( video ) subject ００２.

[a1]

[ the connection turns on, abruptly and out of focus. the video is turned down at the floor but then it's up, whirling around in blurs of colors from her room before settling on teresa's face. her gaze is wide and worn, she looks tired. her neck is strained as if swallowing is difficult. ]

Okay. Tell me it's not just me. I'm seeing numbers — I mean, I was — like scratched into the wall. At first I thought they were just letters, but I think they could've been Roman numerals. Fifty-six. Or something. I couldn't look at it very long, I couldn't even record it. I — ugh!

Is anyone else seeing this? It's driving me crazy, I swear they were there. Someone better not be messing with me.

[ she's trying to work this out logically (find a code), like everything else since she arrived, but she's reaching a tipping point. ]

I don't know what it means. But if you're seeing the same thing, tell me. Maybe we can work it out. It's just —

[ she holds the communicator tightly in one hand, raking her black hair back with the other as she looks off into the corner of her room. the damage is still there, reminding her. ]

Well, the good news is my room isn't a freezer anymore.

Comments

Video

[last_ofthe_jedi]

[Hi. You don't know Luke but-...]

You found something that fixes your room too?!

Video

[a1]

[ to be fair, teresa doesn't know a lot of people. ]

Fixes? What do you mean? You think those numbers did something?

[last_ofthe_jedi]

I don't know, but my room isn't freezing anymore, either. Did you-... [he hopes this doesn't sound totally insane] ... have to destroy something?

[a1]

[ did he just listen to her transmission? he's not alone. ]

Yeah! I mean, I don't think I meant to, but it was like this headache wouldn't go away if I didn't. Now there's a nice indent in my wall.

[ she turns the video around for a moment, showing the damaged spot on her wall, but no signs of anything else. ]

It was like that thing with the mirrors.

[last_ofthe_jedi]

[Luke nods and holds up his bandaged hand to the camera on his comm device.]

It was my mirror.

[At least now Luke doesn't feel crazy anymore. Well, he might still be crazy but at least he's not alone and crazy.]

It looked like it was warping, moving all on its own. Then the headache, nausea, and I felt like I just had to destroy it. It's not exactly the same but it sure sounds connected to what happened to you.

[a1]

[ teresa didn't see as much injury done to herself as luke did, so that's mildly concerning — that the impulse was that strong. she just has some damaged furniture in her room. ]

Someone else broke their mirror. What did you feel afterward? Better, right?

[ mutual insanity might be the answer, but she's not writing it all off just yet. ]

It has to be connected, even if it some kind of hallucination created by the ship. I don't think it's just us.

[last_ofthe_jedi]

Yes, instantly! Well, except for my hand of course. My room went back to normal, too.

[Luke nods, looking relieved.]

I agree. My sisters's-- [he pauses, suddenly realizing that he has no idea how to explain Bail to someone who isn't familiar with his messed up family] ... father [eh, he just succumbs to the fact that no matter how he describes Bail, he's going to elicit confusion] said that this sort of thing happens all the time.

It's just good to know that the ship wasn't targeting me alone.

[a1]

[ teresa is somewhat relieved herself. she's feeling less crazy but no less frustrated. there are connections here but nothing that really tells her why this is happening or what it might mean. ]

It wouldn't be the first time I've been singled out, but this is definitely happening to all of us. Even if only a few of us are doing something about it.

[ she sighs, slumping back against the wall. ]

I'm Teresa, by the way. Who are you?