Secundus [Video]

[walksonrooftops]

[The first time the video clicks on, the feed is extraordinarily distorted. Did Asato do something to break his communicator or jam its signal somehow? He raises his voice to speak and sounds alarmed, to whatever extent he could be heard to people viewing this transmission. The sound is mostly garbled nonsense and sometimes it cuts out altogether, hissing into static before returning to the previous glitchy message, over which the Ribika's voice can be heard steadily rising, as if yelling louder might make the transmission more clear.

Among what one might possibly make out from this transmission are the words "help" and "not right".]

Don't believe--

[And then it cuts out again, for a rather long period of time. When Asato transmits his next message, the quality is once again crystal clear, permitting a view of a Ribika who is obviously quite disconcerted by what he's just experienced. His fur is still standing on end, but his voice, when he speaks, is back to its usual, low timbre--though he can't hide a tinge of fear from creeping in when he speaks.]

Something is very wrong.

Comments

[video]

[handelaar]

[The first transmission gives him a headache, both from the quality of the video and his worries suddenly seeming to be somewhat founded. Or maybe he had a headache already.

Once he sees something else come in loud and clear, he jumps on it, fumbling his way to video - the feed back is shaky only because he's adjusting his comms device.]

Hey.

[He just wants to establish that they have a line of communication, first.]

[video]

[walksonrooftops]

Hello?

[Oh thank the Goddess, he can reach the others again. He doesn't recognize this person, but just hearing a voice, any voice, is a comfort after being trapped in that room.]

Listen, if--if you see the door in the hallways that don't end, you shouldn't go through it.

[He needed to get that out of the way as soon as possible, because that room was...unpleasant.]

[video]

[handelaar]

[And he just wants some goddamn answers.]

Why not. [He brings himself to a full stop and frowns down at the screen.] Y'seem fine. Are ya not?

[video]

[walksonrooftops]

Yes. I'm fine. [That isn't the issue here, clearly. There isn't a mark on him.]

Someone died in there. Two someones. And I don't know how.

[The way the bodies were oriented, the scoring and cracks on the bones; he can't think of any means to kill a person that would leave remains like that.]

[video]

[handelaar]

[His paranoia is in high gear, he's not disregarding physical not-fucked-up-ness.]

And ya left 'em. There.

[video]

[walksonrooftops]

What would you do with them?

[Never mind that he's still superstitious, and disturbing the remains of the dead didn't strike him as the best course of action right then.]

[video]

[handelaar]

Taken 'em to Medbay.

[peanutblooder]

Asato? Are you also in a hallway?

[walksonrooftops]

Now I am. But it's not endless anymore. I can find my way back.

Was Tavros trapped too?

[peanutblooder]

Oh okay, I'm glad you're okay.

N-no, I, uh, stayed in my room, when I heard about it. Um. Have you seen Eridan? He's a troll like me, but with purple in his hair.

[walksonrooftops]

I know who he is, but I haven't seen him in a while.

Was he lost too? I'm sorry I couldn't help anyone.

[peanutblooder]

He was, uh, and I think that there were weird time and space things going on, so it is understandable, that you would not have been able to.

[walksonrooftops]

I think things are going back to normal now.

If you want, I can try to look for Eridan.

[ video ]

[tailcrook]

[He's thought there was something wrong, he just didn't want to be right. As Konoe listens he's moving, pacing back and forth and debating whether he should leave, to run and find him himself. But he needs to know where he is - ]

Asato, what - ? [When the feed cuts out at his first clear words, Konoe is seized with anger at the white noise.] Shit -

[He stops, staring at the screen in wait for something else - anything else. He can't stand much of it for long and goes on the move again moments later, getting ready to look for a lift and try - Then Asato's back in view. Konoe's beside himself, looking rattled enough for the both of them.]

Where are you? I don't care how far -

[ video ]

[walksonrooftops]

Konoe!

[Never has he been happier to hear the other Ribika's voice. He nearly slams his face against the communicator when he jumps, fur standing on end--he's still confused, but at least Konoe is there and seems unharmed, so that's a huge weight off his heart.]

Konoe--I'm going to the passenger quarters. Please stay where you are. Are you safe?

[tailcrook]

[They're hardly instructions he wants to hear, especially when Asato's still so affected by whatever it is he's come from.]

I - It... doesn't matter....

[Of course he's safe, he's been waiting and being careful and all of the things he's been advised to do, but now -

Now he'd be happy to toss that aside at least a little. His tail moves restlessly behind him as he glances away, wondering what direction the other cat could be in.]

But you're sure you can make it back?

[walksonrooftops]

Yes. I recognize the hallways again.

[He takes the lift to the passengers' quarters while he speaks, but doesn't put the device down for even an instant. If Konoe is hurt in any way and simply doesn't want to say it, he intends to have a careful look just to be sure.]

I'm coming back to my room. Does Konoe know the way there?

[tailcrook]

[He nods, still anxious, but relieved a bit as he recognizes Asato's reached a lift. He starts walking again, too, back in the direction he came from.]

I remember it. I think I'm closer than you, I'll be there....

[So help him, if he still gets lost... he won't allow it.]

[actionnn]

[walksonrooftops]

[Asato doesn't have any issues finding his way back to room 88 on deck 250, and he's there within another few minutes. All the while, he has his nose in the air, trying to detect Konoe's scent, his ears alert to listen for signs of the other's footsteps.]

Konoe?

[unwaveringloyalty]

Much is wrong.

[walksonrooftops]

It happened to you too?

[unwaveringloyalty]

We were all brought here. [ Missing the point ]

[walksonrooftops]

No, the strange room.

[unwaveringloyalty]

I have not seen it.

[walksonrooftops]

It's not there anymore. But before...people were getting lost. And they ended up there.