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]

[eggs don't take very long to cook. It's only ten minutes or so before Mike's pulling out trays. He scoops the eggs onto two of them, then turns to bring both over to the table, setting them in front of Stan and Peace]

[lazyinlove]

[The proper response would be gratitude, but instead the kids dig in ravenously. Peace has a lot of trouble with cutlery, and after spilling eggs off hers the first few tries, she gives up and stuffs a fistful in her mouth, chewing them noisily. Stanley isn't eating much prettier. He's barely even remembering to chew.

They're grateful, Mike. Really they are.]

[fullmeasure]

[it's okay, he can tell. Mike just takes a seat across from them after a brief detour back to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. He drinks it quietly while they eat]

[lazyinlove]

[They don't just eat, they decimate that food. In less time than it took to cook they're literally licking the plates clean. Stanley eyes the coffee, because man, if they aren't going to sleep he could sure use some of that. Peace just belches, probably not very ladylike, but approving of Mike's cooking at least. Stanley ruffles her hair instead of correcting her, and stifles a yawn.]

Thanks.

[fullmeasure]

[watching kids decimate food is something he's used to. He had his own kid, and a granddaughter, and well. That's what they do. He's entirely unaffected by this display]

You're welcome.

[lazyinlove]

How'd it happen?

[fullmeasure]

How'd what happen?

[lazyinlove]

[Stanley touches his own ear, giving the tip a little tug in a mirror gesture, indicating Mike's. it's an innocent question, which probably makes it pretty obvious that the kid isn't very experienced, and most likely isn't bright enough to realize he probably shouldn't ask.]

[fullmeasure]

Ah, that.

[yeah, there's no way he's explaining that, especially in front of a little girl]

How about a raincheck on that story . . . ? [he trails off, because he realizes he doesn't know the kid's name]

[lazyinlove]

Okay.

[On a good day he can pick up on hints. Really. He totally can.

It's just that at the moment Stanley is trying not to fall asleep sitting up. So he fails to introduce himself. Peace stands up and strikes his hair, most likely a gesture copied from her own mother. Her tiny nurturing instincts only last a few seconds before she climbs onto his lap and loops her arms around his neck, though. It's time to go, apparently. Stanley just isn't sure where to take her. He pats her on the head and yawns again.]

[fullmeasure]

[kids are adorable.

Mike gets to his feet, since that seems to be his cue to play grandpa again]

I think it's time you two find your room and sleep.

*stroke is a word autocorrect I swear

[lazyinlove]

Mm. Sleep.

[That sounds like a great idea. They'll worry about cleaning up later, it's more important to get into bed than it is to keep the bed clean. Or themselves. Now, if only they can figure out where it even is...]

[fullmeasure]

Do you know what room you're staying in?

[lazyinlove]

...The first one they don't kick us out of?

[fullmeasure]

[sigh. Mike just makes a face. Why is this his life right now]

[lazyinlove]

[Never can let the dumb puppies fend for themselves, that's why.]

[fullmeasure]

[dammit]

You have an assigned room from being down on Earth, don't you? You can't look it up?

[lazyinlove]

Uh. Ye...I...did? I dunno. I don't uh...wh-how? Look it up, how?

[Yes, helping these kids was a dumb move, Mike.]

[fullmeasure]

[Mike heaves a sigh]

Who are you rooming with?

nope not a thing

[lazyinlove]

Uh. A guy and his girlfriend. Jesse and Lisbeth. Do they put our names on the doors or something?

yesgood

[fullmeasure]

Well.

[small world and all that]

I happen to know where Jesse's room is.

[lazyinlove]

You know Jesse Pinkman?

[Okay, hold up grandpa. You're not coming across as the aging hippie type. In fact, you give off a dangerous vibe. Like a cop. And if there's one thing Jesse doesn't need up in his junk it's gotta be cops.

The kid goes from hazy and terrified to sharp and focused, or as close as he can get at the moment. He's not stupid, just because he's a little dumb. And he's not bringing trouble home with him. No way.]

How?

[fullmeasure]

[Mike barely resists rolling his eyes]

We know each other from back home. [and he gives Stan a pointed look; because he knows that expression and he knows what it means; he got it all the time when he was working as a cop and after] And before you ask, no, I'm not a cop. I'm a friend of his.

[lazyinlove]

Okay...

[A friend? Seriously? This guy?]

[fullmeasure]

You can ask him if you want. He'll tell you.