driftfleet | (no subject)

Who: Misty Day
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Marsiva
When: January 5

[A woman wearing all black lies face up in her bunk, perfectly still, her arms straight out by her sides. It's impossible to tell if she's breathing or not, but surely she must be, right?

Right?

Watch long enough and you'll see her come alive, shooting straight up with a gasp that becomes a heart-wrenching sob. Tears stream down her face and she rocks back and forth. She's saying something over and over, but the only word that can be heard clearly is "No, no, no." This goes on for a long minute before she really seems to realize where she is.

Or rather, where she is not.]

Cordelia?!

[She scrambles out of the bed and stands in the middle of the room, calling out in her thick Louisiana accent.]

Zoe? .... Myrtle?

[She sinks back on to the bed, clutching her head in her hands, her breathing becoming increasingly labored as she tries to fight the panic.]

Shit, shit, shit. Oh God, please, help me. This ain't right at all.

[Not knowing what else to do, she assumes her prior position, closes her eyes, and starts to chant. Those from Earth might recognize it as Latin.]

Spiritu duce, in me est. [Deep breath.] Spiritu... duce. Spiritu - [Another sob and she rolls over on her side and curls into a fetal position.] No, no. I can't... I can't go back there.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Can't we just take it out?

[Wanda sighs, the inevitable follow-up question. Too bad the answer always had to be the same.]

Were it only so easy. It seems they have certain... "fail-safes" to ensure that that does not happen.

What kinda fail-safes?

Basically, as I understand it, the same things that I mentioned a moment ago.

[A pause.]

And electric shocks too. Apparently.

[That gets a worried look as she takes her hand away from her neck.]

Guess I won't be doin' that any time soon.

As unhelpful as this likely sounds, it is best to ignore it for now. People are... looking into how best to deal with them, but, until a solution can be reached, it is probably best to leave them well enough alone.

Don't worry. I'm not about to be in the business of pissin' off the people who saved my ass.

[Well that certainly gets a curious turn of the head.]

Saved?

Yeah, the place I just came from... it's bad, real bad.

I see. This is an improvement for you then?

[Wanda doesn't know what to make of that. Poor woman...]

Most places would be.

[Unsure if she should press further, Wanda pauses awkwardly for a moment.]

I see.

[Her uncertainty about whether or not she should inquire further lingers about.]

Well, if you think of any further questions, please feel free to contact me.

I will. Thank you, Wanda.

You are welcome, Misty.

[She smiles warmly before cutting her communicator's video feed.]