ɪɴᴠᴀsɪᴏɴ

[ub01]

Who: YOU and the beast.
What: Nothing good, probably.
Where: You were just in the wrong place... (The Ultra Wormholes could appear anywhere.)
When: At the wrong time. (Any point in February)
Warnings: Potential parasitism/mind control

[ The academy and Final Destination City... It had known many troubles in its time, yet with their total destruction seemed to come a more peaceful time.

Of course, there were still new arrivals now and then. Space and time would rend themselves to let a lost soul in, now and again. Some stayed, and those that did settled in nicely, making themselves at home. None with ill intentions had set foot on the floating island in a very long time.

But all good things must come to an end.

The space in front of you seems to crack open. Portals from another world may not be anything new to the mansion's inhabitants. This one carries with it a strange energy... and not long after, a strange lifeform appears in front of you.

It doesn't speak or communicate-- at least, not in any recognizable way. Two of its... limbs rub together, as if trying to warm itself.

Proceed with caution, as whatever sentience or emotion it lacks, it can tell when it is in danger... ]

Comments

[garmentgoddess]

"Do you...want me to guide you?" Rene hesitantly held out a hand. Maybe it was lost.

biology lesson in this tag because no one can stop me

[ub01]

Cartoons and video games typically depict jellies as having an electric charge, which causes the sting. This is not the case. Within the tentacles designed to sting are thousands of cells called cnidoblasts, which in turn house harpoon-like threads called nematocysts. Upon contact with a tentacle, the pressure causes the nematocysts to dart out at 10000 times the speed of gravity. The threads penetrate the victim and release neurotoxin, which paralyzes smaller prey and causes pain to larger victims.

That's in a normal, real-world jelly. And if the beast is anything like that (it is), imagine how much neurotoxin is in the tentacle that makes a dash to wrap itself around Rene's wrist.

[garmentgoddess]

It wasn't as though Rene knew, and it wasn't as though Rene would really care about the difference between neurotoxin and electric shocks if she did. All she knew was that this thing was potentially lost. "Now, tell me where you need to--"

That hurt. That hurt a LOT.

And then it didn't, and Rene found herself falling over, a good half her body numb.

if you know what's about to happen, are you okay with that?

[ub01]

All too easy. The beast chimed and shuddered with anticipation. If it couldn't go home, it was going to make the best of its situation.

Drifting over Rene, it lowered itself onto her head...

Oh goodness

[garmentgoddess]

Staggering, Rene grabbed for her lance with her good arm. This thing was strong, and for some reason she thought of Juliana. Unsteadily, she took aim at the beast and prepared to fire.

If she could.

things i didn't think i'd have to google: "what happens if you stab a jellyfish"

[ub01]

Subduing a fleshy host has a different set of rules in play than it does battling monsters and other beasts. For one, the beast doesn't have to just stand there and take it.

Seeing its prey take aim, it takes evasive action by... disappearing.

And shortly thereafter, reappears

right

behind

her.

It gets better. Her "lance" is a rocket launcher. For some reason it's called a lance.

[garmentgoddess]

A cold chill shot down Rene's back and for a moment it occurred to her that she would rather fight a V2 than this thing. With her body numb, she could barely turn around, much less aim. A blind shot would have to do, and hope and pray that it didn't phase behind her again.