driftfleet | (no subject)

Who: two nerds and you
Broadcast: fleetwide
Action: Marsiva
When: now!

[ The audio comes on sharply, but everything is still dark as two people discuss their situation.]

Is that the camera? Can you get it to work?

I - think so? Here, push this --

I am pushing it, Hank. I thought you knew about these from that show you keep watching. Space Trek?

It's Star Trek and that isn't exactly - you know, the same thing as this.

Right. . . . Wait, I think I see something on the side.

[ And the video flickers on, the red light glowing softly. It focuses on two men. One in a wheelchair and the other right next to him, peering curiously at the camera before they step back satisfied. ]

Well, that’s over and done with. Hello to anyone who might be out there. My name is Charles Xavier and this is Hank McCoy. Apparently we’ve been kidnapped again, by an unknown force again for some mysterious reason.

[muttered:] Again. [and louder] So if anyone would be kind enough to explain exactly what's going on, we'd appreciate it. You have our thanks in advance.

But do keep it pertinent.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ He chuckles. ]

How charming, but I think I'll pass. I'll die of fright if my chair could suddenly fly around.

It's your call. You'll be shuffled to another, smaller ship at the end of the week or so. There's likely going to be a captain there, so find out who it is.

Can you visit the other ships?

[ It must be possible. ]

Not from the Marsiva, but once you're assigned yours, definitely. It's not much entertainment if people are confined with the same group all the time, is it?

That's a relief. I thought they might prefer us stir-crazed.
[ At least he can visit Erik and Hank if they're on separate ships. ]

There's only so much drama they can milk from that I guess.

[She pauses, then shrugs again.] So, any other questions? There's usually something else.

Normally, yes, but this is par on course for me. I'll manage.

[ He's so zen, it's odd. ]

Been somewhere like this before? Some people here have.

Mm, in a manner of speaking. I was in two other places that required the loss of my memories. Compared to those places, this is a haven.

Two? Shit, that's horrible. Sorry to hear that. No wonder you're not freaking out here.

[ He shrugs. ]

Adapting isn't the hard part at this point.

Then what is?

[Octavia's curious, never having the experience herself. Her best friend here did come from somewhere else first, but she never asks about it.]

The fight to keep hope up is.

[ Because if the cycle continues, it seems like there is no hope. ]

[If he weren't being 100% serious, she'd probably hang up right now. How corny can someone get?]

Hope for what? Going home? Some people might not want to. But either way, it'll happen at some point.

Wherever they wish to go.

[ He's well aware that not everyone wants to go back. ]

But I rather fight it all the way.

Fight what exactly? [It's a valid question in her mind.]

The Atroma? The control?

[ The Echoes, the portraits, the many omnipotent creatures that have had him under their thumb. Who poisoned him, killed him many times over. ]

[Her expression is hard to pin down, maybe a little exasperation or resignation somewhere in there.]

Right. You figure out a way to do that, you let us all know.

[ He understands the skepticism. He has plenty of his own. ]

Certainly.