the white noise is deafening silence

[thespaceopera]

[In the very early hours of January 20th, as the Marsiva and her captives drift nonchalantly through the depths of the universe, there is a call. Every single personal communicator and console springs to life, spitting out a stream of indecipherable static and showing only gray snow on screen. It continues like this for a few seconds longer, going black and then going staticky, and then the signal switches to the encrypted channel generally used for speaking to the Interceptors when something big goes down.

This is a little more successful. The voice may be familiar to some, at least through the static.]

Zhade here! I trust I ███ your attention? I'm having some ██▓▓ble ██tting through. Some of the ░▓██▓█ are missing. I can't ░▓▓▓ read on their loc█████ns. [A particularly long burst of static.] ███stening. I'll s█▓▓█ more inf██▓▓▓▓▓█ I get it.

Stay sharp! [There's the sound of someone actually doing the fingerguns wink noise, and then static.

Any messages sent back won't get through, and Zhade isn't there to answer.]

[ A blip of lost time passes right after those words, before every passenger mysteriously wakes alone in their own unfamiliar room. The style of decor resembles that of the Marsiva's Hospitality Deck, if any passengers should remember what that's like. It sounds and smells the same as the host ship as well, all clean and chrome.

Welcome back to the Marsiva, dear passengers. It's time for round three of calibrations. ]

[ This mingle will cover all non-calibration room interactions. Please continue to come back to it for the duration of the plot! You are, of course, free to post any other mingles/posts/etc. that you'd like. ]

Comments

[morethanapenny]

Indeed, I've recently arrived.

[Alfred answered with a nod and headed toward Keith's direction to sit across from him.]

Is everything okay?

[While he didn't know the young man, he did find it odd that he was by himself. Most young men were always with their friends or a peer or two.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith blinked, a little surprised at the question.]

Uh, yeah. It's fine. I just... Well, this whole dream thing is kind of rough this time around. I was here last time it happened. Sometimes, there are some really bad memories to see. [And have brought up, but he left that part out.]

[morethanapenny]

So this whole dream phase is only a temporarily thing? It's not always like this? I suppose it's their way of getting the entertainment they are seeking-- intruding on people's personal memories. Which indicates that they have no form of boundaries here.

I'm not sure how much help I can provide you, but if you wish to talk or focus on something positive that may help? I've found in he past when I talk with my young master it's helpful to think upon some good memories or find a more positive activity to work on.

[tempredmental]

It is. [Keith nodded.] Usually lasts about a month or so. I think. It's only happened two other times before, and I missed the first one. I wasn't in the Fleet, yet.

And, you're probably right. I mean, this whole thing is supposedly about ratings, but we've yet to find anyone who actually knows anything about us. We did find a company that sponsors the show, apparently, but nothing else beyond that.

[He considered the suggestion.]

I don't know. We'll see. [He managed a weak smile.] I've never been much for talking.

[morethanapenny]

Sounds to me that these people are elusive. Something I'm familiar with dealing. They were all about controlling and shaping the city for their uses. Only they weren't about ratings.

[Alfred got up and went to get a glass of water for the both of them and returned with the glasses. He handed one over to Keith.]

Then you don't have to talk. If you wish we could play some sort of game like chess or checkers?

[tempredmental]

What were they about?

[Keith took the glass with a small 'thanks', and then shrugged at the suggestion of a game.]

My past experiences with board games usually end up with me flipping the board. [Though, he might be a little better at it now.] But, I'm up for it, I guess... if you want.

[morethanapenny]

I'm unfortunately not entirely sure. In the end they felt it was time to destroy the city and start it over.

[Alfred raised an eyebrow more amused by Keith's admittance then anything.]

I'm quite familiar with that method as well. Let's see what checkers brings us?

[He proceeded to get up and retrieve a checker set, hoping they have one.]

[tempredmental]

That... that's kind of alarming... [Keith frowned. Nope. Bad thoughts. Destroy a whole city? That sounded like a Galra tactic. He nodded at the idea of checkers. Maybe it was less likely to get flipped if he got stuck.]

Okay.

[Keith shifted into a better sitting position at the table when Alfred returned with the game.]

It's been a while since I've played.