[h2][color=lightgreen][u]Jake Cross                                             [/u][/color][/h2]

Jake listened to everybody talk, overhearing the various quips, quirks, and those DAMN words over and over again. [color=lightgreen]"Ok look I get it guys. You're showing respect, but listen up! Sir was my dad and Captain is a title. It's not who I am and who I am is Jake. I mean this in the nicest of ways when I say it... The next person who calls me Sir or Captain is getting their ass beat!"[/color] Jake said a little sternly, but still in a lighthearted tone. After all they were technically doing the right thing and he couldn't truly get mad at them for that. Regardless Jake was not a man for formalities and thus hated all that Sir and Captain crap.

Next on the list was Nathan however, being... weird. That's really the best way to put it. So much personal inflation and egotistical comments. It made Jake honestly question just what sort of madness has infected him and why he thought so truly high of himself. Well despite the true oddity and rather self-centered aspect of his comment Jake pushed it to the side. Though if his cockiness proved to be an issue for the team later he'd be sure to squash it before it proved harmful.

Spook was quick on the response, though before he could really make a comment on her rather forward and lashing words he over heard the other female on the team chime up about an offhanded comment Nathan made that completely slipped his ears. Now while it wasn't appropriate at all, he did find it a tad funny about how the whole event was handled. Regardless, everybody gets one though if the advances are wanted, who's to say he has the power to stop love.


[h3][color=tan]Anselmo Date 2353-08-14
            Location: The Wild World, Outpost ZT-141, 'Treehouse' [/color][/h3]

It was a while longer before the craft made it's way to Treehouse, but when they did it was clear to see why it had it's name. Nestled high up in the canopy of a small collection of enormous trees that must have been at least a hundred meters tall. The scattered buildings connected by wodden and rope bridges that kept the weight low, but the rustic feel high. Hell, this would be a child's dream had it not been made like this to avoid monsters and demons.

Upon landing on one of only three landing pads on the whole outpost, the team was taken from the craft with all of their gear in tow as it would appear they were to surrender their helicopter. Upon their departure a rather gristled and gruff looking man walked up towards the team, offering his hand to shake with Jake who did so. "Name's Johnson. I'm the chief around here and set to brief you on the situation." He said through what sounded like half of a working mouth. Judging by the savage scar across the entire side of his left face it was safe to assume that was the case however. "Come with me and I can show you what you're looking for."

Leading the team off through the canopy and landings he brought the team to a high observation deck with shuttered windows. Leaving the active and busy workers plenty of privacy to slave away faithfully at their computers and stations, relaying information after finding and sorting it. "It all started about 16 days ago. This Pillar of Light appears at the same time every day for different amounts of time ranging from the shortest being 7 minutes, 18 seconds, to the longest being 4 hours, 28 minutes, and 6 seconds." He started to say, still walking through the room as one of the techies ran past carrying a loose roll of paper with all sorts of technological gibberish on it. Which in turn earned a rough grunt from Johnson who was clearly not happy about having somebody come so close to him, if only for a brief moment.

[color=lightgreen]"Would you happen to know anything about it or what is the cause of this phenomenon? We've been kept mostly in the dark about this whole thing."[/color] Jake inquired, using the break in Johnson's words as his chance, "You've been kept in the dark because we have too. We've told you everything we know as whatever that thing is we can't figure it out and it isn't like anything we've encountered before." Johnson retorted, still walking and guiding the team to the forward observation deck.

That was when one of the techies chimed up, "Sir, 2 minutes till event!" Which in turn got a nod from Johnson though to an indiscriminate location. "Wanna see what you're to look into? You're just in time for the show." He said gruffly before pushing a button on the forward wall which lowered the blast shield walls, revealing a beautiful view of the Wild World, one so wonderful that several of the workers paused in their efforts to admire it, though quickly went back to work.

"Any second now..." Johnson gruffed out, staring into the horizon in such a way that it made the situation a tad awkward. Though after what seemed like the world's longest minute, way off in the horizon a sudden and vibrant surge of light erupted from the distance, straight up into the air to pierce the Heavens. In fact a stray cloud that just to happened to be wandering overhead of the event violently parted like it had been shot, leaving a massive hole in it for all to see. The event was such an odd wonder that all activity had stopped in the observation deck so that all could watch it, almost entranced by the strange sight. "That... That is the only thing the Treehouse knows absolutely jack shit about. It defies logic, breaks the rules of nature, is an affront to all things normal, and despite any effort to learn about it, it remains a perfect mystery. That's why you're here. We need a team to venture out and find the source, good luck kids. If you have any questions now's your only chance."