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

[fullmeasure]

[it's a non-violent option, which would be, in the long run, best for everyone]

There's an idea, if it's possible.

[hostage]

Would they really do that, even if they could?

[5055034455]

I dunno. It's worth a shot, at least.

[fullmeasure]

Can you find out?

[hostage]

And tell 'em I'm as good as he is. Maybe that'll convince 'em they don't need him.

[5055034455]

[Saul's just going to ignore that.

To Mike:] Of course. In the meantime, at least we have the month to strategize — newbies only show up on the first. We should probably all sit down with Skyler at some point, too.

[fullmeasure]

That won't put her on edge at all. [Mike heaves a sigh] But we should, after things settle for a while.

[hostage]

[Why would you ignore that, Saul? It's important.]

I dunno about you guys, but she seemed glad to see me. I could talk to her.

[5055034455]

Well, considering all that's happened... I'd be glad to see a familiar, potentially helpful face, too.

[There's another pause as Saul glances over at Jesse, then back to Mike, then down at his hands. He's thinking.

Part of what he's thinking is that this is kind of nice.]

And that's what we need to be, yeah? Helpful. We all have one very important thing in common, and if the four of us can maybe come together as one solid front or at least just support each other — I think that'd be a very good thing.

[Number one reason why he's not looking at Mike as he says any of this: Mike's never heard him talk this way before.]

[fullmeasure]

[he sure hasn't, and he sure is raising an eyebrow at Saul. But he has a good point]

It's not a bad idea.

[hostage]

[Jesse loves this, too. Not necessarily the part where they're plotting to kill or otherwise erase someone, because he never loved that kind of thing. But the rest of it. It's like the old days, when things were going good for them. It's almost as if Mike was never not here, and all the reasons he's pissed at Saul are kind of fading away. Jesse falls so comfortably into his old role, nodding along with what everyone's saying.]

[5055034455]

Kind of a tall order, since some of us —

[He looks at Jesse, of course, but it's not an accusatory sort of look. It's apologetic.]

Can't stop being assholes to each other, but maybe if we pick right now as the point where we move away from all that, we might be okay.

[fullmeasure]

Then maybe the two of you should kiss and make up.

[it's so deadpanned, it's hard to tell if it's serious or not]

[hostage]

[Any other person in the world would get a glare for that comment. But it's Mike, so Jesse dips his head sheepishly and rubs at his forehead before turning to really look at Saul.]

Shut up, you know I love you.

[5055034455]

[Well.

This is kind of embarrassing. Saul makes a face like he's about to offer up some smartass comment, but then it fades.]

I know.

[He does. It's just hard to remember that when Jesse's glaring at him and acting so distant, both of which happen pretty damn often — sometimes simultaneously. Not that it usually isn't Saul's fault, but...]

I love you too.

[Now he really isn't looking at Mike.]

[fullmeasure]

[there's a smartass comment Mike could make, but considering everything he's been told, he saves it for another time]

There you go; now it might work.

[hostage]

[Yeah, it's totally embarrassing. But this is Jesse's family and he really, really does love them, so he's smiling all of a sudden. That's all it takes to pick him up from suicidal depression, honestly.]

[5055034455]

[When Jesse's happy, Saul's happy, so he's smiling too.]

Right. Well. [Awkward throat clearing.] I think we can save the actual planning for later, after I talk to the Initiative and we all spend some time finding our footing.

[fullmeasure]

[what a bunch of sappy idiots]

[hostage]

[Don't lie, Mike. It's what you love most about the kid.]

Right on. Good talk, guys.

[5055034455]

[Saul laughs, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

As long as he doesn't piss Mike off enough to make him threaten any leg-breaking again, they really might be okay.]

Alright, so — Jesse. How're you feeling?

[hostage]

[What a dumb question.]

How do you think? I can barely see straight.

[5055034455]

I figured.

[SHUT UP, MAN.]

Why don't you go lie down? I'll show Mike around the base, and then we'll come get you later.

[fullmeasure]

[Mike almost opens his mouth to say he's already had a tour or two, but decides against it]

The rest will do you good, kid. [that is why they'd come back here in the first place]

[hostage]

[Jesse glances between the two of them. Okay, yeah, he gets it. And he won't argue. He feels a little better about letting Mike go now that he's pretty sure he hasn't spent the entire day hallucinating. There's just one thing:]

I'm giving you guys regeneration, just in case.

[He says "giving" but he's already done it, in the time it takes him to say it. Saul knows what he means.]