transport log » ❝ welcome to Exsilium ❞

[initiates]

Date & Time: Sept 23rd, 2012.
Location: The Initiative Hold & Courtyard.
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: New Transports have all arrived and have been shuffled into the Courtyard after their initial briefings.
Warnings: None.

You've just been hustled and bustled through mazes of information and literal, wide corridors of the Initiative Hold and you've been equipped with your weapon—be it a gun, a sword, or even your existing powers. They've handed you this light netbook and a small pouch of coins (or a debit card, if you're more inclined), and there are several Transports before and after you going through the very same motions. You can hear the Greeter's voice as she walks alongside large groups, telling them all about the history of this place and sharing with you your purpose here in a hurried and urgent tone. "This isn't standard," she's saying, walking perhaps faster than most of the people she's dragging around. "We don't normally have so many Transports at once. Please, let me show you into the courtyard."

You pass what looks like huge gymnasiums, all with dummies and targets strewn and splayed around the room. Training areas. There are even classrooms, and a few small offices. You're rushed past a large library while the Greeter informs you that you can find almost all your information there, if you've got the time to look—and trust her, you'll have time. You don't spend a lot of time in the bank, and it's a bit of a blur of exchanges with more and more of these strangely-accented and oddly polite-seeming members of the Initiative.

Soon enough, you're in a massive courtyard bustling with all the other Transports. It's not exactly what you'd expect, and it looks more like barracks than anything—huge walls of concrete and stone, separating you from all of the hallways you'd just passed through. It's raining heavily, and dark clouds loom in the air. It's a chill cold, and there are shelters—long cloth hangings that extend from the walls of concrete to house you from the rain, but not enough. Most notably, the courtyard is filled with a marketplace. Even in the cold and the rain, there are several citizens seated at their covered booths and tables. They're selling all manner of their own handmade goods and foods, and citizens and Transports alike are traveling from one small covered shop to another in search of all manner of necessities.

The Greeter's voice has become so faint now, but you swear you can make it out in the back of the crowds as she tells you, "Good luck. Be safe!"

Her voice is drowned out by the busy marketplace, though even the transactions taking place are somewhat subdued. Nobody is overly happy, really, though most citizens can be found with smiles on their faces. It doesn't seem like they're that shocked to see you, either; even if you're not bound in tattered rags and wrapped in heavy shawls as they are. You're welcome to walk up to a shop, and find yourself something to eat—hey, maybe you'll even find something akin to a raincoat. Or, you can join the others under the coverings against the walls. Where am I? What war? She was talking so fast, and it didn't all make very much sense… did anyone else catch it all?

Welcome to the courtyard. Welcome to the Initiative Hold—and most importantly, welcome to Exsilium.

Comments

[f_u_wesker]

No, they aren't. Not exactly. My world suffered a pandemic, things that are basically zombies have completely overrun the entire planet, humanity is facing extinction.

[whatsupcroc]

What? Worldwide? Where this pandemic start out from?

[f_u_wesker]

Yeah. It started out in Raccoon City, in the United States. A virus escaped one of Umbrella's Hives.

[whatsupcroc]

It was a man-made virus?

[ Collette groans. ]

That's some pretty terrible pay-out on destructive curiosity. No wonder you're worried about the people waiting for you! I would be too.

[f_u_wesker]

It was. Originally it was a medical breakthrough but it had multiple military applications as a bio-weapon.

[There are times that she really hates how much she knows about the virus and Umbrella but it's useful. Knowledge is power. Or something like that, she never cared.]

They tried to contain it but it wasn't possible. My, uh, companions seem to think I'm their ultimate weapon; humanities last chance for survival.

[whatsupcroc]

Medical break-through how? Where do you get from one to the other?

[ This is all craziness! So it's also all true. ]

Cool! ... Uh, I mean, maybe it is! Do you think you're going to be able to help with humanity surviving? You look like you can.

[f_u_wesker]

The T-Virus reanimates dead cells. It can make a paraplegic walk again but it has to be kept in check with the Anti-Virus.

[Alice shrugs and laughs a bit, but it's lacking any actual humor.] I don't know. I really don't.

[whatsupcroc]

[ Consider her eyebrows hiked high enough they might try to disappear into her hairline. ]

Like an extreme sort of organ transplant. Where you'd take the suppressants to keep your body from rejecting the new organ. Even if in this case you're trying to stop people from turning into super-zombies.

[ A virus that she knew wouldn't be able to do something that crazy to her -- since her cells had never died, the damage was on a genetic level. Could she even catch viruses anymore? Collette didn't know how that worked. ]

[f_u_wesker]

Kind of like that, yeah. I don't know if it's lucky but we've only had one instance of "super-zombies" besides the B.O.W's like Nemesis. And that was due to a formula derived from an ex-employees blood.

[Alice's blood.]

[whatsupcroc]

Why, was that person naturally immune to it?

[f_u_wesker]

Their body, their DNA rather, was able to bond with the virus on a cellular level and change it to benefit them.

[whatsupcroc]

Did they manage to make a working vaccine with their DNA?

[f_u_wesker]

Yes but those who are already infected, already changed, can't be helped now. Only the people who are still human can make proper use of it.

[whatsupcroc]

So just curious, but if your friends think you're humanity's salvation, any chance you've been inoculated or are related to this person who's DNA stops this other stuff from doing as it pleases?

[f_u_wesker]

I... am that person, actually. My DNA bonded with the virus.

[whatsupcroc]

No way!

[ She looks impressed. ]

That makes you one special person! I can totally see why you're worried about getting back. Don't worry! I know for sure things won't move on without you. Not to the point where humanity would really get wiped out. Humanity's more durable than people expect!

[f_u_wesker]

It's hard for them. There are more than ten thousand infected surrounding the White House defensive walls. And a lot of them are able to fly.

[whatsupcroc]

You weren't kidding when you said it turned people into all sorts of crazy new kinds of people! They can fly?

[ She shakes her head. ]

None of that sounds easy. You'll get through it, even so!

[f_u_wesker]

Yeah, there were some flyers. Some B.O.W's too.

I'm glad someone has some confidence in my ability.

[whatsupcroc]

Do I really want to know what a B.O.W. is?

Hah, you should too! I know your friends have that confidence.

[f_u_wesker]

No, you really don't.

I can try but I've never face these kinds of odds before.

[whatsupcroc]

There's a first time for everything.

[ There's also a last time, but that's much less empowering to think about. ]

In the meantime, did you want me to point you toward the apartments? Since while we're all stuck here in each others company, we might as all be as dry and healthy as we can. Away from mutant viruses and crazy odds!

[f_u_wesker]

That would probably be a good idea, if you don't mind. Maybe grab something to eat while we're at it, I don't plan on coming back out in this weather for food.

[whatsupcroc]

I don't mind at all! There's a stall down this way that has great breadrolls and sandwich-like stuff. We can grab a few of those and snack along the way! Shopping's better when you have a day set aside for it.

[ she changes direction, pointing down the way she wants to have them head out now. ]

[f_u_wesker]

Sounds like a good plan to me. Lead on.

[At least her body allows her to keep her dignity by not growling at the mention of food. It's been a few days since she last ate.]