here they talked of revolution, here it was they lit the flame

[initiates]

Date: October 1st
Location: The Observatory.
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: New Transports arrive and are shuffled into the Observatory for the show of the year. Initial briefings are very brief this time around, and that Greeter just won't stop crying.
Warnings: new confused people and old sad people??

Your arrival here has been very unceremonious. One second you were somewhere else, and now, very suddenly, your feet hit the glowing white of the Transporter pad, and you're here. You aren't alone, either. There's a crowd of others around you, each seeming just as bewildered, angry, or confused as you might feel. At the head of the group is a woman in purple robes, with eyes red as if she'd just finished crying. She hurries over a quick overview of your intended purpose here, and gives direct answers when asked for them, but to most things she simply shows you how to access the tablet you've just been given. There, you can find the history of this place and a record of what your new cohorts have experienced — although it won't have Network access for another 8 hours. Someone stands on hand to give you a weapon, and though the armory is now greatly reduced, you should be able to find something to suit you.

You're shepherded down a walkway tunnel and into the Observatory, where you will find screens mounted on three sides of the wide room. The only lighting comes from dull red emergency lights, and the scenes of a dreary, rainy city from various cameras up on the screens; the largest of the screens opens up to a view of Earth from a good distance away -- this one isn't a screen at all, you might realize, but a window. As you watch, all screens in the room fill with light, impossibly bright. It consumes the buildings, the people, everything. There is no sound played, perhaps mercifully, only that white light -- and then nothing.

Through the large window, there's a pinprick of light over one of the landmasses on the blue planet. It grows to a tiny blossom and then dies away, but a cloud begins to mushroom outward in the same spot. It pushes the natural clouds out of the way, claiming that small portion of the world and wrapping it in a uniform gray.

Strings of numbers begin to fill the blanked out screens as the base's AI begins collecting data and calculations, but the show seems to be over. You're free to explore the base, visit and use any of the VR rooms, or discover your new room and roommates, but try not to step out of any airlocks if oxygen is a requirement for your system.

Welcome to the moon base, with front row seats to the grave of Exsilium.

[[ooc; reminder! The Network will be down for 8 hours after the wave of new Transports.]]

Comments

Re: leia organa | star wars | ota

[taggingwomprats]

[Now Luke knows what Obi-Wan meant. A hundred thousand voices crying out in terror and suddenly silenced, like a holorecorder being switched off. There's more to it than that, of course. There's an echo of it that lingers, horrifying and disturbing because he knows what it signifies. In fact, he's looking a bit pale, but he's trying to keep himself moving. Lingering on it won't help him or anyone else.

Then he catches sight of Leia through the crowd and he starts working his way over. He has no idea what she's wearing and this will probably be a bit awkward - he's wearing his fatigues, of course. A bit battered, but still serviceable. As soon as he thinks she's within earshot, he calls out over the crowd.]

Leia!

[He's not sure whether to be relieved that she's here or disturbed that she's been dragged into this. He comes to a stop just out of arm's reach, his grin a bit wan and drawn, but there all the same. It fades slightly as he finally gets a good look at her.]

...what are you wearing?

[importance]

[ her immediate response is a flood of pure relief, a portion of the tenseness dissipating from her posture. she's already moving to reach him the moment he calls out to her, halting the moment he stops. any shred of mirth in her face is gone; while her lips are curved into the vaguest form of a smile, an expression of warmth his company always brings out in her, but the circumstances are far too melancholic for her to grin without guilt. ]

Luke.

[ his own countenance doesn't go unnoticed. she knows him well enough by now to sense the change, the way his face looks far more pale for a healthy individual. the concern laces her tone, moving to speak once more — and then he comments on her unfortunate attire and she nearly, very nearly, feels the urge to laugh.

he doesn't remember. it should be expected, given the speech regarding timelines and alternative universes, but without explanation — well, she supposes she looks... more than out of place. ]

It wasn't my first choice of wardrobe, you know. [ not that that really explains anything, but where does she even start? ] I take it you don't remember our latest excursion.

[ the one that was going pretty chaotically until she was pulled here, really. ]

[taggingwomprats]

[Honestly, seeing her is improving his mood and his general state of mind. The color's coming back to his face, but it's a bit hard to come back from feeling a few hundred thousand people get snuffed off the face of a planet. Even if it's nothing compared to a whole planet getting destroyed.

Her comment makes his brow furrow in confusion and he shakes his head slowly.]

Last I remember, I was on my way to Cloud City. Don't tell me they put you in that get-up.

[It's almost funny. He lets some of the tension ease out of his shoulders and he steps forward to give her a quick hug.]

It's great to see you, though. I've been worried - I had no idea what was happening or what's going to happen back home, plus we're stuck in the middle of another war.

[He realizes he might be starting to ramble so he cuts himself off.]

This whole thing is crazy.

[importance]

[ she has to laugh to herself at first; the concept of being shoved into such a risque outfit by lando and allowing it is a comical notion in itself. she shakes her head lightly, small smile still in place. ]

If you'd met Lando, you wouldn't be surprised if he tried. Somehow, he has more tact than that.

[ it's a story for another time, maybe, especially with the dire situation they find themselves in. she returns the hug with ease, but the rambling certainly doesn't prevent the concern from persisting on her features. ]

I think crazy might be an understatement. [ she pauses, sighing lightly. ] I can fill you in on what you've missed. It's — a long story, really.

[taggingwomprats]

Wait, who's Lando?

[Luke obviously has a lot to catch up on. He already knew about different times and places, but it's easy to conceptualize, less so to deal with the reality of Leia being from the future.]

Maybe you should. I'm just glad you're OK.

[importance]

He's — a friend. Well, Han's old friend.

[ which, in leia's opinion, should likely reveal to luke all he really needs to know about lando. she places her hand on luke's arm, giving a light squeeze that's meant to be reassuring. ]

You'll meet him eventually. I'm glad you aren't hurt. [ especially with the state of things back home with their own hectic plans before they'd been taken here. ] But you might want to sit down before I tell you anything.

[ it's a slightly light-hearted comment in an attempt to keep the mood relatively light and free of any fretting, but it falls a little flat. ]

[taggingwomprats]

There's a lot to take in, huh?

[Luke's not sure whether to feel dread or anticipation. It sounds like he's got stuff to catch up on at home - things that will happen. Or did, he guesses. He manages another of his grins and nods toward the door.]

We might as well get out of here and find you some clothes - have you had anything to eat yet?

[Quick topic change, but his mind's moving at a hundred kilometers an hour.]

[importance]

You could say that.

[ she smiles, just slightly. it's difficult not to, not when the own grins of her friends tend to be contagious. ]

I'd probably have more luck explaining everything without having to worry about — well, this.

[ she gestures, vaguely, to the clothes and the collar latched around her neck. the idea of being transported here is evidently not to become too comfortable, something she has no intention of doing, but properly taking care of herself before discussing the events back home seems to be the next logical, easy step. ]

No, not yet. I can't say I remember the last time I've stopped to eat a decent meal.

[ and the one time she'd been invited to dinner rather than grabbing what she could for nutrition, their honored guest had been vader. that's enough to ruin anyone's appetite. ]

[taggingwomprats]

Well, the food here kind of stretches the definition of decent... Remember that time we had to break open the Falcon's emergency rations?

[That's the bad news. He eyes her again and tries to think - who does he know who's about her size and might have extra clothes?]

The Initiative might have something for you to wear. And if worse comes to worse, I think Merrill is about your size. She'd probably lend you something.

[importance]

[ she scrunches her face at that, but — it's not as though she has room to complain. beggars can't be choosers, and joining the rebellion implied a lack of decent sleep and nutrition. ]

Well, then I suppose it won't be much different from home.

[ it shouldn't take much to grow accustomed to, even if it's not the best of circumstances. ]

Merrill. [ not a name she knows, but that's to be expected. ] I take it she's a friend of yours?

[taggingwomprats]

Not a whole lot. At least we're not freezing to death....

[Well, yet. His grin gets a bit wider when Leia asks after Merrill.]

A new friend, anyway. She's... a bit different, but she's a good person at heart.

[importance]

Don't jinx it, Luke.

[ or say "i have a bad feeling about this" unless anyone wants everything to get worse. ]

I'm not surprised you've already managed to make friends here. You'll have to introduce us. [ that's luke, after all, amicable and sweet. she nods, having made up her mind on that tidbit. ] So you've been taking care of yourself?

[taggingwomprats]

So far.

[Well, except for that time he got kidnapped.]

...I got captured once, but they didn't really do anything to me.

[He's fine, really.]