Meet-n-Greet

[cityship]

After being released from stasis, having the slime removed from their bodies and clothed in the creepy, pulsing leaf-suit that everyone wore, and being taken to the Weapons & Possessions lockers to collect their belongings, the new arrivals would find themselves standing in the Observation Deck. Round windows lined the fleshy walls, revealing the bright display of lights that was inter-dimensional travel. They would also discover that there were people--members of the command staff and crew that had woken earlier--waiting for them.

Comments

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Katara could see she had a lot to learn about other girls in other worlds. Most younger girls would have been completely freaked out to be here. Then again, who knew what she had seen?

"So not to be rude, but is this a regular thing, to be kidnapped from your world? The whole 'greater purpose' thing isn't so hard to believe in my world, but I've never been actually taken out into...well, space. This is the first time I've ever seen this spaceship. Have you seen one before?"

[toariversodeep.livejournal.com]

"I already have a greater purpose," Roxie says, and for a moment her voice has the steely edge of a religious fanatic or brainwashee.

It takes her a moment to swallow that down enough to continue normally. "There, um, are the Shuttles, but they're ugly and they don't carry much. And that's orbital only."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Katara understood more than she knew. "Oh, so you haven't gotten to do what you have to in your world yet? That's horrible. We had to save the world from a war that could have put an end to our life as we knew it. We just got through doing that when I was brought here, so I'm not too happy about it."

Katara took a look at the girl. "What are you trying to do in your world anyway, if you don't mind me asking?"

[toariversodeep.livejournal.com]

Roxie's face softens a little. A kindred spirit? No, that same flicker in the eyes that only she can see isn't there. But still, there's... familiarity.

"I, uh, hunt things. Cho. They look kind of like white spiders. They... eat people." There's something in her tone she isn't telling, but—that's nasty enough already, isn't it?

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"Wow." Even Katara has to admit she's a little impressed. The girl may have been small, but there was no mistaking her eyes: she should know. There was something hard there, the look of a girl that didn't stay "young" for very long. Katara knew she used to have that look, but that was awhile ago, when she trusted a little easier.

"In my world, its people that I stop. They seek to control everyone and imprison them. They caused a lot of chaos and hurt a lot of good people before we put a decent stop to them. A lot of people died..."

At that, Katara got a little quiet. Even SHE had things she wouldn't reveal right off the bat, especially when it came to that sore subject.

[toariversodeep.livejournal.com]

"That's the worst part," Roxie says, and her face is stiff again but her voice is very quiet. "The people they get to before you get there."

The way she speaks suggests she's experienced this kind of thing... often. Enough to disturb her some, even through the self-control she's imposing.

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," Katara said. "But I can tell you from experience that you have to focus on who you can save if its possible. Every time you lose someone, it can get close to you getting numb to it. When that happens, well, you can lose your drive, and that's so much worse."

And sometimes you can unleash a dark side, Katara thought silently to herself, remembering her assault on the Southern Raiders of the Fire nation.

"Listen, I know it isn't much, but there has to be some kind of place here where its quiet, like a gym or exercise room. I know a few relaxation techniques that can help you in self reflection. Its not a quick fix, but if you're committed, I can tell you it will help you in the long run."

[toariversodeep.livejournal.com]

"That... would be nice," Roxie says quietly. Her face is cold despite the softness in her voice—maybe all this repression is how she normally handles the stress...

Her hand slides up to touch the bell on the chain around her neck. "Have you seen anyone else with an instrument like this?"

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Katara could see that it was possible this girl dealt with things by keeping them to herself. She could sometimes do that too, so there was no way she was going to try and tell someone otherwise. She wasn't a hypocrite (about this, anyway).

Katara observed the object around the girl's neck and sadly shook her head. "No, I haven't yet. What does it mean?"

[toariversodeep.livejournal.com]

"It's my weapon," Roxie says. Awful tiny thing, to be a weapon... "A gift from my god. All of us have something like it... well, there's lead sometimes instead of silver..."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"Oh," Katara said. "That was definitely new, though nothing she would scoff. In this kind of place, she was sure there'd be plenty of people who thought the idea of having gods was ridiculous. Katara knew from first hand experience (the painted lady, the angry tree spirit Haibai) that the power of gods and spirits were nothing to be trifled with.

"In my world, one of our greatest gifts is the ability to bend the elements. Twi and La are the closest I have of gods that manifest our bending skill. they're the push and pull, the yin and yang of our moon based power."