[It takes a lot of days for Takeshi to feel brave enough to put something on the network. He's almost done it a few times before, but he was scared — scared and sad and not sure what to do, what to expect of the future. His mom is hurt so bad in the heart (and for really real, she hurt herself on the hip, and he needs to make sure she doesn't strain herself. But it's scary. It's scary when her mom reminds him of how his old mom had first started: sad, disconnected, sleeping lots and just doing whatever people needed her to do. 

It's so, so scary. But Dad's gone, and they need to try to survive, because that's what Netherlands would have wanted from them. To keep living and trying to be happy. When Takeshi feels like crying, he reads the Miffy book in his room and goes to another place for a little bit. He imagines what Heder and Ned would look like as rabbit people, sometimes, and it makes him feel better a little. 

Now's a good time, though. He gives the camera a small, nervous smile and then takes a deep breath.]

My Da — Um, Mr... Mr. Netherlands, he... went home. [He looks down, fidgeting with something off-screen.] I know he woulda' wanted us to keep taking care of things, and when he's gone it's harder to make sure the garden's okay, so if... if people are good at agr-a-culter, you should come be a part of the — the team! We're a good team. We'd get a lot of points in a game. Even though we're all sad, because we loved Dad a lot... he's okay. He's just... not here. He's prob'ly got real important stuff to do at home, too. He's always real busy here, so I think he's busy there, too. He's probably making all kinds of faces where he is, 'cus nothing's getting done jus' right. 

[He sniffs hard, but he keeps his eyes dry and clear.]

M'sorry I only got bad news. 

[Quiet for a moment, his expression brightens a fraction, and he rubs his nose before he lifts up a small wooden dragon, carefully sculpted.]

This is Mattie. She's a dragon Dad made. She was bad before, but then —

[He holds up a fair maiden sort, sculpted with a lovely dress.]

Miss Princess Reika trained her to do good. And now they fly together a lot...

[He drifts off, smile fading a lot.

I love you, Dad.]

It's good, to work together. It's nice to be friends. We're all a team. So — it's up to us to do good things, for people who leave, who worked really hard! And loved us so so much, so much they say they love you, even if they never use those words 'cus it makes them feel weird. So we should do real great things and keep working like they did. 

[He smiles and nods. Keep smiling, he thinks.]

If you see my Mom — Heder — say hi to her, 'cus she's hurting, too. 

.... That's all.

[Disconnected.]

Tranquility, huh? Is anyone going to rename it anytime soon...? Because no offense, but it's like calling a big guy Tiny. 

[How's it hanging, guys!  Sure has been a weird week so far, right? Hughes wants to get some stuff figured out. Mostly, he wants to know more about the people he's being forced to be with now — it is essential that you get good footing with those who are handy and capable and decent here. And of course, it gives perspectives that a welcome entry, informative as it is, just can't provide in full.]

Lt. Colonel Maes Hughes, reporting in. I guess that doesn't particularly matter here, though I have to admit, this is way beyond my usual freak storms when it comes to crazy things happening outside of everyone's control. And some of you have been putting up with this for a while, huh? You have my condolences, and a metaphorical certificate from yours truly for keeping your sanity. 

... Assuming you have, anyway.

So!! The best thing to do while I'm deciding where I belong here — who's up for drinks? I guess I should precursor that with me really wanting to know particular information left outside of the welcome entries; the who's who, your own personal accounts of your stay. I'd like to act as a personal recorder of your own individual troubles within the Tranquility, how you're doing with your own individual departments. I'm still personally figuring out where I'd prefer; security sounds well and good, but I'm not a fan of putting myself into the danger zones — yeah, yeah, even in a place where it's pretty much a given. So communications is looking pretty nice, even if I'm still trying to figure out how the technology here works.

... My world's a little lacking in some respects, I'm noticing. 

[He grins.]



And hey! If you'd rather just grab a beer instead and just appreciating someone as annoyed as you about the place, I'm good for that, too. Besides, I've got plenty I can tell you about myself. And about fifty-million pictures I'm guaranteed you're dying to see! It's one of the few things I'd say this ship got right!

[.......................... fifty-million is a mild exaggeration]

... No guarantees I'll carry you home if you get dead drunk, though.

Last time I helped someone home, I ended up getting my shoes puked on; I only have one good pair here!

[ The feed clicks on, showing the gunnery main room just behind Natasha as an extreme close up of her face adjusts the camera. It swivels, for a second, because phones are a pain in the ass to keep steady even if you’re holding them, but she manages to get it aligned properly and she sits back in her chair, arms crossed, looking serious. ] So. Our little Problems [ and yes, the capital P is there verbally ] of the last couple of jumps have made it very clear that we need to get our asses in gear about our defense systems. Not. [ she says, holding up a hand. ] That I think we should have shot our guests down.

[ Not at first sight, anyway. jax still advocates shooting on sight, but that’s besides the point. ] However, Jax and I have been discussing it, and if something like that happens again, we need to be prepared. [ She reaches forward, tilts the phone so that Jax is in the picture now, a little ways behind her. ] We don’t have enough manpower here in gunnery to do it all on our own.

[ jax leans forward, elbow on the arm of her chair. he’s tied his hair up and back, possibly in an attempt to look less unkempt but most likely to keep it out of his face.]

We got a few people pulling extra shifts down here to help us cover the spread. But if anyone who knows how to tweak our systems or rebuild some of the destroyed shit around here has the spare time, we could use you. You don’t have to switch departments, and me and or Natasha here’ll be happy to babysit while you do your thing.

[ casually throwing away the rest of his and her free time, because that’s apparently how jax rolls. ]

And we’ll trade you some beer and cigarettes for your time. What’s better than that?

Not much. [ Natasha supplies helpfully!! ] We’d really appreciate it. Getting caught with your ass hanging out isn’t a good time. Trust me. If you have any questions, let either one of us know.

And for the new guys -- my name is Natasha Romanoff and this is Jax Teller. We’re part of Gunnery. Nice to have you aboard.

[ jax winks, like the asshole he is, and kicks back in his chair to take out a cigarette. ]

That’s all, folks.