Magnitude 9

[bravenewmods]

[It is almost precisely 2AM when the first earthquake hits.

The ground vibrates dully at first, like the rumble of construction machinery or the shaking of a heavy Pokémon coming down the streets. In the throes of sleep, it seems unalarming, if a bit out of the ordinary. Worse than this has occurred in the past.

Then the walls shake. Paintings tilt and sway and objects teeter and fall off the shelves, one after another. The ground shifts underfoot and a cautious step out of bed only succeeds in sending the frightened sleeper reeling to the floor.

High up in the sky, the towers sway. An infinitesimal amount at first, but any amount of swaying is terrifying, unfathomable, an event so utterly wrong it is inconceivable that it could be happening. The tilting progresses, becomes noticeable, measurable, and it can only be hoped that it is a reflection of a panicked imagination rather than reality.

After an eternity, the rumbling dies down...

Just when it seems safe to investigate, about a half hour after the quake began, the Warp Band flares to life. A voice speaks - it can be heard, too, from outdoors, issuing from the emergency broadcast system. It is a woman's voice, speaking briskly, efficiently, holding no trace of fear or panic.]

Effective immediately, the Council has issued a state of emergency for Union. This is not a drill or an exercise. All citizens, please be prepared to follow standard residential tower emergency procedures; all relevant instructions are posted on every floor. For the majority of citizens, this means to stay in place and to take shelter until the quakes are confirmed to be over. Do not attempt to evacuate unless instructed to do so now or unless severe injury has been sustained.

This message is for Towers D and E of Sector 3 and the Cloud Towers in Sector 5. Again, this message is for Towers D and E of Sector 3 and the Cloud Towers of Sector 5. The gas lines have ruptured, and all residents should prepare for immediate evacuation. Swords and Guardsmen assigned to these sectors should proceed immediately to their stations to assist. Further instruction will be given by officers on site. Again, residents of all other towers should stay in place at this time.

Entrance 2 to the Old City has collapsed and Entrances 3 and 5 have been severely damaged. Again, the Industrial District entrance has collapsed and the Habitat and the Southern Wall entrances have been damaged. At this time, a large number of wild Pokémon are seeking entrance into Union from all other entrances. Rangers and remaining Guardsmen, please report to these areas to begin containment measures. Be prepared for potential aggression.

All medical personnel trained in Emergency Medicine, report to the Medical Center if and when possible. All Habitat employees with Level 2 clearance and above, report to the Habitat Tower to initiate emergency stabilization protocols.

All citizens, please stay alert for further information. Major aftershocks are predicted to continue for the next six hours, and damage assessments will be ongoing. Be ready for further quakes and be prepared to contact emergency services if an emergency situation is seen developing.

[She cuts off with alacrity. An uneasy echo hangs in the air after she concludes...]

((This post may be used as a mingle thread to address any of the issues raised within. You may also make your individual posts at this time. Responses may be addressed in regards to the initial emergency situation, or forward dated to address the assessment of damage after the first major quake. The wild Pokémon will not stop coming, and the aftershocks will continue for long after six hours.

Characters may follow instructions but may also feel free to move around at will and help however they can. Actions taken throughout this event will be noted and may affect the status of Union after the end of the event.))

Comments

[heartstorage]

[Great, it's someone he actually likes and recognizes him. If it was a stranger, he'd be more prone to lying or just making a break for it. But he'd feel guilty doing that to Eren. Ugh, stupid bonds of friendship]

[So he tries the very mature route of pleading like a kid.]

Awww, c'mon Eren! I won't be any trouble, really! I know how to take care myself and to stay clear of the Pokemon!

[stahlflugel]

Sorry, Sora. It's for your own good, you know? It's not that I don't think you can't take care of yourself. [Eren offers a sympathetic look] It's just, if I let you go and you got hurt, I'd feel really terrible! Just give the Guard and Swords a day or so to get everything under control and then you can explore all you want.

[heartstorage]

[He was looking down at his feet while Eren was talking, feeling bad because he knew he had a point. But the last part makes him look up and glare in a flash of anger] This isn't about exploring!

[stahlflugel]

Let me guess. You want to help people and pokémon. [Eren folds his arms again, giving it his best SCOLDING VOICE] Do you have a stack of potions on you? Berry balm? A clear path to the clinic? Do you know where all the safe spots are? What about first aid training? Look, I know you want to help. But you're more likely to just get hurt and need help yourself.

[heartstorage]

[He's still scowling] Of course I don't have that stuff! I'm still a student. Sure I wanna help- but I know I'm as useless as you say!

[he turns his glare back to the ground; trying to calm down. He knows Eren is just doing his job.]

I'm just trying to get to the Medical Center. There's someone there I wanna check on. Can you at least escort me there instead?

[stahlflugel]

[Eren doesn't wanna kill his enthusiasm. He just doesn't want his new friend to get hurt]

I can definitely do that. You wanna see something cool?

[heartstorage]

[It's okay Eren it's Sora. He'll get over it in like two minutes. ]

Thanks...[He breathes in relief. But he glances up, wary but curious at the cool thing]

[Okay maybe make that one minute]

What?

[stahlflugel]

[Eren grins and in a flash of light, shifts. Which is a pretty cool thing in and of itself. But his pokémon form IS pretty neat... and pretty scary, actually. He is a nearly 6 foot tall bird with steel claws and skull. He spreads his wings with a metallic "SHING" sound.

Never let it be said Eren Jaeger doesn't like to show off]

Told you I had great wings!

[heartstorage]

[Sora jumps back a little out of surprise because wow there is flashing and shifting and a bird that looks like an ostrich from hell! ]

[Except once the initial shock wears off, the wide eyes change from surprise to awe. Since seriously, you're an ostrich from that looks badass]

Whooooa-! They're so cool!

[stahlflugel]

[Eren grins, which is kind of unsettling in and of itself since he has a lot of teeth. He brings one of his wings forward for Sora to look more closely at]

Check it. The green feathers are like blades! [for emphasis, he rubs them across each other, and they make a metallic "shink shink shink" sound]

[heartstorage]

[It's okay Sora's survival instinct is low enough that lots of teeth don't faze him all that much. Now if you were a Zubat-shifter on the other hand...]

Wow!

[He'll reach out to try to touch the wings because clearly the answer to seeing blade feathers is to TOUCH THEM]

Are they heavy? Do you feel it when they get touched? Is it really metal?

[Congrats you totally distracted him from his earlier upset]

[stahlflugel]

[Eren allows this, but gives a warning] They're real sharp, so be careful.

[SUCCESS. Eren is the winner] Not heavy at all. Nah, it's more like... hair? You can't feel an individual hair, but you can feel when someone touches it. Like pressure. And they're for real metal! Steel!

[heartstorage]

I will be! [TOUCHING THE FEATHERS!! Except okay he knows to be careful since say same concept as his axe- don't touch the edge. He looks awed because wow, it is like touching living metal]

That's amazing. [He laughs a little] I'd hate to get into a fight with you, you must be really tough to beat!

[stahlflugel]

[well, it is. He is living metal. Eren gives a rather unsettling grin]

Damn right I'm tough to beat. And if you don't want to find out first hand you better get your butt to the medical centerl!!

[he's bluffing, of course, and the smile on his face gives him away, but he still lowers himself into an attack position and rustles those metal feathers intimidatingly]

[heartstorage]

[He laughs, knowing that it's a bluff. He puts his hands on his hips and gives him an amused look]

Hey, I thought you're supposed to escort me.

[stahlflugel]

Yeah yeah. C'mon, you, let's go. [Eren headbutts Sora gently to get him walking]

[heartstorage]

[Headbutted! Fortunately it just makes him hop forward a bit since it was gentle enough because yeah- kid has the weight of a twig]

Okay, okay! [Starts walking]

...Thanks, by the way.

[stahlflugel]

[Eren walks behind him, keeping close distance]

Ha? For what?

[heartstorage]

For escorting me to the medical center. I was worried for a moment you were gonna send me back to the orphanage.

[Or stab him, but you know he won't mention that part]

[stahlflugel]

No, I... Wait, you live at the orphanage?

[Eren didn't know that. He blinks a few times]

[heartstorage]

Uh-

[He glances away, rubbing the back of his neck.]

Yeah. I do.

[stahlflugel]

That's... [Eren looks down at his feet] Sorry. I didn't know. Heh... Honestly, I should probably be there. I haven't seen my dad in the flesh in a year and some change!

[heartstorage]

[he was about to say the usual "it's okay" brush off. Since frankly he didn't know how to talk about that stuff. But eren's remarks distract him]

- You haven't? Where did he go? And where have you been staying?

[stahlflugel]

Oh, he's around the city. He sends me money once a month. Dr. Jaeger, have you heard of him? There was a pretty bad epidemic a few years back in one of the poorer districts and he saved a bunch of people. Anyway... I just live by myself. It's not that bad.

[heartstorage]

[Epidemic.........okay he should probably lie]

Really? Uh, Wow...I don't remember the name, but some of my neighbors got sick...!

[Sure. Why not. The more important part is that Eren is alone]

Oh. That sounds...a bit lonely. But on the other hand, I bet it's great to have your own space! And privacy!