driftfleet | First Beat

Who: Fox and whoever
Broadcast: video/text
Action: Marsiva
When: 6/24 or so

[a. awakening - video/action]

[It begins without the usual flair of someone waking in an unfamiliar place. There's a start, the flicker of too-pale skin and black fabric in front of the camera as a hand rises to one ear, then nearly lashes out to the side to fumble for something. Tense shoulders relax when fingers curl around a very high-tech set of headphones, a heavy exhale audible on the video. When he shuffles them back on, there's a momentary pause before his other hand flicks twice across the back of his glove and two translucent screens pop up in front of him.

Another moment like this - one can see plenty of flashing red marks, but the rest is hard to tell - and the newcomer's expression becomes troubled. His head turns, finally catching sight of the communicator. That gives a glimpse of very bright green eyes, the curious quirk of a pale platinum brow as he picks it up. There's no speech, but the sense of now, what's this? is pretty clear. As is the hollow sort of pallor of his skintone, giving off the sense of someone either very sick or very malnourished.

Possibly a vampire, but let's assume not, shall we?]

[b. info-gathering - text]

[Some time later, there's a message on the boards, one that's... remarkably informed for someone new to this.]

So, this is the "Intergalactic Game Show" called "Drift Fleet". No one knows how we got here, save that the Atroma are the instigators of our capture. No one knows what the point of the show is, other than to provide entertainment, no scheduled events or anything of the sort.

There are eighteen ships, plus the Iskaulit and the Marsiva, and yet we're not really pitted against one another in typical gameshow fashion. I'm currently on the Marsiva, at least until I'm shuffled onto one of the aforementioned eighteen ships.

People's stays here range from a few days to more than a year, with no explicable reason why, and no one knows where anyone goes or why they do or don't remember things if they come back.

Have I missed anything otherwise important?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Overall, Shinji won't bother replying to this sort of introduction stuff, but there's something about the calm, methodical approach that's just... well, it's appealing. Most people freak out about arriving here. Anyway,]

Right now we're visiting a planet that doesn't actually suck.

Mind elaborating on that? From what I understand, I can't even go there until I'm shuffled out, right?

Right. [This person is a little too talkative to be Ayanami, but the similarities help to placate Shinji. He's willing to explain:] The Fleet visits different places - planets, moons, space stations - and then stays there for a few months. Once you're freed from the Marsiva, you can join us on the planet. You'll be free to move around down here.

[Unseen, he huffs a small laugh and rests a hand on the back of his neck.]

I meant the specifics of the planet. Its makeup, denizens, that sort of thing.

As someone with a very frail disposition, I'd prefer to be prepared before stepping into a potentially dangerous situation.

Oh. Sorry. I don't know what species you are, but if you're anything like a human, you'll be fine out there. Breathable atmosphere, comfortable gravity, clean water, lots of forests. The natives are extremely friendly; they'll probably try to hold your hand. The food is kind of overpriced, but it's delicious. Sand is hard to get out of shoes. Maybe wearing sunscreen would be a good idea.

I'm a human. That all sounds... a bit scenic. Like the old days, really.

The consideration is appreciated, but sunscreen is a requirement for me with my situation as it is.

I guess so. I had no idea blue water could be so beautiful.

On your ship, when you're assigned one, there should be sunscreen and stuff like that in the medical bay.

What colour is your water, if not blue? Ours has returned to its normal PH and density since the Crisis.

That is good to know, thank you.

["Crisis" sounds like some important terminology. Not too far off from...]

Red. It turned red after Second Impact. That was in the year 2000. None of that is familiar to you, right?

[Not wrong, really. Similar result, different situations, in the end.]

No, but I am finding that's typical - it seems those of us from Earth are largely from some fantastical set of timelines where different chains of events happened. There was a group who theorised such things could be possible even in my native timeline, actually.

For me, our Earth had no such thing - as far as history goes, it progressed as normal until the Chaos Calamity in 2238.

The Second Impact sounds like an outside force, rather than our own internal one - do you mind telling me a little more about it? And is there a scientific reason to your waters becoming red?

It's also important to remember we are for the most part from different worlds or timelines.

That parameter is noted, but currently irrelevant. Statistically speaking, most VR Gameshows pooled together people from all walks - I imagine this is much the same. And until I can take apart some of the tech on the ships, I won't have a clue how they're managing an interspatial, intralinear portal of any kind.

[Fox. Fox you're starting to sound like a computer again, stop it.]

[Some people find that delightful, and the Vision perks up a bit.]

You'd have better luck on that with the Marsiva, in fact. Our individual ships do not pull individuals directly; in fact they seem more like satellite appendages to the mothership.

It may be irrelevant at present to you, but I assure you it will seem moreso if you encounter a dozen different individuals from variations of your own timeline as I have.

[Touche, touche.]

I've been taking apart what I can, but it seems they generally frown upon such things here. In any case, I'm also looking into the way the network is laid out - it feels primitive, but it's rather different than I was expecting.

Indeed, relevancy is a fluid measure and room for adjustment should always be left. ... Though I rather hope I don't meet any more individuals from my timeline.

They do block investigation efforts quite nicely, but there's little enough to be found on the smaller ships. As for the network, the architecture isn't anything familiar to me but it's simple enough to navigate.

It does vary. Some have never seen anyone from their own home, while other timelines can see nearly a dozen members here.

The simplicity of the navigation is what gives it a primitive feel, for me. There aren't even any DEAD bots to protect anything, and yet everything is so uniform that what's important is no clearer than what isn't.

That's what I've been seeing. And with the way that people come and go, some remembering, others not, I suppose it's possible that one of mine has already done so. Immaterial, but curious.

That's likely due to a combination of the relative newness of the network and lack of programmers. Given that it seems independent of the Marsiva, for the most part, that leaves only passengers to interfere, and Communications is one of the less popular augments. That's not to say there isn't content, of course, but there's less irrelevant or outdated content, to be sure.

You may be fortunate, then.

It makes me want to dissect the network itself; as for writing programs, that's something I'm used to, something I enjoy. I doubt it will be long before I write something new.

I am many things, but unfortunate has never been one of them.

[Oh, child, you have no idea...]

Please don't hesitate to share if it's something others might enjoy. There have been some rather addictive games written by other passengers, for example.

Hm. Good luck, in that case.

It's much more satisfying to have others enjoy what you've made, isn't it? I designed HUDs for my coworkers back home, among other things, so that's somewhat my natural inclination.

You as well.

There are some here who would certainly find that useful.

Thank you.

First Beat

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