So, this is a thing that's happening.

[osteological]

Sure, Shepard, I'll go on that away mission alone since you need someone stealthy. What could possibly go wrong?

She'd known from the start that it was a terrible idea, but this terrible? Checking out an anomaly should've been routine, especially with the Normandy so close behind -- but the moment the Kodiak breached the edge of the strange energy readings, it was as if time slowed down ... up until she felt herself hurtling toward what looked to be a very real, solid planet. She clenched her hands on the wheel and summoned up her combat drone to try and use its limited programming to try and control the temperature-based damage that was occurring to the main computer system. Times like this made her glad for her environment suit already protecting her from whatever atmosphere she was travelling through.

The HUD on her mask flung information at her faster than she could process it; there was only one number she was really concerned about, and that was the ever-plunging altitude monitor. Coming in this fast onto a planet like this was suicide, she knew, so she did the only thing she could think of: she slammed on the directional thrusters and sent herself spinning sideways. If she could delay the fall a little, maybe she'd be able to survive the impact. She closed her eyes and tried to brace herself for the crash, but she had no doubt it was going to be a rough one.

The ship impacted against the planet as a near-dead weight, sending up a cloud of dust, debris, and flame. The mass effect core might've been intact, but those thrusters had exploded in a magnificent blast. It would be visible for miles, Tali thought foggily as she started to feel her away across the deck of the ship. Who knew whether it would explode completely or not? She didn't want to stick around to find out just yet.

Comments

[princeinexile]

It wasn't the comet come early. He was certain of that, at least. Still, out here alone in the middle of nowhere? Zuko was certain it was something special. So he'd turned his ostrichhorse in that direction, and began to head off after it, curious as to what he might find.

He stopped some distance away, dismounted and secured the beast, before he pulled his scarf up over his nose to deal with the smoke. The fire-- the energy-- was strange. He didn't know what to make of it, at all... Not now, not like this. It's felt unnatural.

But he approached anyway.

[gofortheoptics]

Her head was throbbing. She heard footsteps coming closer as she dragged herself out into the open air and sighed, hand sliding down to her pistol. If someone was going to ambush her, she wanted to be ready.

Her drone hovered next to her, awaiting her command as she managed to push herself up, groaning.

Well, this was going well. She staggered toward the figure and tried to focus on keeping herself steady despite how she swayed side to side -- she had to at least find out whether this person was friendly or not before she collapsed at his feet, right?

Right.

[princeinexile]

'This person' is a boy who isn't even quite seventeen yet; he's circling the strange wrecked mass, and finds it to be like someone's upturned some sort of wagon over, only there's no wheels and it's made of metal, like a fire nation ship would be.

He leeched heat from it's hull with simple bending tricks, moving energy through himself, exhaling stream with each motion, until finally he could stand to grasp the handle of the door and pulled on it. It creaked, and gave way nosily.

And then, a fire-maimed, apparently human teenage boy stuck his head in the shuttle and looked around.

[gofortheoptics]

The change in temperature had been unmistakable. Her display was suddenly less worried than before and her drone had fewer fires to put out than should've been possible. Tali blinked behind her mask and squinted at the figure that had appeared, about to offer the boy her own help up until she saw that his scar was old, healed. He didn't look immediately like trouble - no visible armour, no Cerberus insignia. She made no move to lower her weapon, but didn't fire.

Her drone whizzed over to the newcomer. Nothing on the rudimentary weapon scan. She took a shaky breath in and tried another step forward that ended with her bracing herself against the now smouldering wreckage.

"...what planet is this?" At least her translator was intact - she hadn't the presence of mind to speak English manually right now if she had needed to.

[princeinexile]

There is a bout of long, blank staring.

This is probably going to unnerving after a while, because it lasts for an uncomfortably long time. Golden eyes, just- staring.

Then, flailing, and backing out, and nearly falling over himself happens. Zuko panics. IT's undignified. Later, he will never speak of it. But he nearly kills himself climbing out and nearly falling on his face.

Whoops?

[gofortheoptics]

"Hey!" She isn't going to let her would-be rescuer disappear into the ether on a strange planet even if he was staring at her like a madman...it isn't a wise thing, losing a person willing to walk into burning wreckage to see if there's anyone inside.

"Wait! You can't just...leave!" She struggles through the door of the ship and lets out a heavy cough. She's still a little faint from the crash, even if quarians were more resilient than most people expected. She hasn't been able to check for suit leaks - if she had anything major she'd know, but minor ones were another story.