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

[praevikaan]

[She smiles encouragingly at the little creature. The methods are unpleasant, if her arrival was anything to judge by, but a little bit of unpleasantness endured for a long-term reward is something she can tolerate without difficulty.

She always casts an eye to tactical gain before anything else. Truly, they probably did not need Fondue to come, he is small and although she is certain he is very brave, what if he were to become injured? She can mend human wounds well enough, but what if an Alsatian Cheesehund is different somehow? One more thing to investigate. Still, she could probably protect him. Both of them? She tilts her head at Raphael. She has no idea as to any martial capabilities he may have.]

Do you fight? Either of you?

[It seems best to ask now, before they plan too much more.]

[everydayraphael]

[Yes, they do. Fondue bites and Raphael is very capable of using people's "rhythm" against them as a defensive offense. However...]

... Well, no. Fondue can probably bite people, but I'm pretty useless with anything that doesn't include running around doing errands. I worked part-time in a store and went to school, but my grades weren't anything to party over either... And I'm not that good at anything athletic either.

[Technically, telling the truth. Phantom R is very much more the athletic "self" of his. Though he can of course pull off the same stunts since it's only a disguise.]

[praevikaan]

Would you like to learn?

[She has taught others in the past. The lesser forms of sinj'amn are easy for beginners, though he is perhaps a little slender to use a martial art designed for power and force. She could teach spears or daggers, she supposes.]

I do not think I could teach little Fondue here anything of note, but I know weapons.

[everydayraphael]

[... He sword fought once too, actually. But his stance was terrible. And defensive.]

I'm not very comfortable with the idea of weapons, but I guess it'd be nice to know if I never needed to use one. What did you have in mind?

[praevikaan]

I am most comfortable with spears. They can be used defensively or offensively, and if you are uncomfortable with the idea perhaps the former is best? I can fight [or so she thinks, but she's never been in a real one before, just sparring matches] well enough on my own, but I would be concerned for you both if anything were to happen.

[Especially given the fact that 'mission' in and of itself implies some level of danger.]

[everydayraphael]

Spears, huh..? I can give it a shot. I wouldn't want to worry you too much after all!

[Fondue woeufs too, tail wagging slightly. Big sticks are better than nothing.]

[praevikaan]

Then it is settled. First we train, then we go. Meanwhile we can ascertain what else there is to be learned here, yes?

[Now that she has A Plan, she's pleased and almost energized. A shade closer to animated than her usual reserved neutral. Even given their surroundings, which are still somber in the wake of the bomb. She always does better when she has a direction, something to strive for.]

[everydayraphael]

[Raphael knows how she feels. And he'll be doing his best to learn what he can too, to find leads and the like. How it was before, what time travel is like, how they can help...]

Yes. It'd be best to ask people who've been here longer than either of us, and I suppose anything is better than nothing. Even if it's something trivial it could be useful.

[praevikaan]

[She nods.]

Then, shall we begin?

['No time like the present', so to speak.]

[everydayraphael]

[Woeuf?!]

Right now?! We haven't even found wherever we'll be staying at.

[praevikaan]

[-- OH THAT. Puts the damper on her gung-ho enthusiasm a little.]

I had not thought about it. I do not require much sleep. They have rooms, I imagine?

[everydayraphael]

[Whew.

Though he doesn't need much sleep either. Being a phantom does that to one's sleeping schedule.]

They probably do. I wonder just how big this place is, if it can house so many people.

[praevikaan]

I assume it will be sufficient, but not luxurious. This... place, it seems a stopgap more than anything. A shelter.

[If she's expected to live here indefinitely? Oh man, that could be a problem.]

[everydayraphael]

I guess we'll have to make do, or make luxuries, until we're someplace less temporary. At least we're used to sharing a bed, huh Fondue?

[Woeuf. Cozy and comfy.]

Are you gonna be okay though? Since you lived in a forest and all.

[praevikaan]

[She glances at their surroundings, as if seeing it for the first time. She hasn't had much of a chance to inspect everything yet, and it certainly is different than her home. But she lifts one shoulders in a shrug.]

I will tolerate it for as long as I must.

[Endure and survive, after a fashion.]

Besides, I have not seen my home for nearly a year now.

[That's meant to be cheerfully reassuring!! It probably falls a little bit flat, though.]