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"Well, I'm not a very good liar, either, but I'm certainly interested in finding out more about their treatment - let's call it professional curiosity," Saeron says, retrieving her flyer from a pocket. "If I can work out exactly what it is they do, I might be better able to help their patients that have already undergone the procedure."
The Open Collective is only a 30 minute walk from the Uniters’ Headquarters in a similarly run-down region of the Spike, though it sees a trickle of foot traffic near its front, with a half-dozen or so citizens traveling to destinations using the corridor path.
Several parts of the Collective's building appear neglected.
The south-facing door is the main entrance, while a door on the west wall is a fire exit. A third door leads out from the eastern wall. Two opaque force fields (marked red on the map) block the way through doorways leading into each wing through the southern walls.
Main/entrance - Reception
The main entrance’s doors don’t shut properly, with one door clearly at such an angle that it almost digs into the station plating. Signage flickers on and off, randomly displaying mismatched letter styles that read: “Open Collective.”
This area is the front of the medical center. A reception desk is visible beyond the ill-fitting doors. Behind the desk is a hallway, made slightly indistinct by a translucent forcefield that serves as a wal behind the desk.
A line of 20 hopeful yet downtrodden creatures are here talking excitedly about what they are going to do with their lives after being miraculously cured. They wait in front of the reception desk.
It doesn't take long to determine that the line is not really moving at all.
Talking with the crowd, they've been waiting for hours with no movement of the line. The doctors disappeared into the west wing after admitting a patient and haven't been seen since. Two hours ago one of the waiting patients went into the west wing to look for the doctors and also never returned.
Shokil finds the reception desk deserted. From here he can make out more details of what lies beyond the shimmering rectangular energy field that covers the hallway in the center of the complex. The hallway extends from a door marked with an emergency exit sign in the west to a warehouse area in the east. To the west three doors line the northern and southern walls of the hall, each marked A through F with clear signs.
Across the hallway a computer terminal rests atop a desk positioned between two large cylindrical power generators. The devices hum with actinic power, while a glass window shows the grimy bulkheads of Absalom Station’s interior only twenty feet beyond.
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With little else left to do other than wait, Saeron follows Staar toward Shokil.
"That looks like a containment field," she says. "More for regulating atmosphere, particles and viruses, than preventing the movement of lifeforms and objects."
She indicates Staar's bone blade's interaction woth the field.
It appears that Saeron is correct. Staar's bone spur pierces the field like a hot knife through butter.
A shrill bell rings, and rings, and rings as soon as Staar steps through the energy wall. A misty fog descends rapidly upon her.
Other than the bell and fog, the reception dwellers detect no immediate response.
This area has a pleasant citrusy smell, which intensifies in concert with the alarm bell and fog. Between the bell's ringing, you hear a faint hissing sound. The fog jets from small concealed sprinklers in the ceiling.
You have a clear view of the entire hallway (the doors are all closed), the generator/computer area, and a larger portion of the warehouse to the east. No sounds, or motion in response to the bell. (Yet?)
Warehouse:
Several stacks of crates fill much of this roughly forty-foot-by-sixty-foot storage room. Dim-lights shine from the ceiling, some twenty feet above. Some of the crates lie on their sides, spilling out tiny white crystals onto the ground. Thin pools of citrus-smelling green liquid dissolves the edges of these spills. A computer terminal blinks against the northern wall. An exit door leads out to the east.
Although you feel no ill effects, please make a DC 14 fortitude save in a spoiler.
This area has a pleasant citrusy smell, which intensifies in concert with the alarm bell and fog. Between the bell's ringing, you hear a faint hissing sound. The fog jets from small concealed sprinklers in the ceiling.
You have a clear view of the entire hallway (the doors are all closed), the generator/computer area, and a larger portion of the warehouse to the east. No sounds, or motion in response to the bell. (Yet?)
Warehouse:
Several stacks of crates fill much of this roughly forty-foot-by-sixty-foot storage room. Dim-lights shine from the ceiling, some twenty feet above. Some of the crates lie on their sides, spilling out tiny white crystals onto the ground. Thin pools of citrus-smelling green liquid dissolves the edges of these spills. A computer terminal blinks against the northern wall. An exit door leads out to the east.
The lobby gang
The alarm causes the crowd to become agitated.
"Hey I don't think you're supposed to go back there!"
"The half orc went left."
"I thought I saw someone in that storage area."
And more similarly helpful comments are made.
A shirren slips out the front door.
Just a hallway of closed doors to the left. (West)
Staar opens the door on a typical doctor's examination room, table/couch in the room's center, workbench on the far wall, but there's no time for more than a quick impression before there's a flurry of motion behind her.
Saeron sees two yellow-green lumpy puddles of ooze swarm from behind the crates in the storage area. The oozy creatures flow quickly over the ground. They're past her before she can react.
The lead one reaches Staar and rears to strike, revealing a belly with rows of short caterpillar-like legs. The second skids to a stop and returns to menace mystic.
Saeron
Slime (blue)
Slime (Dull Lilac)
Staar
Kneepuncher
Oda
Shokil
Bele
The strange creature strikes at Staar; one of its stubby legs expands toward her with frightening speed. The blow lands heavily against her thigh and the amorphous leg flattens against her armor. It pulls on her armor as it retracts, like it is somehow sticky.
Round 1. Staggered Init : All players may post per conditions above.
Saeron
Slime (blue)
Slime (Dull Lilac)
Staar (-12 SP )
Kneepuncher (-15 SP)
Oda (-14 SP)
Shokil
Bele
... B plus grab)
Grab
If the creature hits with the indicated attack (usually a claw
or bite attack), it deals the normal damage. If the creature’s
attack roll successfully hits the target’s KAC + 4, the creature
also automatically grapples the foe as a free action. (If it hits
the target’s KAC + 13, it instead pins the target.) The creature
does not need to have a spare limb free to perform this
grapple, as long as it can make the listed attack, and it can
potentially grapple more than one target if it has more than
one attack with the grab ability. The creature can maintain
the grab either with another successful grab attack or by
performing the grapple combat maneuver normally.
Grapple
You hold the target in place. You must have at least one hand
free to perform a grapple combat maneuver. Your target has
the grappled condition, meaning she can’t move from her
current space and takes further penalties until she either uses
a standard action to attempt a grapple combat maneuver to
grapple you (giving you the grappled condition) or uses the
escape task of the Acrobatics skill to break free. If the result
of your attack roll equals or exceeds the target’s KAC + 13, the
target is instead pinned for the same duration, and she can’t
take any actions that involve moving her limbs other than to
attempt to escape.
The grappled or pinned condition lasts until the end of your
next turn, unless you renew it on your next turn with another
grapple combat maneuver. The condition ends immediately if
you move away. As long as you have one target grappled or
pinned, you cannot attempt to grapple another. The grappled
and pinned conditions are further detailed in Conditions on
pages 276–277.
When you renew a grapple, you can remove one item
from the target’s body that can be easily accessed, including
most weapons and equipment (but not worn armor). Doing so
immediately ends the grapple.
Grappled
You are restrained by a creature, effect, or trap. You can’t move,
and you take a –2 penalty to your Armor Class, attack rolls, Reflex
saving throws, initiative checks, and Dexterity-based skill and
ability checks, except those made to grapple your opponent in
turn or to escape a grapple (see Grapple on page 246). In addition,
you can’t take actions that require two hands (or other limbs) to
perform. You can’t make attacks of opportunity.
You can’t use Stealth to hide from the creature grappling you,
even if a special ability allows you to hide when you normally
couldn’t. If you become invisible, through a spell or other ability,
you gain a +2 circumstance bonus to your check to escape being
grappled, but you receive no other benefit.
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"Citrus?" Saeron wonders as she steps beyond the containment field. "Just like-"
Her speculations are interrupted as an ooze unexpectedly rears up before her.
Saeron tales a cautious step back and she attempts to classify the ooze. She takes a defensive stance while she considers any information she might know or have read about the creature.
The ooze pursues Saeron and strikes at her with an elongating, amorphous leg.
...
It's more successful than its fellow, and the psuedopod-like leg mushrooms around Saeron's thigh, gripping tightly. Using that grip as a base, it begins to ascend her body.
Kneepuncher hurries to aid his companions.
Also, although you feel no ill effects, I need a Fort save. Please spoiler it.
Grappled
You are restrained by a creature, effect, or trap. You can’t move,
and you take a –2 penalty to your Armor Class, attack rolls, Reflex
saving throws, initiative checks, and Dexterity-based skill and
ability checks, except those made to grapple your opponent in
turn or to escape a grapple (see Grapple on page 246). In addition,
you can’t take actions that require two hands (or other limbs) to
perform. You can’t make attacks of opportunity.
You can’t use Stealth to hide from the creature grappling you,
even if a special ability allows you to hide when you normally
couldn’t. If you become invisible, through a spell or other ability,
you gain a +2 circumstance bonus to your check to escape being
grappled, but you receive no other benefit.
Round 1/2. Init : Bolded may go.
Slime (blue)
Slime (Dull Lilac)
Staar (-12 SP )
Kneepuncher (-15 SP)
Shokil
Oda (-14 SP)
Bele
Round 2.
Saeron
Staar scores a hit against the yielding substance of the ooze. She's satisfied to see its colorf darken around the impact.
Life science : This is a body snatcher ooze. The name is suggestive. Even now you can feel your will being sapped where it has a grip around your leg.
Round 1/2. Init : Bolded may go.
Kneepuncher (-15 SP)
Shokil
Oda (-14 SP)
Bele
Round 2.
Saeron (grappled)
Slime (blue) -- (grappler)
Slime (Dull Lilac) (-12)
Staar (-12 SP *)
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"These are body snatcher oozes," Saeron informs her companions. "I trust that no further explanation is needed. I can already feel it sapping my thoughts."
She doubts she has the strength to break herself free with the creature's grasp on her so strong. With little else to try, the lashunta draws her survival knife from her belt sheath, emblazoned with a stylised spacecraft, and desperately attempts to reverse the tables.
Saeron, DC14 Fort save please.
Kneepuncher unleashes a flurry of misses at the ooze.
While he steps sideways to obtain a better firing angle, Shokil unslings his sniper rifle. He snaps it into firing position and squeezes the trigger. A needle-fine laser beam lances into the ooze.
... burn(d4))
The crowd inside the clinic starts to flee. Oda and Bele fight through them to follow Kneepuncher. Bele stops short of the containment field and draws her pistol. Oda readies her doshko as she runs, charges through the containment field and turns right to help Saeron.
Saeron's ooze flows over her body, seeming to thin, almost as if it is seeping through her armor.
Staar's ooze sways backwards and snaps forward with multiple psuedopod legs to attack the Starfinder. Both legs hit with heavy sodden impact and begin to flow around her, drawing the body of the ooze closer.
...
...
Bele Ranged: Laser pistol, azimuth +4 (1d4 F, 80 ft. Burn 1d4, 20 charges)
Oda
Melee Unarmed Strike (Hammer fist) +7 (1d4+9)
Melee Thunderstrike Pulse Gauntlet +7 (1d6+7)
Melee Tactical Doshko +7 (1d12+7)
Staar: You feel the alien presence spreading through you. The contact of an alien mind, and a struggle for control of your body.
Shokil smiles with satifaction. Perhaps my next protagonist should be a sharp shooter. He sights down the bore of his rifle and fires again.
... burn(d4))
Oda raises the heavy doshko and tries to skim it along Saeron's shin through the ooze.
...
Bele tries to thread a laser shot into the ooze attacking Saeron.
... F, 80 ft. Burn 1d4, 20 charges)
Shokil's satisfaction swells since the shot is successful again.
Oda and Bele miss.
Round 3. Init : Bolded may go.
Saeron (grappled) (don't forget the save and to check the spoiler above)
Slime (blue) -- (grappler)
Slime (Dull Lilac) (-32) (grappler)
Staar (-16 SP, - 11 HP *) (grappled, flat-footed) (See spoiler above)
Kneepuncher (-15 SP)
Shokil
Oda (-14 SP)
Bele
Saeron is winning her fight in both the mental and the physical sphere. She repulses its mental attack and is able to somehow force it back to her feet. The ooze pools at her feet, gathers itself up and launches itself toward what it hopes will be a weaker foe, the half-orc Oda.
Its amorphous foot slams into the half-orc and sticks. It begins to envelope her thigh.
Battered, sliced, and scrorched, the ooze attacking Staar, drops away and starts to flow rapidly toward the lobby and the remnants of the fleeing crowd.
Round 3/4. Init : Bolded may go.
Staar (-16 SP, - 11 HP *) (flat-footed)
Kneepuncher (-15 SP)
Shokil
Oda (-23 SP) (grappled)
Bele
Round 4.
Saeron
Slime (blue) -- (grappler)
Slime (Dull Lilac) (-32)
...
Kneepuncher crushes the ooze and ruptures it. It ceases movement as greenish fluids leak out and pool around it.
The halfling wastes no time, but moves immediately to help Oda. Staar follows immediately behind. Oda's movements throw off Kneepuncher, but the solarian finds her opening for a heavy blow.
Round 3/4. Init : Bolded may go.
Shokil
Oda (-23 SP) (grappled)
Bele
Round 4.
Saeron
Slime (blue) -- (grappler)
Slime (Dull Lilac) (-32)
Staar (-16 SP, - 11 HP *) (flat-footed)
Kneepuncher (-15 SP)
Round 3/4. Init : Bolded may go.
Shokil
Oda (-23 SP) (grappled)
Bele
Round 4.
Saeron
Slime (blue) -- (grappler) (-13 hp)
Slime (Dull Lilac) (Dead)
Staar (-16 SP, - 11 HP *) (flat-footed)
Kneepuncher (-15 SP)
Far less confident about using the doshko near herself than near Saeron, Oda drops the ungainly weapon and hammers at the ooze with her fists.
...
Bele stares at the swarm of allies between herself and the ooze. She hopes she sees an opening, closes her eyes and fires.
... ( F, 80 ft. Burn 1d4, 20 charges)
Shokil waits for a clear shot, but Oda is in the way. What would my new sniper hero do? Hoping to improve his odds of both hitting the ooze and missing Oda, the halfling author closes the distance, raises his rifle and triggers another shot. He's rewarded with a scorched patch on the ooze, which recoils violently.
... ( burn(d4))
Round 4.
Saeron
Slime (blue) -- (grappler) (-22 hp)
Staar (-16 SP, - 11 HP *) (flat-footed)
Kneepuncher (-15 SP)
Shokil
Oda (-23 SP) (grappled)
Bele