ataraxion | One: Audio

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One: Audio

[Connor's voice is soft and thoughtful. Actually, it sounds distinctly more like he's monologuing to himself than talking to his little glowing box. In fact, if he hadn't heard other voices coming out of it (and seen words on the glass front that disappeared when he touched it), monologuing would be exactly what he's doing, but he did hear voices so he suspects maybe his voice will come out of other glowing boxes somehow.

He's still pretty monotone, though.]

I find myself in need of a teacher. The...machines here are strange to me. Everything here is strange to me. In the absence of things familiar, I will need... allies-- [Not friends. Not yet, anyway.] --who are willing to help me.

[A brief silence and then:] There is a light on here. How is that made?

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[Connor perks up at the mention of a forest and perks up again at the mention of "something worse."

Okay, perks up isn't the right phrase, but she definitely has his undivided attention now.]

What do you mean, "something worse"? What has happened here before?

[ There's a short laugh. ] A lot of shit. Illness, monsters in the hallways, pirates, space station residents that tried to brainwash us, space stations themselves that started to fall apart while we were on board, mass hallucinations, explosions...

It hasn't been pretty. [ Fry pauses now, turning to look at him, because this bit is important. ] People have died. People will keep dying. And while I personally don't have anything to go back to at home, I sure as hell don't want to die on this ship, either.

Illness can be avoided. Monsters, pirates, residents, these are all things that can be killed. The explosions, did they come from inside the ship? Are there people on board to defend against threats that can be defended against?

[That was a lot of talking from Connor. He usually prefers to listen as much as possible.]

I do not have the luxury of dying on this ship; there are things I still need to do. I would not wish for any of you to see unnecessary death either.

Not when the illness is in something you need to live. Anyone explain the jumps to you? And yes, they came from inside, and there's a Security team, but they can't be everywhere at once no matter how hard they try. Tyke's the head, if you want to help them out; she's smart and good at her job. Doesn't take bullshit.

[ There's a nod. ]

I think most of us would rather avoid it, as a rule.

No. What are the jumps?

[He woke up in a box with a tube down his throat yesterday. Not much time to learn this stuff.]

And where would I find this Security team, if I wished to see them?

[Not join though. Probably. Not yet anyway.]

About every month, we have to go back into the gravity couches with that goo where you woke up. The ship "jumps" through space. If you stay out during it, you'll die -- that's been proven. The last time there was a large, serious illness, it was apparently because of the stasis fluid that keeps us alive and healthy through the jump.

[ There's a tap at the communicator in her belt. ]

You could try contacting one of them. Otherwise, they patrol the main areas of the ship. Anyone with an "SEC" in front of the numbers on their arm is part of the team.

[There were more words in there that went over his head. Stasis fluid? Is that what the blue goo is called? What's stasis? And how were those boxes "couches?" For that matter, what do couches have to do with gravity?

He's a little lost. Just smile and nod, Connor.]

Thank you. I will look for them.

[And then he will avoid them for a while, because Connor does not have a good track record with people providing security.]

Tyke's got at least five dogs with her almost constantly, she's hard to miss.

[ There's a bit of a grin. ]

Oh, we're here. Welcome to the shuttle bay.

[ Ta-da, it's huge! :D ]

[Oh great. Dogs. He doesn't exactly have a good track record with dogs, either. Connor grimaces briefly at that, and turns his attention to the shuttle bay instead--]

There is...a great deal of open space here.

[Somehow he was expecting more 'stuff'?]

And those are the shuttles?

[They seem smaller than he expected.]

Some of the shuttles were missing when we came aboard. Others were scrapped. There's room to work in; to move the shuttles where we need them.

[ She's still walking, heading for the far end of the bay. ]

We've got two types of shuttles. Passenger and cargo; you can guess what their specialties are. [ Those are words she is pretty sure he's familiar with, at least. ]

[He understands that perfectly well, thank goodness. He also still has more questions.] If they were missing when you arrived, do you believe they were used by previous passengers? Perhaps for evacuation purposes? This ship seems far emptier than it should be, devoid of passengers and crew alike.

It's definitely possible. We don't have any evidence either way, but apparently this ship has been missing for at least forty years. If they evacuated, I don't know if they ever reached anywhere.

[ Unfortunately. ]

[Missing shuttles, ship itself missing for 40 years that isn't safe to get lost in, people appearing from all different times and places--something very disturbing is going on here.

And there is one more very important question to ask:]

Carolyn, how long have you been here?

[ God, you're telling her. ]

Since jump eight. The first number on your arm, that's the jump you came in on. There's about a month between each instance.

[ You can do the math, Connor. It's more effective that way. ]

[For the first time, there's a large, albeit brief flash of emotion across his face: alarm.]

Over--over a year?

[No, that can't be right. Can't be possible. 16 months is too long, he can't afford to stay here that long or longer. There are too many things to do, too many things left unfinished. What will happen to the Homestead in his absence? To Norris and Myriam and Big Dave? To Ellen?

He takes a breath. He can't be rash now. He has to think about what he can do.]

Has anyone managed to find a way 'home' and have they been able to send this information to you?

[He sounds calmer than he feels.]

Over a year, [ she confirms, noting the alarm. ] Those who have gone home don't remember this place, or how they went home. But when they return, nothing has changed -- like time was frozen while they were here, and when they returned, it started again. Some people disappear for months, others go home and come back over the course of one jump; like they never left at all.

[ It's not exactly comforting, but it's the best she has. ]

Some people go home, come back, and don't remember being here at all, too.

[It isn't comforting in the slightest, though probably not for the reasons Carolyn believes.

There's only one thing Connor knows of that can "freeze time" or anything like, and even an Apple can only do it imperfectly. Could the whole ship be an Apple? No. It could, however, belong to Those Who Came Before, which is an equally unsettling proposition. He's still not entirely convinced they're helpful.

But Carolyn doesn't need to know any of what's going through Connor's head right now, so he settles on a brief and heartfelt:]

Thank you. That eases my worry somewhat.

[ There's a nod. Carolyn knows Connor's thinking, but that's because Connor comes off as that sort of person, even in this short amount of time -- quiet, only says what he has to, but is thinking (not necessarily calculating, but thinking). It reminds her vaguely of Riddick, but without the overwhelming sense of 'predator'.

Maybe because Connor says things like "thank you". ]

It's not perfect, I know. But if you have important things to go back to -- and lots of people around here seem to -- then at least it won't go on without you.

[It's a shame Carolyn will never get to see Connor fight a bear.

He tips his head in her direction and...actually sticks out a hand for a handshake. Well done, Carolyn.]

I think I will return to my quarters now. Thank you for the lessons and the tour. If I have more questions, I will find you.

[ Never say never.

Oh, well. There's a slight smile, satisfaction of a job well done, and Carolyn takes the offered hand and shakes. ]

You're welcome. I'll see you around.

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