2 [Voice | Text]

[tables]

How can people be so idle when there is so much at stake at your inaction?

[It's quiet. The past jump has not been kind to Marius. In fact, he sounds positively unsettled, almost as if he needs to just go to sleep and not talk to the public at large, but he needs to do something and this is the only way he can make his heart less heavy.]

We are slaves here to the whim of individuals we cannot even see, to those we cannot even meet, and -- I cannot keep quiet about it any longer.

[He draws in a breath.]

I know there will be much discussion about why we are here and whether or not we can escape -- and I am interested in hearing all of that, but what I am more interested in is opinion. I want to hear what people feel about being here, be it anger or apathy, rather than the facts of our situation, for nothing has ever been changed with cruel numbers and statistics so much as heart.

[And he stills for a long moment before Marius shuts off the feed -- and, maybe twenty minutes later, he sends out a text.]

[Filtered Away from Enjolras]

What can be done about nightmares?

Comments

[tables]

Someone has to be flying this vessel. And someone had to have brought us here.

[There is a pause.]

There have been instances of death on this ship. Brainwashing.

[tofindthesun]

We have captains, though the ship seems able to fly itself. At least, I have not heard of being able to halt or change its course. And I know not how to speculate the powers that summon us here.

[lips pursed. he remembers the posts announcing the deaths, though he did not know any of the dead.]

..There have. Not in punishment, so far as I have known. But I do not think I am familiar with the last word. Brainwashing.

[tables]

Brainwashing involves convincing one of something else through interrogation or hypnosis. Accepting something that is not true as true. Someone that is extraordinarily convincing with technology such as this -- it would be relatively easy.

Why else would there be death if not in punishment? What else has occurred?

[tofindthesun]

There is one incident of such that I know. Not done by any upon this ship, but a place at which we docked for supplies. Some of our passengers were taken by authorities there and-- brainwashed, as you say, to be blank and empty, such as all the people there were. [pause.] ..They are well again now, I think.

I do not know in specifics how they came to die. There were creatures roaming the depths that we found, though I believe they are destroyed now. [...spoke too soon.] Much else, and few that are pleasant to speak of. Sickness, ship malfunction, waking nightmares.. to name a few.

[tables]

And all of these are at the will of the commander of this vessel, I presume?

[It makes his skin crawl.]

[tofindthesun]

No. The.. previous captain, the previous crew, the passengers who were aboard this ship before we arrived-- they are missing. Presumed dead, I suppose. Two that remain are the standing captain and first officer, but neither they nor any of us have involvement or control over what has occurred upon this vessel.

[....]

..So far as I know.

[tables]

[Hrm.]

But it is possible to contact them, though few have managed it?

[tofindthesun]

They show their faces from time to time. If you send a hail, I am sure they will respond.

Whether there is aught they would share, however, I cannot say.

[gee way to be reassuring and positive, legolas.]

[tables]

Perhaps I will give calling them a shot.

[tofindthesun]

I have not heard them on the network for several months-- I suspect they are quite.. busy. Your fellow passengers may be more willing to provide answers.

All the same, I wish you the best of luck.

[tables]

[A brief smile.]

And I thank you for the information -- and your willingness to give it.