddling through as best he can, but all that seems unimportant when he steps into the observation area and comes to an abrupt halt, wondering for a moment if he isn't hallucinating. Wishful thinking, maybe? ]

Commander?!

[novacharge]

[ that voice -- Shepard's immediately pulled from her thoughts, turning to face who she knows will be Joker. he sounds as incredulous as she feels. but it's good to see someone she knows here, even better someone from the Normandy. ]

Joker? When did you get here?

[ maybe 'how' would be a better question to ask, but as far as she's been able to find out they all get here the same way. ]

[makeherdance]

[ He gives an incredulous laugh, taking a step forward, one hand reaching out to steady himself against a brace as he stares at her in amazement and relief. ]

A few days ago. When did you get here? I don't suppose you have any idea what's going on here, do you?

[ Now that would be wishful thinking. ]

[novacharge]

Not more than what was in the contract.

[ shamefully. Shepard quickly closes the distance between them - by now used to the lower gravity. ]

About the same. I didn't mean to miss you.

[ she'd been torn between hoping her crew would arrive and preferring them to stay in their own universe and fight. to say that she's not sorry to find one of them here would be a lie. ]

a!

[protohistory]

[Liara has lost count of the number of times she's made her way back to the aft since her arrival. The voice there had been curious, faint but growing steadily stronger upon each visit-- something a part of her knew to be wary of, to avoid, but insatiable curiosity has always worked both for and against her.

She expects to find herself alone when she returns, but instead her breath catches as she finds an all-too-familiar figure waiting instead, looking out at the offered view.]

Shepard!

hands to cheeks liara

[novacharge]

[ hoping to hear a familiar voice is different than actually hearing it, especially since she'd just been wishing for, well-- ]

Liara!

[ her thoughts interrupted, Shepard pushes herself away from the railing to greet her friend, not bothering to hide her smile of relief. maybe it would be better if there were some of her crew left on the Normandy to fight the Reapers -- that is still their priority even without her and they know it -- but with getting back their end point, she's at least comforted by the fact they'll get there. ]

It's good to see you.

/cheekhands!

[protohistory]

[Liara smiles warmly in reply, relief washing over her as she picks up her pace, eagerly meeting Shepard halfway. For all the toughening up she's done since their first mission together, there are some things that never change-- like so many of her crewmates, Liara just feels better about everything when Shepard is around.]

The same to you. I should have known I'd see you sooner or later-- it seems to be the way of things, whenever the impossible happens.

[Even if she doesn't quite believe in 'impossible' anymore. Not after all they've seen.]

And here I thought I was alone.

[novacharge]

Don't I know it. [ Shepard mutters, although in good humor. accepting it is a lot easier than pretending the amount of people who shoot at her on a daily basis is normal. ] Joker's around here somewhere. [ and with his sunny disposition to boot. ]

I'm glad you're here, Liara. Knowing that there's people around I can trust? It's invaluable. [ there's only so much faith Shepard is willing to give their captains. Liara's useful as the shadow broker, sure, but Shepard has always enjoyed their friendship. ] I did find something that might be worth investigating. If you're thinking about expanding your network.

[ no point in throwing about the name shadow broker here, especially if Liara intends on getting back into the business. ]

A

[childhood_surgery]

Commander...

[While the tell-tale suit is similar to Tali's, it's darker in nature - as is that familiar voice. It's cordial in nature, just like the court case, all over again.]

When I agreed to this voyage, I hadn't imagined you would be given a similar invitation, much less your accompanying crew. Am I to understand we have eluded pursuit by the Reaper threat entirely?

[novacharge]

Admiral. [ a small nod of respect -- she'd thought she'd seen the admiral off to the crucible project after Rannoch. looks like whatever this ship is, and wherever it's going, it has a fondness for people from her universe. that's. not exactly that comforting, when she thinks about it. ] In this universe, yes. As far as I know.

[ but the battle is far from over back in theirs, and Shepard wants to get back to it as soon as possible. ]

[childhood_surgery]

More hope than know, I suspect... Though, I don't recognise the cartographic data. Then again, my speciality isn't that of stellar navigation.

[Arms unfold and Xen shifts hips, relaxing body language sufficiently enough to calmly walk forward, even if that characteristic imperious poise is retained. Quarians seem to be as diverse in character as humanity and few exemplified that as much as Xen.]

A suggestion, Commander: While tasked with gathering resources, we should make retrieval of weapons-related technology a priority for study. Should I make any discoveries vital for the war effort, we can transmit the proceeds home. Assuming, that is, we find the means by which to do so...

[A conspiracy? Sure. But the campaign comes first, even over here. Xen lighting up her omni-tool for the purposes of taking a few cursory readings of their surroundings.]

I can only hope our proverbial captors have the ability to halt time, as well as traverse dimensions... Just the technology from this vessel, alone, may be sufficient to provide us with an advantage against the Reaper fleet.

b

[turianrebel]

[While he is more than capable of handling himself in close quarter's combat, Garrus has always preferred to keep danger at arm's length. It was for that exact reason why when the lethargy begun to make his vision blur that he retreated to what he believed was the ship.

Distance from here to there was impossible to discern with the ghostly phantoms plaguing his mind. They weren't real. They couldn't be real. Garrus repeated the words like a mantra, because even when Palaven was burning and his people were dying at the hands of the Reapers his wits remained.

His finger itches against the trigger of his M-98 Widow. At least if things get too bad he knows that some things never change and a good shot will always be a permanent deterrent.]

Don't come any closer.

[He warns the moment he hears footsteps approaching his location and he is grateful that despite the fatigue that his body knows just what to do. The sniper rifle in his hands is set at the ready and one of his blue eyes is set in the scope.]

[novacharge]

[ the warning, if not the words, cut through the haze and the panic. uncharacteristic of her, she knows, but she also knows that she has to return to the ship. she has to, has to, has to and someone is blocking her way. gun? gun. shit.

she's about to throw him to the side, out of her way, the purple hue of biotics shimmering over her -- she knows that voice. she knows him. it's enough to stop her in her tracks when nothing else would. ]

I know you. [ she bites out, against the press of the figures all around her, the crawling fear. ] Don't shoot!

[ if you shoot her, Garrus, she's calling for a rematch of their shooting contests and she's not going to let you win, damn it. ]

[turianrebel]

[Shepard's first response is a hiss of frustration, even with the enhancements to his site provided by his rifle he still can't quite make out what's real and what's not.]

Shepard?

[For instance there is a moment of clarity, like any dream suddenly she's there just like the ship and the familiar shade of red hair is impossible to mistake. The gun falls just enough for him to look more closely with both eyes, while his mandibles flair in annoyance as MID continues to beep away.]

No! This is crazy - just stay right there!

[The gun is lifted again, but this time he starts walking forward. If he's scared he tries his best not to let it show in his voice.]

[novacharge]

[ she doesn't stay - not willing or wanting to have the phantoms close in around her again. more than they are. instead she meets him halfway, puts on an extra burst of speed even if it's like trying to run through water. part of her, the part that isn't trying to deal with ghosts that aren't the ones she came in with, is relieved to see him. more than relieved. ]

Get to the ship, Garrus! [ that's their priority right now, she thinks. if they can get there they can regroup, figure out what the hell is going on. once she's there with him, her hand goes to his arm as if to confirm that he's here and not something thrown at her by her mind to make this all the more difficult. solid, real. that's something. ] We have to go.