driftfleet | ✧ 01

Who: Kaidan Alenko
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Marsiva
When: Today

Action

[Kaidan doesn't panic like most people would, but it would be a bold-faced lie to imply that waking up on the Marsiva did not come as a shock. The ship runs as silently as the Normandy, so at first he doesn't quite realize he's somewhere else entirely, but opening his eyes dispels that illusion quickly. He's on his feet in seconds, eyes wide and alert]

What the?!

[But the outburst ends there. Having a temper tantrum wouldn't change anything, after all. Instead, he switches to calmly assessing the situation. His armor is piled near the end of the bed and he sets himself to methodically gearing up, inspecting each piece before strapping or snapping it into place. The onboard computers seem to be functional, but his omni-tool and guns are gone. Not surprising for a kidnapping, but it makes him feel naked even with the armor. He lifts a hand to the back of his neck in another moment of mild panic for his implant port, and finds it in place nestled among the bristle of hair. Just to be sure, he flares his biotics experimentally, a shimmer of blue crackling briefly over his body. N

Not disarmed entirely then. Good.

With that, Kaidan moves to get a better look at his prison]

Broadcast

[Some time later, Kaidan sits in mess hall with his communications device, giving it something a skeptical leer. Physical keyboard...how antiquated. It feels a little strange, but it's nothing he can't deal with.

The idea that he's been cut off from anyone and everything he's ever known, however, less so.]

This is going to a shot in the dark but, is there anyone from Earth or the Systems Alliance here? This is Major Alenko, requesting a sitrep. Or...anyone really. I don't think who we work for matters a hell of a lot right now.

[Except maybe Cerberus. He can't shake the idea that the Illusive Man is to blame for this somehow, but he'll take what he can get.

He lets out a restrained sigh of frustration.]

Look...somebody has me confused with an extranet celebrity and I'm not...I'm not that guy. And if this about the war...I'm just one man. It won't stop us. It won't stop Shepard. So I don't know why I'm here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yeah...that's the impression I've been getting so far? Starting to feel like I was tapped as the local expert, except for the fact that I'm not a scientist and I'm not even sure if this is the same galaxy...

Honestly? There's no way to tell, but I'd believe it.

[After all, it's not every day that the Fleet pulls in someone who's actually traveled from planet to planet.]

You're military, though - most of us are civilians, or at least, people not typically involved in that line of work.

[Civilians. Shit. He'd been thinking about himself, but suddenly a world of potential responsibility falls in his lap that he wasn't quite prepared for. If his experience can make a difference, who is he to refuse?

Kaidan runs a hand over his hair as the reality sets in]

Do guys see much action?

[Stefan winces. Maybe that hadn't been the best thing to tell him, straight off the bat.] Not really. Most systems have been relatively peaceful.

We did have one enemy attack, but that was well over a year ago.

[It comes as a shock, yes, but in a way it gives him purpose. Something to focus on that isn't the idea that he might be missing the push to retake Earth.]

At least they aren't running you through war games. [So he's only slightly less pissed that he would have been]

Who was responsible?

We have no idea. [He lets out a long, slow breath.] The best we can guess is a competing network, or someone who has it out for Atroma.

Atroma's uh - they're the guys who brought us here.

Yeah, I've heard the name already, I'm just not sure if I'm getting who they are? I mean, are they an alien race, or a group, or some kind of entity?

Sad part is, I have no idea. My best guess is a corporation, given the amount of power they must have.

We've seen a couple of hosts, Beau and Diamond, from time to time, but we've never physically been in the same space.

That's a shame. [Said in the most placid way someone can imply it's a shame I can't pumch them in the face]

So we can't be sure if they're human or...what. Video is too easy to fake.

Now that you mention it, yeah. I hadn't given it much thought since most everyone here's human...

[Welp. That's gonna leave him with some stuff to mull over.]

That's the other weird thing. Other than you and a handful of people, everyone's from Earth.

Well...I am from Earth. Born and raised. I've just spent a good amount of time in other parts of the galaxy too.

See, you still fit the pattern. If I didn't know better, I'd assume Earth's the center of the universe.

[That draws a short raspy laugh of amusement from him] I know there are a lot of people that think that already. If I didn't know better, I'd probably think the same thing myself. But, I think it has more to do with human nature? We kind of...thrive on conflict. It pushes to do a lot of great things, sure, but it also means we attract a lot of attention.

On the intergalactic scale, right? I think I've known that for a while.

[Before the Fleet, he wants to say, but that's letting on too much.]

It's still pretty weird. Back in my time, space travel wasn't uh - it wasn't something everyone did.

[Kaidan's lips quirked into something of a sympathetic smile] Yeah, I get that. And really, it's not all that strange. Humankind -- we've...well we've only been capable of FTL travel for less than forty years. Sure, we have colonies now, but there are still plenty of people that never leave Earth at all.

Okay, well - all those people from your world? That never left Earth? That's the norm. We all have augments, these things in the back of our brain, that catch us up to speed, but it's no substitute for the real thing.

[Now he just feels like Mr. Exposition. Stefan's cheeks glow flushed.]

Back home, I was a medical school student. I never thought I'd do that kind of work out here.

[Stefan's source of embarrassment is still valuable knowledge to Kaidan, so he pretends to ignore his discomfort]

Do you mean you'd never expect to need to use it, or that you'd never thought you'd use it in space?

The latter. [Stefan relaxes a little.] Very much the latter - I wouldn't be going if I didn't want to be a doctor.

Well...yeah. I meant...some people are more interested in research than actual practice.

[His turn to be awkward. Status quo]

It's a fair assumption. I've done my share of research, but I'd rather be in the field than in a lab.

Did you have any kind of specialty?

Not yet. I was pulled right before I could start rotations, so... I'm still playing catch-up with the other doctors.

On the other hand, you'll probably get the chance to learn more here than you might have at home.

I know. I've taken care of species I would've never imagined of meeting - like, we're pre-space travel. Human's my "default." As much as I complain, it's been a good run. I've learned so much about other cultures and species, and I'm pretty good at taking care of 'em too.

[His expression grows almost wistful.]

I'm Stefan, by the way. Once you get your ship assignment, you should come find me on the Paisley.

✧ 01

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