Shadows and Secrets

On Burninandom:

Several individuals have gone missing only to return a week later seemingly unharmed, though with the habit of sleeping during the day and being active at night. Any family members start suffering from anemia shortly after and others nearby also begin to show symptoms. These individuals also seem to have startling similar traits. They have either become insane or have become rebellious against any authority and quick to anger.


On Rhea:

Similar events occur simultaneous to those on Burninandom. The main difference is those that come back have become interested in art almost to complete distraction. It could be any kind of art, including music and fashion. Some of them have even begun dabbling in it themselves. Those that do not return might be spotted every so often, or rather what's left of them might be spotted. Those that are spotted are shockingly grotesque. Even the acne ridden teenager has nothing on these guys. They do seem to stick to shadows and stay out of light, even at night.


On Dreva:

It's mirroring Burninandom and Rhea. Those that are disappearing and returning show signs of sudden interest in the occult. There are a few that differ, however, they seem almost hand picked among the elite on Dreva.

They suspect, knowing the existence of Esoteric, and so factories start cranking out million candlepower spotlights for people. Those converted and not destroyed, some forty five out of sixty people, are driven out of their homes and into the woods, too.

(OOC: Do you want me to start naming specific people?)

The local authorities on Burninandom decide to treat these symptoms as a disease, and one which affects the minds of its victims. As a result, the authorities attempt to round up the afflicted, and bring them to holding areas to try to figure out what is wrong with them.

(OOC: If you want to.)

On Rhea:

For each destroyed there's a replacement several days later. Those driven out of their homes find shelter in the woods, whether it's abandoned housing or they dig their way underground for the daylight hours. The ones that stayed mostly hidden pose a problem as they seem to have a gift for evading people.

On Burninandom:

The insane ones pose a peculiar problem. When they're identified, they seem to just not be there when authorities look for them. It's as if they just know they're being hunted for and blend in. The rebellious ones? Well, they put up a good fight and seem ready to die rather than being taken alive. They're also stronger and faster. Shooting them seems to have little effect.

If the holding areas allow for sunlight during the day, it'd be pretty dang obvious what's wrong with them immediately.

On Dreva:

Security around the Citadel is heightened due to an attempted break in. Those who have been changed there are starting to be rounded up. Prior to the security alert, they were being left alone.

(OOC: When rounding these guys up, keep in mind that even the youngest vampire can bench press a motorcycle as if it were nothing but a loaf of bread. The only weapons shot that's going to bother them is one that takes out a hole in their chest to destroy the heart or takes off their head.)

The hunts for them are done during the daytime while still equipped with the massive spotlights. During the night, there are bright lights installed on windows and doors.

To: Shein
From: Dmitri

We seem to have a vampire infestation going on here. It's been going on all over the planet. The other guys want to know what's going on. Any advice?

Dmitri

To: Dmitri
From: Shein

Same here. I haven't been able to contact Lucas or Esteban yet. We were leaving them alone but they tried to get into the Citadel not long ago. We're trying to locate all of them so we can track them. So far, this has been limited to Dreva, but I'm not sure it will continue to stay that way.

As for advice, I'd try and contact Lucas or Esteban and ask them. I'm still attempting to do so.

-Shein

*******************************
To: Thorgood; Jenova
From: Shein

You guys having any problems over there with vampires? Both Dmitri and myself are having issues around here. If we're having them, I thought I'd check to see if you are too.

-Shein

****************************

On Selathorn:

Similar events are starting to occur, but these particular individuals begin to show animalistic traits when they get too angry. These traits can be anything from animalistic eyes to claws to pointed ears. Anything that could be viewed as an animalistic trait. There doesn't seem to be any deviation from this one trait among those that go missing and return several days later.

The police notice the odd behavior sooner or later and begin watching these individuals for safety concerns, and doctors are quickly called in to analyze the strange behavior.

TO: Shein
FROM: Thorgood

We think so. It's confined to the Colony, and we're in the process of mobilizing the military to deal with it. Shooting them doesn't seem to do much, but shooting them lots and lots will (we believe). Also, we've got high powered lights we're preparing to send over there.

How exactly does vampyrism spread? We need a way to stop it or it'll just get to everyone eventually.

Sincerely,
Thorgood

To: Thorgood
From: Shein

I have no clue how it spreads. Never asked them that. I've been trying to contact Lucas or Esteban and I'm getting no response.

-Shein

************************

Those on Selathorn seem to be attempting to live a somewhat normal life, even if they're active at night and sleeping during the day. They don't seem to be hurting anyone, but occasionally they get angry and tear things up. That's when those animalistic traits appear.

A few are referred to therapists but besides that, not much is done at all.

TO: Shein
FROM: Thorgood

Recommend that we send a team over to establish communication. We're not having much luck capturing the things. Most would rather die than be taken in by us, and the people on Burninandom are scared out of their wits.

Sincerely,
Thorgood

Contact is attempted with Esoteric on what the hell is happening.

To: Thorgood
From: Shein

If they're reacting that way, maybe you shouldn't try and take them in?

-Shein

**************************

In reference to the attempted contact, there's no response from Lucas or Esteban on Esoteric, but there is a message sent back from an anonymous source there. "Who are you and why are you trying to contact us?"

TO: Shein
FROM: Thorgood

Leave vampires out there? I was sort of understating when I said "scared out of their wits." I'd characterize the mindset over here as panic. And there aren't even that many vampires!

Sincerely,
Thorgood

To: Thorgood
From: Shein

When we started rounding up the ones we have here, we did so for national security. They didn't want to go quietly. When we pulled back and left them alone, they went back to doing what they'd normally do. I don't know how to help the panic mindset, but I do know that they're not going to want to be taken quietly.

Still no response from Esoteric. I'm about to send someone there to personally find Lucas and find out what's going on.

-Shein

*********************

On Selathorn:

Those that are recommended for counseling don't bother to go. They just mind their own business for the most part. Everything's pretty normal really. Except for the anemia of family and neighbors that is. No one has actually been killed due to anything they've done.

To the anonymous response, Dmitri sends out the following message: "This is Dmitri Medvedev of Rhea. We've had citizens on our planet and several others exhibiting signs of vampirism. Any information you have on that would be helpful."

TO: Shein
FROM: Thorgood

Teresa is requesting permission to come along with your expedition.

Sincerely,
Thorgood

To: Thorgood
From: Shein

Sure. Why not. Just tell her to get here fast.

-Shein


*********************

The next message sent to Dmitri is nothing but a set of coordinates on the planet.

Teresa shows up.

And so Dmitri sends himself and a small team lead by Oroku Saki, the head of his intelligence branch, along with Dr. Anthony Ives, and a shock collar-fitted Murray Coogan.

Shein and Arren are on board the Raptor. When Teresa shows up, she'd be told to get to the Raptor. Once she's on board they hop off to Esoteric. Upon seeing the Rhean ship there, they make contact to find out if they've discovered anything.


*************

On Esoteric, Dmitri and his team are shown to a large meeting room where Lucas, Esteban, and several others are located. They seemed to be in some kind of meeting. One of them is downright hideous and smells bad. Another smells bad, but whatever he looks like is hidden by a hockey mask. There's one girl there that could be described as part asian. Two men, one much younger than the other are both seated, neither one really noticing the others, the older one reading a newspaper. Another woman is twirling around, eyes closed, almost as if she were dancing to music only she can hear. One more individual comes in after Dmitri and his group are brought in. From his look, he either likes the rumpled straight out of bed look or he got dressed and ready without a mirror.

Lucas looks over as Dmitri and his team are brought in. "I know about the problems. We've been discussing them." There are several eye rolls when he says this.

The man behind the newspaper lowers it. "No, you've been discussing it with yourself. The rest of us have been entertained by watching."

Esteban looks at the man. "Knock it off."

Standing up, the man folds the paper and places it on the chair. "I'm not going to sit around much longer."

Lucas turns to the man and growls faintly. "You will sit down, John, and you will be quiet."

There's a moments pause before the man picks up the paper and sits back down.

The guy with the hockey mask has been looking at Dmitri and company for the whole time. He doesn't look like he's going to do anything, but he doesn't exactly scream calm. In fact, he looks downright dangerous and even puts off those vibes.

(OOC: Pass)

"Right. So, what's happening there?"

Dr. Ives sends a message to the Raptor saying that they're meeting with the leaders of the clans and they say they've been discussing it.

The Raptor responds with a request of location.


On Esoteric, Lucas shrugs slightly. "All we know is that you guys got at least two each of us, except for one place which got one."

The asian girl shakes her head. "Oh, that really helps, Lucas." She looks at the Rheans. "We're not sure what happened. We try to keep our kind here, but we think that some slipped off world. We've been keeping tabs on what's going on. From what we can tell, your world has been targeted by the Nosferatu and Toreador. Both fairly harmless really. Leave them alone and they'll leave you alone."

The guy that wandered in after Dmitri and company sighs and looks at the girl. "The one thing you're forgetting is that it's possible that they just got tired of us and wanted to find their own place. Didn't want to deal with the council either."

Lucas looks toward the girl as well. "Lucas isn't here right now, please leave a message at the tone." He wanders off toward the other girl that's twirling around.

"Well, that's a bit late for that. They've been driven out of their homes for converting others into vampires, too."

The information gathered is sent to the Raptor.