006 - Rip Van Sokka

[alwayscomeback]

Who: Sokka and you!
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Blue Fish
When: Right now!

[Sokka has finally awoken from cryosleep. He looks a little older (which, of course, he is, he's a whole 19 years now) and his hair is in disarray, but awake he is. His communicator catches him sitting upright, blinking confusedly around him as he tries to sort through three years worth of memories and try to work out where the hell he is.

After a few moments, the pieces fall into place, and he lets out a low groan, flopping back on his bed.]

Ugh. I thought I was done with this place.

[Then, he gets up, reluctantly, ties his hair back up in a pony tail, and heads up the hatch and out into the Blue Fish himself. It's like going back to a dream. Or maybe a nightmare. The familiarity is fuzzy and off, but it's slowly creeping back to him. ]

Comments

[save_the_souls]

No, they're still doing that.

Dr. Crusher have been doing autopsies. From the results, it looks like originally they had a complex neur- [Wait stop. how to translate into non-medical speak] er, they were as smart and sentient as we are.

But, she also found that they'd been infected with a parasitic fungi. The infection spread throughout their bodies and reduced them to the mindless drones we see now.

They probably sent out the distress signal when they realized the crew was infected...but clearly it didn't reach anyone in time.

[alwayscomeback]

...Oh, so they're pretty much brainwashed? That's...deeply concerning. Is there any way to fix them?

[save_the_souls]

Dr. Crusher is trying to find a way, though...I'll admit, with how severe the infection, I have some doubts that it's possible to reverse the damage done to their nervous system.

Also there's...talk from the other ships about fixing the ship up and possibly using it.

[alwayscomeback]

Hm. And we don't want to risk the crews getting infected, either.

Wow, so are people completely crazy now?

[save_the_souls]

Of course. It seems humans are immune, but probably the less exposure to the fungi, the better. [Since there's always a chance it could mutate to jump species]

...Possibly.

[alwayscomeback]

Ugh, this place just gets more stupid every day.

[Oh, but hey, he gets a small smile.]

But the Blue Fish is still in one piece. Looks like I really did pick the best First Mate. Thanks, man.

[save_the_souls]

[He gives a shrug] I made a promise.

[And he keeps his promises dammit, but he offers a smile.]

Still, I'm glad you're back. The crew's been worried about you.

[alwayscomeback]

[He's a good guy, Sokka is so pleased.]

Worried or resisting the urge to draw things on my face?

[save_the_souls]

...I was wondering if you had looked in the mirror yet.

[Not that there's anything actually on his face, but w/e]

[alwayscomeback]

[The smile falters. ]

...They didn't.

...

It was Alex, wasn't it?

[save_the_souls]

[ He laughs a little ]

She did try to talk me into it.

NOW jacking

[bolder]

[Toph enters the kitchen, stopping only briefly to "look" at Sokka and cackle.]

Oh, you look ridiculous! [Off to sit by Allen now.]

best timing

[alwayscomeback]

[Sokka lets out a shriek, running for the microwave to stare at his unpainted face. ]

I can't believe you-

...

You are a bad person, Toph.

beautiful

[save_the_souls]

[Sorry. This is the sound of Allen throwing his head back and laughing]

Thank you, Toph!

i aim to please

[bolder]

I do what I can. [Plopping in a seat next the first mate, she puts a hand on the table and feels around until she finds the snacks.

A handful of those are swiped.]

So what are we eating?

[alwayscomeback]

[Sokka makes a soft 'auuugh' noise, before flopping despondently onto a spare seat. ]

It's so good to be back. Really.

[save_the_souls]

[Oh whatever Sokka you love them. He grins a little before he looks at Toph stealing his food rude gosh]

Pretzels. [he responds as she grabs the snack in question] But since Sokka's back, maybe we can have some of the meat that's left with dinner tonight.

[he makes a slight sad face] I hope the next system has supplies, or we'll be down to nothing but proteins soon.

[bolder]

[Chewing before she speaks with her mouth full.] Not bad at all.

[She swallows and laughs.] At least Aang's one less to worry about when rationing that stuff.

[alwayscomeback]

[He does love them, more than anything. Asses. The thought of meat does cheer him up, though. Delicious, delicious meat. ]

I think a celebratory meat fest is exactly what we need. Allen, too is helpful with the non-meat eating weirdness.

[save_the_souls]

[He rolls his eyes and says as if he's has said it a dozen times now]

It's not weirdness, lots of people are vegetarians.

[bolder]

Aang has the whole 'life-is-sacred-i-shave-my-head-and-meditate-half-my-waking-hours' thing going on. What's your deal?

[All said while chewing or putting pretzels in her mouth. Classy as fuck.]

[alwayscomeback]

He never talks about it. I don't think it's like Aang's thing, though.

[Nom nom nom, food. ]

And it's still weird. Meat is delicious and beautiful.

[save_the_souls]

Ha- no, definitely not like Aang's beliefs. My people can eat meat most of the time if we'd like.

[He awkwardly smiles and shrugs]

It's just not a story I feel is proper to tell at the dinner table.

[bolder]

Eugh, is it all gross and creepy like? You better not, Sokka has a sensitive disposition.

[More pretzels. She's decided she likes these things.]

[alwayscomeback]

[WHINING around a mouthful of pretzels.]

I do not!