[if anyone on the tranquility had been able to see his face, they would have seen a very distressed man. he hasn't slept in days, just for the simple fact that he's been looking for his sister - which is precisely why he's addressing the network.

he doesn't know where else to look. and he thinks that while south hadn't exactly been the friendliest of people, maybe there's someone on the ship that has seen her recently. or knows where she might have gone.

because after what had happened to them on their last stop, he can't help thinking that something terrible has happened.

when he speaks, he sounds so far beyond tired that he almost doesn't sound like himself at all.] This is a last ditch effort, and I'm not sure I expect any positive responses, but I have to try -

Has anyone seen South in the past couple of days? I've looked all over the ship, and I can't find her. I'm .. worried.

[worried is putting it about as mildly as he possibly can. he's about to crawl out of his skin looking for her.]

[hello, tranquility. how are you this evening. have the face of someone you don't see very often peering into his device with a bemused little smile.] Okay, this is a little bit of short notice, but since it's just come to my attention, I might as well go ahead and try to make something of it.

My sister - whom I'm sure some of you have had the incredible fortune of meeting since her arrival - has come across a rather .. sizable stock of alcohol. Aaand she was going to attempt to keep it all for herself, but given the fact that I'm almost positive she'd end up with alcohol poisoning if she did, I've decided to do something a little more useful with it.

If I'm not mistaken, it's been a while since we've all had a chance to let loose and unwind. It also happens to be Cinco de Mayo, so what better excuse to have a couple of drinks and relax a little bit?

We're going to have everything set up in one of the common areas, and there's going to be plenty of drink to go around for anyone that wants to come by. If we can swing it, there might even be tacos.

[space tacos. because why not.] If anyone wants to bring anything, feel free! Just consider this a formal invitation from your resident Freelancers to have a little fun.

[It must be a cold day in Hell. South is deigning to pick up the damn network device and actually contribute. Her brother probably has something to do with this.]

So. The ship stopped trapping people in rooms with skeletons, and I guess the halls are... short... again.

[A beat.]

Anything else changed? Or is the ship still full of a bunch of lunatics that'll try something stupid like that again, just for the sake of attention?

[... If you were expecting anything remotely nice, you're talking to the wrong agent.]

[hey look who totally wasn't lost for a week. ahem.]

I never like feeling like I'm repeating myself, but since there's been such a gap in communication since the initial inquiry, redundancy doesn't seem like too much of an issue.

For those of you still interested in participating in training sessions with myself and Agent Carolina, I'd like to let you all know that everything is pretty much in place and ready to go save for a few minor details.

Like a schedule. Everyone can't operate on the same timetable, I'm sure - so knowing when you'll all be available would help make planning classes much easier. And like I said before, anyone is welcome to join in, or come spectate, or .. whatever. Come one, come all, or something like that.

[no, he doesn't think he's funny at all.

pause. and he clears his throat.] Oh, and if you want to specify a certain type of training you're looking for, that'll help, too. [because whoops, that's kind of important. how did he forget that.

more important question: why isn't carolina the head of this plan.]

[the video begins with a bit of jostling as the figure in the background works to get his tablet steady. some might recognize him as the man in the background of this previous post - while some might not recognize him at all. he hasn't introduced himself as formally as his teammate.

he clears his throat, opens his mouth to speak.] I think I've been here long enough that it's going to be considered rude if I don't introduce myself. [there's a small chuckle. going for humor, north?] I've never been much for formalities, but for the sake of ease, I'm Freelancer Agent North Dakota - one of the Tranquility's newly-appointed security officers. Just .. call me North.

[there's another pause, and he looks off to the side before bringing his gaze back to the camera.] It's come to my attention that most of you that have been brought here are civilians; and while no one has encountered anything that can pose as a threat just yet, it's been mentioned that should the need arise, we're going to need to know how to protect ourselves. If anyone aboard this ship is interested, Agent Carolina and I - as well as the other security officers - are opting to begin holding training sessions for those of you that want to learn a few things. It never hurts to be prepared, right?

All of the specifics haven't been worked out just yet, but as for a general outline, you'll be learning basic self-defense as well as some general combat tactics. Hand-to-hand, that sort of thing. [military training is a go, here, people.] If you're interested, feel free to get in touch with me any time and we can start trying to set things up.

[You might have seen this guy skulking around the ship both looking like he knows exactly what he’s doing and a lot like he shouldn’t be doing it. Truthfully, he’s not done anything yet that would warrant a spell in the brig, but there’s little hope of that staying the case.

What he has seen is a bunch of people walking around without any idea of how much danger they’re in at any given moment and that’s a problem for Dean. He’s spent his entire adult life working to save people from freaky ass crap that goes bump in the night. Here isn’t any different.]

Any of you get the impression we should be keeping our eyes very freakin’ open 24/7?

I dunno about you, but I know that getting pulled onto a spaceship with no explanation and shoved in a tank of goo is pretty high up my list of pros for constant vigilance. Nobody else is taking responsibility for all the people walkin’ around without a goddamn clue of how to defend themselves. Maybe we should, ‘cause if we got a snowball’s chance of getting off this ship in one piece... time to start payin’ attention.

Interested? Qualified? Talk to me.

[Yeah, he’s aware that there’s a security team already ‘in operation’ around the ship. He just hasn’t seen them do a damn thing yet. And since he knows none of their history, he’s not apologizing for assuming they aren’t capable. Sorry, guys. He is, however, open to introductions and definitely wants to be proved wrong. Maybe then he can start to shake this feeling he’s got of being watched.]

Oh, Tranquility. Looks as though the honeymoon's over. We all had a good run-around with our hands in the air wondering what the hell was going on... a week in, no real answers as to what happened, things are getting all Quiet on the Western Front and suddenly - bam. Potential prophecy of impending doom. The long silence about to be broken. Secrets beginning to creep in from the shadows...

It’s all very exciting and a little bit scary, or possibly the other way ‘round depending on who you are, but here’s a bit of advice. Resist the urge to start the whole hands-in-the-air thing again. It’s fun the first time, and necessary in a way, but after a certain point it just becomes counter-productive. We can’t start panicking or killing ourselves over the suspense. Find a book to read. Get to know your neighbors. Play cards or charades or chess. And whatever you do...

[He leans in a touch closer - he seems serious about what he's about to say, but there's a look in his eyes. A knowledge, you might say, if you had to put a word to it.]

...Whatever you do, don’t go trying to hunt those secrets down before their time. Don't think about those parts of the ship the lifts won't take you to. If you find anything that looks like a Big Important Button, do not under any circumstances think about pressing it.

If you see a locked door -- just walk the other way.

[He holds that look for a moment, then glances down as though he’s about to cut the feed - but then glances up again, his mood doing a one-eighty from focused and intense to relaxed and casual.]

--one more thing. It occurs to me that all of us have had something about us changed. On the one end of the spectrum we have the people who only received the number on their arm; on the other end, some of you got the full-body transplant. And in the middle there's people like that nice girl from earlier, with the running, and me... and my sonic screwdriver.

[He holds it up for everyone to see.]

Now I’m not saying this is the same thing as having a biological function altered, although the sonic is a bit organic; all the same, could be something else entirely. I almost hope it is... Some sort of security measure; disable technology foreign to the ship to minimize damage in case of invasion or attack. Which I’d understand, only I’d like to know about it if that’s what’s going on. I’m looking at you -- [And here he smiles at last, and it's almost - flirtatious?] -- Commander Resnik.

[the feed clicks on and we have a redheaded young woman looking at the video feed. she's got the standard crew uniform on for now, since she still hasn't gotten a hold of her armor. she's apparently in a hallway for now but if you look in the back there's a blond haired man standing not far off and scrolling through his own device- but lets get back to the lady.

she looks pretty serious for now, but she tries to smile for the camera.]

Ignoring the other mysteries on this vessel, this is a call for all members of the Freelancer Program. If anyone under that designation is present, report immediately with your status. I'll rebroadcast this request in 24 hours just in case.

[she glances over her shoulder at north for a moment and turns back to the screen, her frown deepening.] And if anyone else aboard has seen a woman in her thirties, blonde hair, responds to South, it would be appreciated if you would leave a message here.

[pause.] And has anyone found any of their personal effects anywhere but in the lockers provided to us? I'm missing a few things.