A Close Call?

[bravenewmods]

It comes suddenly and without warning. The ground beneath the land shakes with great force and fury, the great towers of Union shifting dangerously due to the magnitude. Somehow, miraculously, nobody is injured, but great structural damage is sustained on many of the connecting bridges that keep the city together.

On the streets, people are fearful. What if another quake comes? What if they aren't as lucky that time? Teams of Engineers are all over the city, checking on the damage and making what repairs they can. Electricity has been knocked out in many areas and crews are still struggling to recover it, although the Signal Tower remains with power and broadcasts over radio and television are sent to reassure the populace.

Thankfully, no aftershocks come. Messages are already coming in from other ally cities, Caldera and Citadel are mostly fine, Refuge, while fine, has devolved into panicked prayer to appease whoever they offended to send such a large quake. As surveyors go out to examine the damage, they will find that new underground routes have been opened all over. Unfortunately, those who went to investigate have not returned, sending a second wave of panic through many of the cities. The Union Council is working with the governments of the other cities to plan a proper response, and they hope to announce within the next few days as the city recovers. For now, however, the new paths are strictly off-limits to all citizens, and have been placed under heavy guard by the Swords of the Savior, the Steel Battalion, and some Valkyrie volunteers.

((Feel free to use this post as an IC mingle to react to the earthquakes!))

Comments

Action, several hours after the quake

[lunchleader]

[If anyone's visiting the Happy-Me Pharmacy to stock up on medical supplies, or just wandering around the area, they'll see Right half-way out the door while talking with an older guy. He's clearly trying to sound as normal and cheerful as he could possibly be, given recent events.]

...'ll be careful, Dad. Don't worry. And I won't be alone, either. I got Softy and everyone. We'll look after each other. Oh--and say hi to Mom and the rest of the family for me, okay?

[Right's carrying a bag of purchases, in one arm and Tamago in another. He also has Weedling wrapped around his leg, Usopp and Springtime on his shoulders, and Bakudan nestled on top of his head. Plus there's about several other Pokemon gathered close to his feet, trying not to block the doorway into the pharmacy. Soft Steel, however, is the most tense among the group, eyes and ears on high alert.]

[niepokonany]

[I - Voice, shortly after the quake]

[The quality of the audio is rather damaged by the thunder of hoofbeats and what sounds sort of like rushing wind.]

Is ----yone ok?

Ugh, Savior's holy ---

Ok, someone talk to me now! Did you feel that back in Union? Is anyone hurt?

[II - Action, several hours later]

[Even with the help of a well-trained Rapidash, it took him a while to make it all the way home.]

[He's exhausted when he reaches the gates -- it's somehow a relief to see it all still standing -- but he ignores it, breaking into a run himself when he dismounts. It's clear just by seeing people on the street that they must have felt it, too, and powerfully. Anyone he crosses paths with, friend or stranger, might find him grabbing their shoulders out of the blue.]

What do we know now? How bad is it?

1.

[ladyofluminosity]

[ Her voice is a little shaky, but she sounds relatively together, considering. ]

Feliks?! Where are you?! Thank the Savior you're all right? You are all right, right? You're not hurt, are you?

[ Okay, maybe she is a little wound up. ]

Where are you right now? Are you nearby?

1

[brandnewshoes]

[She recognizes Feliks's voice from a few months ago, but can't remember her name. Estelle's ordinarily bright voice comes over the line, though, with a crackle when she speaks. It's a lot more frenzied.]

Yeah! No injuries here, but I think a bridge is close to falling. We're getting everyone out of the tower...

Late but 2

[rainsrespite]

[Yuuna's just returning from a short patrol, looking for people stuck outside the city and surveying for more cracks when she spots Feliks just in time to have him grab her shoulder.]

We know that there was an earthquake, and there are cracks appearing in the ground.

[A grim expression crosses her face, but her voice is steady, solid.]

It looks a bit like the canyon from the air.

Video.

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

[ It's everyone's favorite Blissey shifter/nurse on the band. It looks like someone else is holding it up--someone a lot taller than her, unfortunately not like that's hard, so the poor thing is visibly on her tip toes and looking up at the camera as she speaks. Her hands are on her hips. ]

Hello everyone, my name is Farah and I'm here on behalf of the Medical Center here in Union. I want to make sure that no one is acting too rashly! You never know when or if another earthquake will strike, and while we managed to dodge a bullet this time, there's no telling what sort of damage a second or third tremor could cause.

We ask that people stay away from structurally unsound towers, and practice extreme caution when moving through some of the more heavy-hit areas of the city. If you or anyone else is injured, please seek medical attention immediately! Our staff is on standby and ready to help any and all incoming patients.

[ She bows. ]

Thank you very much, and stay safe!

Video.

[lunchleader]

Do you guys need any extra help? I'm not a healer, but if you need another set of hands for stuff, I can help out a bit. [In Right's mind, it's no different than when Union hosted a flood of Calderan refugees. At that time, he was kept pretty busy making sure that everyone got enough food and water handed out to them.]

Video - about an hour later

[celebrity_commentator]

[The good news is, the Union Divine Theater is a lot more stable than her old lofty apartment was.]

[The bad news is Rise was out shopping when the quake happened and wound up in a mess anyway.]

Okay, earthquakes are still the worst. Does anyone know what happened? Is anyone hurt?

[The other good news is that there weren't any Pokémon around (or under) Union who were still dangerous to her team, so rather than needing help this time she's really just annoyed.]

Video - about an hour later

[lunchleader]

[So let's say that Right vaguely remembers meeting Rise at least once after he got hired the prior month.]

I think one of the theater Pokemon fell down the stairs, but Tamago's checking up on him. Everyone else is just shaken up by it - especially Wagon here. [Right himself is being clung to by several of his Pokemon, and his spare arm's wrapped around a shivering and whining Herdier in his lap. Rise might be able to hear a Bellsprout trying to comfort a rather irate Pineco in the background.]

Action - shortly after quake

[blood_and_thunder]

[When the quake had happened, Noire was out and about with her Pokepals, going to see if she could get one of hers to evolve. But when it struck, she panicked, and grabbed the smallest ones - Snowrunt and Murkrow - into her arms, curling up into a ball to protect them, while Liepard and Dusknoir protected her. It came, it went, nobody's hurt...

But Noire's still kinda too afraid to get up.]

Eeeeee....

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka is hurrying back to the theater on her new City Bike - being on wheels during an earthquake had been an interesting experience - but stops when she notices somebody balled up in the middle of the street. That's the archer, isn't it? From the dairy stand?

She stops her bike and hops off. ]

Are you all right?

A few hours later...

[realmenknitplushies]

As much as Kanji might be an Engineer in ability and not in profession, he's still trying to pull his weight around here... but damn, that'd been unpleasant. (Thank you very much, Ground weakness.)

Despite his nerves and worries, though, he's helping clear some side streets in the residential district, hauling bricks and debris around. His Pangoro and Golurk are helping out, too, and with quite some force.
This is going to take some time, that's for sure.

[conquerorofwaves]

Sinbad was among those out on the streets, clamoring on the roof of the boarding house he's staying at, grabbing loosened roof titles, and chunks from larger buildings before another quake comes by to shake off the debris and rain it down on unsuspecting people. The others helping had set up a rudimentary pully system out of ropes and a large bucket, so he could bring the debris down without leaving the rooftop.

He might still be somewhat easy to startle, but the kid decided he should just get over the shock of his first earthquake and help. He hums slightly as he grabs at the rope and starts pulling - jerking as he felt the bucket hit something solid. He tugs once, twice, it's definitely stuck on something. So the violet-haired teen leaned over to look, and noticed Kanji.

"Hey! Down there! Can you give me a hand for a sec?"

Open to Dwarfhaus

[expertonshutters]

[Well, that was sure unexpected. The quake hit right in the middle of the Oakenshield household trying to move into a bigger place. Hayato had two heavy boxes stacked up in his hands when it hit. The quake knocked him off balance and into a large shelf sending a ton of stuff down over top of him.]

[You can kind of tell he's there by the arm poking out.]

Ow.

----

[Later over the network. VIDEO]

Hey, that was nuts. Is everyone okay? Is anyone missing? I don't think I've ever felt anything like that before. Is that normal around here?

action of course.

[darer]

[He's not the only one knocked over. Thorin at least isn't buried. He just groans, picking himself up off the floor.]

Everyone alright?

Video!

[lunchleader]

Everyone that I know is accounted for now. I think someone fell down the stairs, but Tamago told me that they're okay.

You alright, Hayato?

[hallacious]

[When the shaking starts, Ishimaru's eyes go wide and he rushes for his Pokemon. Doesn't think to send them to the habitat in his state of panic - there's a lingering worry in the back of his mind that it might not be any safer, and then they wouldn't have him - and he dives under his desk as quickly as he can. Aritomo is thankfully asleep, but Hirobumi and Kuroda remember this all too well, laying frozen under the desk.

He pulls both of them into a tight embrace and shuts his eyes tight until the tremors stop.]

[Later, VIDEO]

This is Kiyotaka Ishimaru, head of the Brentwood disciplinary committee! I would like to ask that all students please remain calm and avoid venturing into unstable areas for your own safety. I will be patrolling through the halls to ensure that nobody has been injured!

As for the rest of the city, the same goes for you! Be sure to keep away from any areas of the city that have been damaged or seem unsafe, and keep others from doing reckless things. Do not panic! Safety and vigilance are the top priorities in a situation like this!

[He says that, but even he seems a little unnerved.]

[Video ]

[makeitquick]

Your school got structure damage? Or is that just a wary thing?

[ video ]

[pearltergeist]

[ Pearl looks a little shaken on the feed, but otherwise unharmed. ]

Thank you for your concern! Does everything seem alright in your school?

Action, poking around Union

[ladyofluminosity]

[ While the general populous has been cautioned to stay away from fissure points and new pathways for their own good, Lux isn't exactly the type to just sit on her hands and do nothing. She can't really get close due to the Swords and Guard making things increasingly difficult, but that doesn't mean she isn't going to try to get as close as she can without being "escorted off the premises."

She isn't the most sneaky person out there, but the excuse of "official Seekers business" has gotten her far enough that she hasn't been thrown out outright. That being said, she's still at least a hundred yards away from any given site, much to her chagrin.

You may even see her arguing with someone about this. ]

I don't intend to go in there, but an anomaly like this needs to be properly investigated and cataloged in case this happens again in the future! I'm here on official Seeker business!

[actsmagnificent]

[ Something is watching you, Lux. Watching you from behind, in the shadows.

Something that only betrays its presence by the low whirr of wings.

Perhaps that feeling of being watched is a coincidence...? ]

Video, five minutes after quake

[conquerorofwaves]

[Sinbad is blinking owlishly at the screen, holding a fishbowl upside down - no wait, given there's still water and a highly agitated magikarp in it, he's actually upside down and holding it right-side up. He started speaking slowly, still getting over the shock]

Uh. Guys. What in the world happened? It felt like a tsunami that went through the ground - is this normal?!

[outtahere]

[Banzu sets the Warp Band down on some surface as soon as he responds, speaking while he starts returning fallen tools to a pegboard above a workbench while the camera films him.]

Called an "earthquake". Like the Pokémon move, if you know it. They're not common around Union. Been a bit over a year since the last time, and there were a whole bunch at once then.

Audio, a bit later

[outtahere]

Show of hands: who's wondering if Team Evolution is somehow involved in this?

Audio

[makeitquick]

Would y'even see if I raised it now?

Action, fifteen minutes after quake, Union Divine Theater

[actsmagnificent]

....Jolteon.

[ The Divine Defense Force has suffered a casualty. Gold is sort of zigzagging as he walks, and - horrors - his ear is bent. But this is nothing! He falls down the stairs far too frequently for this to slow him down!! And with Trainer out and about running errands, a very important duty has fallen to him.

One by one, he pokes his head into every room. Is everyone okay? Does anybody need help?? ] Jolteon eee?

Action, fifteen minutes after quake, Union Divine Theater

[lunchleader]

We're okay, Gold...mostly. [Right's darn near covered from head to toe with clinging Pokemon, with Wagon whimpering in his lap. It's almost comical, what with all the puffed up furs and tails. Vlad the Zubat's laying halfway out of the closet, slowly coming to after landing on his head due to falling from his perch. In one corner, Rick the Clefairy's trying to to calm Creeper, who's making herself as Hardened as she possibly could for a Metapod, by sweet-talking to her. In another corner, Weedling the Bellsprout's gently Wrapped around Bakudan, and such actions seems to be the only thing keeping the Pineco from Self-Destructing out of frustrated fear.]

[pearltergeist]

( i: action; open to anyone in the ninetales vale area )

[ Pearl is meditating when the quakes hit, her Espurr standing on watchful guard beside her while her Hoppip dozes slightly. of course, even Pearl's well-honed concentration would be broken by something like an earthquake. Pearl starts out of her trance with a loud shriek when the quakes hit, immediately making a dive for her Pokemon friends to hold them close protectively until the shaking subsides.

when it does, she rises to her feet, her face pale and fearful, and after a moment spent collecting herself and checking her Pokemon over, immediately rushes off in search of friends and family, calling out their names as she passes. ]


( ii: video; about an hour or so after the quake )

[ on broadcast, Pearl looks rather more composed than she was when the quake hit, though still nervous. ]

I realise that everybody else probably wants to know this as well, and so please forgive me if I am repeating a question that's already been asked, but... do we know how bad the damage is from the earthquake yet? I only hope that nobody has been injured.

[missleadingquestions]

[Maya's got the same idea when the earthquake hits, instantly running for her younger cousin. Out of everyone there, she's the priority; most of Maya's pokemon are ghosts, and thus as unaffected as Maya is.

She doesn't even think to dart through the shadows, focusing on running to find Pearl- and the moment she does, she nearly bowls her over.]

Pearly!

[She takes her cousin's face in her hands, checking her over.]

Are you okay? I heard you scream-- are you alright?