The Gravity of the Situation [Video, cross-campus]

[trustycrowbar]

[Normally Gordon's little messages to the school at large are brief. Terse, is a better way to put it. A quick flick of the switch and a message that inkling ink may be non-toxic but that doesn't mean you should paint the lab specimens with it (For example.) and a quick flick of the switch off again.]

[Not so today. The feed comes on and he stares at the camera, raking a hand through his hair and starting to mouth three silent beginnings to three different sentences before he actually finds one with a voice. There's something he wants to say, but no permutation of words will make it easier to hear.]

I've, uh... Students, faculty. No doubt you've noticed that the moon hasn't gone out of full for the past week or so, and in fact looks even bigger now. I've been taking some readings. The shift in the center of gravity of the moon-planet binary and parallax measurements tell me that it's... not just an optical illusion.

The moon has, somehow, left its orbit.

I only mentioned this to the security chief before now, because I wanted to be absolutely certain of my suspicions and of where the moon was actually headed. I would like to say that it'll just harmlessly slingshot around us and into the sun. I really, really wish I could say that, in fact I spent several nights trying to make the numbers work so I COULD say that... but I can't. There's no other way to plot the trajectory, other than directly at us.

[He picks up some papers, eyeballing them on the camera, making sure he this part straight.] Now... Apparently this has happened before. A world by the name of Termina actually survived the event, but they had four guardian giants that awoke and... [A mistrustful squint at the paper.] physically shoved the moon back into orbit. [He puts the paper down.]

Obviously we're a little light on sleeping giants. As a matter of fact, I have no damn clue how to fix this, or even if we can. The four masks are involved--and there ARE four--but it's anyone's guess as to how they are. What I do know is, if we don't do something, the moon will strike the earth, and every single living creature on this planet down to the last microbe might be eradicated.

If anyone knows anything about this or has ideas, now's the time to step up. You might just save more than just the school. Also... in the event that we CAN'T stop it, I advise everyone to start making plans for quick evacuation back to your homeworlds. If you know someone who doesn't have a homeworld or can't reach it, then consider taking them with you. They may have to start all over but trust me, if that moon hits, then any place will be better than here.

[Private, to Skull Kid]

Kid... I know you were there. Your student file is hazy on the details, but I know you were there in Termina when this happened the last time. I didn't mention your name earlier and I don't intend to, because when people are panicked they can do some awful things when names are dropped. But, we still need to know everything you know if we're going to keep this planet in one piece.

So what exactly happened there?

Comments

[trustycrowbar]

Regigigas?

[Oh god. It's another Ancient Legendary Thing That Saved Us All That One Time, isn't it? That makes the third one today...]

You're right on all accounts. I'd been holding onto hope, but building a rocket on freakin' school grounds just doesn't seem feasible in the time we have left. I'm holding out on destroying it or changing its trajectory, only because it's the only choice we've got left. That and getting the hell offworld as fast as we can...

...

What do you know about masks, Cyrus?

[Well THAT was an abrupt change of topic. One that implies either a correlation somewhere, or that Gordon's losing it entirely.]

[will_be_god]

Regigigas is an ancient being, the leader of what is commonly known as the Regi trio, or "Regis". They embody steel, ice, and rock, while Regigigas is a normal type. Legend says that it, as I said, moved the continents during the creation of the world. Although this is doubtful to be true in the literal sense, there may be a kernel of truth, albeit several billion years removed from that time. The planet is constantly changing, as you know, and there have been many movements in the past that seem to have no tectonic trigger.

That said, we must alert those here that to destroy the moon will only destroy us all. You are aware as well of the destruction that would cause to the structure of the planet.

...I assume you speak of a specific relic. Those brought up not long ago?

Now I ask you. What do you know of the Red Chain?

[trustycrowbar]

Exactly. I think there may be more to them than just decoration. I know it sounds crazy, but my threshold for crazy isn't as clearly delineated as it used to be. These three have already shown some odd frequencies and harmonics around each other. Furthermore there may be another one out there, that's the cause of all of this.

...The Red Chain? Can't say I have, no. [With a name like that, though, his interest is piqued.]

[will_be_god]

I wonder what the headmasters have to say about this. They have been suspiciously silent on the matter...

The Red Chain is a relic used to bind the gods themselves. I managed to create it twice, yet both times it was destroyed. I believe you may be able to aid me in constructing a stronger one, something that can command any force...

[trustycrowbar]

[Maybe they can use it to suspend the moon where it is for a while. But something bothers him:]

How did you create something like that twice? And for that matter, why?

[will_be_god]

...The world has been in danger for some time. That relic has the potential to save us, though refocusing the powers of the gods. Yet it was destroyed.

[truth by selective admission. smooth.]

It is my fervent dream that this relic can be created and used without that fate.