Newbie Meet n' Greet

[cityship]

For the newbies, there are people waiting for them in the Obs Deck. A whole gaggle of people. Behind them is the nasty statue, and the beautiful sight through the windows of the stars streaming past and the swirling vortex of collars that was interdimensional travel.

There are more questions than answers, but the crew is willing to help, especially the Command Staff and greeters.

Comments

[ladyofthesands.livejournal.com]

"Arha Masaari, nineteen, perhaps twenty," she said, her voice just loud enough, with a gritty undertone like the desert sands she'd been forced to leave behind. "I am a teacher, a desert survivalist. I am many things to many people."

She maintained her composure, though she could feel the room pulsing with life and the Other Voices pressing in on her. It would calm. She had the training. It would all calm.

[anoldtrickster.livejournal.com]

Wednesday meets her electric-blue gaze with a moment's solid magnanimity before he takes down the information and tilts the omnicom up to get a picture of her.

"There will be a meeting with some explanations in a few minutes," he adds. "The short version is that we're all stuck in this as much as you are, but we are working on getting out."

[ladyofthesands.livejournal.com]

"All of us are trapped somewhere we were never meant to be," Arha said calmly, fixing her intense gaze on the old man. "With patience the Way may yet be revealed. I will wait, then, for these explanations."

[anoldtrickster.livejournal.com]

Wednesday meets her gaze without a blink. "Do you speak of a particular Way, might I ask?" he says curiously.

[ladyofthesands.livejournal.com]

"All people have a Way," Arha said quietly. "They walk their path to it and their own end. Some paths intersect with others, a merging of purpose, perhaps. But no, perhaps it is not a particular Way, after all. After all, this was not any place I was supposed to be."

[anoldtrickster.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps it was," Wednesday says evenly. "You never know what might hinge on someone getting taught a thing or two, after all." His eyebrows wobble near-imperceptibly. "Though I'll admit I'd rather the thought that someone's just getting their rocks off by screwing with us."

[ladyofthesands.livejournal.com]

Arha took a moment to process the use of his words; getting their rocks off, and screwing with us were terms she was markedly unfamiliar with. The analysis took a second as she played and tinkered with possible meanings. Something took pleasure in taking them from their lives, yes, this was what was meant by the language.

"I know not the reasoning behind any of this, be it for the pleasure of another being in search of entertainment or not. One would presume that whatever has transpired must be of some importance, if we are all placed upon this Abomination whilst not being consulted in any way beforehand."

[anoldtrickster.livejournal.com]

"Well, there have been a few rumblings about some kind of grand threat called the Ohm—quite good with nanotechnology, I'm to presume—but any confirmed information is, so far, little and far between."

[ladyofthesands.livejournal.com]

Nano-technology.

Breaking it down, small machines. Yet more abomination. Arha fell silent, her gaze dire. Perhaps there was purpose. Perhaps there was yet a Way to travel, a path to be walked.

"I know not of this Ohm-threat, but they sound no better than this thinking-machine we have been forced upon," she said. "I do not like th thought of either."

[anoldtrickster.livejournal.com]

"The one we're on may kidnap people," he says lightly, "but at least it doesn't eat them alive. Not to say that I agree with the methods of either."

[ladyofthesands.livejournal.com]

"I do not like being taken against my will," Arha murmured. "I doubt I would enjoy being eaten with any comfort either. I have no fondness for thinking machines who rob me of my sands and winds and of my purpose."

[anoldtrickster.livejournal.com]

"Well, with any luck," Wednesday says, "you might be able to help our team working on getting out of here. You'd have the motivation for it."

[ladyofthesands.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps such a thing would be possible," Arha said, her eyes narrowing slightly. "It is fruitless to do nothing, after all. Applying what skills one has available, seems to be the best use of the remarkably varied talents there are available."