trans_9 | (no subject)

Pop. Pop pop pop. Poppuhpoppoppop. KASCHUNKhiiiiiiiissssss.

There was condensation and mist spraying out from cracks in oblong glowing things that were clustered along the floors and walls of the huge, ancient-looking caverns.

For now, the ones that were cracking were the closest to the floor, but perhaps later, the figures sliding out of the pods would be sliding out onto the slimy walkways and platforms above.

Pop. Poppop. KASCHUNKhiiiiiissss.

There was light, and unconscious minds breaking through the top of the briny, harsh waters of consciousness, as their bodies did similarly and broke free from the pods, sliding to the floor, shivering in pools of slime.

Once the temporary blindness that some of them had passed, and once they were free of their sleepy stupors: somebody had some splainin' to do.

But there would be no explanations, as the only thing that could explain was only watching, silently, almost as a mother would look at their child right after it was born.

Pop. KASCHUNKhissss.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Vincent's eyes snapped wide as he awoke, laying on the floor. He coughed up some absolutely noxious substance and forced himself to his feet.

He was naked. This was a problem. It wasn't that he had any major issues with personal nudity, but his armor being unaccounted for was unacceptable. He looked around, his vision hazy but clearing quickly enough.

This... space, was nothing like anything he'd seen on the last world he had jumped from. It was contained, and the walls he could make out were covered in some sort of organic, possibly techno-organic, structures. He wasn't being restrained, but he must have lost consciousness at some point. How else could he have been stripped of his armor?

Clearing his throat of the residual material, he spoke aloud. "Voice code: Amorason. Armor unit recall." He spoke loud and forcefully. If his armor was within shouting distance, it would return to him.

||Your armor is currently unavailable, Vincent Amorason. Would you like some clothing in the meantime?||

The voice, obviously female, was rather calm and monotonous, and seemed to be inside Vincent's head.

Vincent's expression went more grim than usual (even for him). He didn't startle, but his eyes flicked around the room intently.

A telepath? No, no human emotional residue. Possibly an alien. Cortex transmitted communication systems perhaps? Focus on assessing the environment for now.

"...You are the administrator of this facility?"

||I am--||

A telepathic wave of emotion would hit Vincent, which would feel something along the lines of maternal love, duty, and honor mixed together.

||The closest possible pronunciation human vocal chords are capable of is STA'C K'LTRRB'TXFT, though many refer to me as Stacy.||

Vincent, more susceptible to emotional energy than most, felt his insides reel at that wave. He took half a step back, being mindful not to slip.

"How was I brought here, and who has taken my armor from me?" Spells he could use flashed through his mind, but he didn't take any aggressive action, yet.

||Information classified.||

Vincent raised an eyebrow.

"What is the purpose of this facility? What goal is served by my capture?"

||These are the Pod Caverns. They contain all stasis pods, which in turn contain all podmates.||

As for the next question... ||You have been Chosen. You and others like you have been brought here to accomplish something great.||

Great? He'd heard that applied to many goals.

"Is any further clarification available regarding 'great'?"

||No.||

This was not acceptable. Not at all. But he knew this wasn't the environment to begin making threats.

"Why have my armor and clothes been taken from me?"

He started expanding his magical senses outwards, trying to see if there were any other sentients nearby. He could feel that he was facing a giant living thing, but beyond that, he was uncertain. More investigation was warranted.

||Clothing would interfere with the life support systems of the pods.||

Life support?

"How long have I been contained in the life support system? And why is my armor 'unavailable'?"

Vincent curled up his face in distaste. Whatever was addressing him seemed to emulate and project emotion, but still seemed to operate on logic. He would approach it accordingly; at least it seemed to have some sort of level of intuition.

"Please give me all unclassified information relevant to previous inquiries."

||Personal possessions may be found in the Weapons and Possessions Lockers. Clothing is available for those that wish it in the Clothing Room.||

...Well, looks like there wasn't that much unclassified.

...he'd honestly been expecting at least a LITTLE more than that.

"Please direct me to the Weapons and Possessions Lockers." Vincent paused, then added. "How many others from the life support system are currently awake?"

||Several.||

Stacy is not known for being very exact when it comes to giving information.

A line of pustules along the ground begins to glow, leading off into the distance.

||This way, please. Are you sure you do not wish to visit the Clothing Room first? It is along the way, and there is no clothing available elsewhere.||

"There is something I wish to retrieve immediately. Would any personal effects contained within my armor have been removed?"

If the item Vincent was concerned about had been damaged, there would be a considerable amount of damage wrought on whatever this structure was.

||As long as the items in question were of standard-level authorization, they will be available in the Lockers.||

"Very well." Vincent followed the lit path. "Clothing can wait until after I've retrieved the item. Can an approximation of my former attire, minus the armor, be furnished?"

||All podmates are given a standardized uniform composed of a biomaterial which cleans the surface of the wearer's skin, with appropriate modifications given for those with super- or inhuman powers or physiologies. If you require the uniform to cover certain portions of your body that it normally wouldn't, however, you may be accommodated.||

Vincent nodded. "Acceptable... for now." He headed to claim his possession.