Session 1.0: Awakening

Friday, 7/11/2014

* GMAmy sets mode: +m

<GMAmy> == Session Start ==

<GMAmy> It isn't like waking from a typical sleep. Nor is it the sudden awareness of coming out of anaesthesia. Instead, it's like slowly rising from a deep, murky sea, with muddled memories floating in it. Sitting around a table in an institutional-looking galley, aboard an ancient space station...sipping hot, sweet cocoa with floating marshmallows...listening to familiar voices...

<GMAmy> "To what comes next, and the fact that we'll be able to see it."

<GMAmy> "Here, here."

<GMAmy> "Now that, I'll drink to."

<GMAmy> "Ditto."

<GMAmy> "To... well, everything after this, good or bad."

<GMAmy> "Mostly good. You'll see."

<GMAmy> "It'll be good...and if it's not good, we'll make it good."

<GMAmy> Gradually this awareness fades, and a slightly clearer consciousness takes its place. There are low voices, the beeping of machines, and the low, soft sound of a ventilation system. The feel of smooth cloth gowns and the cold touch of tape and wires.

<GMAmy> Opening one's eyes reveals what appears to be some sort of infirmary, with a number of hospital beds and diagnostic instruments. A woman in a black, high necked shirt, black skirt, and white lab coat moves around the room, checking readouts. Her hair is long and black, her eyes blue, and her features oddly familiar.

* Victor blinks once, struggling to focus his eyes.

* Trune blinks his eyes several times, hard, "...am I dreaming again?"

* Ryllan 's eyes lock onto the woman as soon as he sees her, a fuzzy question dying in his throat. He casts his gaze left, right, looking for anything particularly sharp in his immediate vicinity.

* Mikel lets out a low groan. "I... wha, whe-" Eyes open as he spots the doctor, words immediately ceasing.

* Victor tries to sit up, instantly regrets it, and sags back down with a groan.

* Trune closes his eyes, "Gotta be..."

<Victor> (Voice creaking with fatigue) Where...?

<GMAmy> Another woman is checking the instruments near Victor's bed. She looks familiar - teal green hair and eyes, blue dress, and a lab coat similar to the other woman's.

<GMAmy> The black-haired woman checks the readings next to Ryllan's bed. She notices his eyes open, and she nods. "How are you feeling?"

* Victor tries to sit up again, his face pale as he fights back nausea.

* Mikel raises a hand slightly, vaguely pointing at the black haired woman as he tries to concentrate... though there isn't exactly a sudden torrent of magical electricity. Eyes widen some.

* Trune 's head lolls over to Mikel's bed as he watches the exchange, knowing what Mikel is trying to do. A quizzical look crosses over his face as Mikel's abilities fail.

* Victor stares at the teal-haired woman with a baffled expression.

* Niri groans and mumbles something that sounds like, "Ow, my head." She blinks, trying to take in her surroundings.

* Trune lifts up his hand slightly as well, trying to channel some sort of magic into his fingertips. When nothing happens, his confusion deepens, and there's a slight bit of panic now, too, "...well, fuck..."

* Ryllan tries to pull himself up to a sitting position, "... Fuzzy..." He comments, voice low and soft, before grabbing for a needle on a nearby table with his left hand, and the woman with the other!

<GMAmy> The woman smiles at Victor. "How are you feeling? Does your head hurt at all?"

<Ryllan> >> The move isn't so much an attempt at a stab as half-lunging, half-falling onto the woman.

* Mikel is just as confused as Trune is, narrowing his eyes and mumbling something under his breath. Still, nothing happens. He starts to sit up, only to let out a pained groan... and then watch Ryllan take the old tried and true approach.

* Victor blinks at the woman, then his attention shifts to the sudden ruckus to one side.

<GMAmy> The black-haired woman, Dr. Dora Griffin, lets out a short yelp, recovering quickly. She manages to push Ryllan off of her and back towards the bed, then reaches over to push a call button on the wall. "Security!"

* Ryllan shifts the needle to his far hand as he staggers back against his bed, "Not... starting this again with you, Pandora. Mikel, Trune! Can you give me anything to work with?"

<GMAmy> The other woman, Dr. Dupont, starts. "Dr. Griffin?" She hurries over to restrain Ryllan. "What's going on? Is there a spike in his readings?"

* Trune shakes his head, "I can't...magic isn't working right here..."

<GMAmy> Dr. Griffin shakes her head. "No, he just...I don't know. There's some kind of residual brain activity, but it's not showing up on the monitors."

<GMAmy> She frowns. "Pandora? Why are you calling me that? Who is Pandora?"

* Mikel shakes his head, still trying to haul himself up into something resembling a sitting position. "I've got nothing, no willfo- nggh.." He lets out another pained noise, a hand going up to his head. "It's all different... even I'm..."

* Victor stares, his brain still locked in neutral.

<Trune> Ugh, head is killing me. Is this some sort of virus dream? Thought that was dealt with...

<GMAmy> A couple moments later, three young men enter, dressed in gray military fatigues and carrying what appear to be hand guns, or something similar. They take in the scene, and one raises his weapon to point it at Ryllan. "Drop the needle, Captain!"

* Niri struggles to sit up. "What's going on? Everyone calm down!" She blinks furiously, clearing her vision.

* Victor continues to stare, a pair of lone neurons starting to fire. "Captain..?"

<Trune> ....Captain?

* Mikel starts looking for something suitable to use as a projectile... but then there are soldiers coming in with guns and ranks. "The fuc- oh no, did she..."

* Ryllan looks carefully at the men, and the needle, "... Well, fuck." He says, voice strained, "Guess you win this one, Pandy." He drops the needle, "Will you be killing us now, then?" He still addresses Dr. Griffen, as though she's obviously in charge.

* Trune stares even further, "Did you just call the prophetess Pandy? Fuck, now we're gonna die..."

* Etir is now known as Tanan

* Victor blinks at the black-haired woman. Then at the teal-haired woman. Then at the men with... objects.

<GMAmy> Dr. Griffin shakes her head. "Tilly, I think there's something about me that's causing trouble. I'm sending Ethan in." She scowls, eyes flashing. "I'll go alert Colonel Eberhart. Maybe they'll calm down with me out of the room." She quickly exits, the door's automatic lock clicking behind her.

* Tanan speaks up, a familiar synthesized voice coming through the speakers. "Shooting the Captain has a ninety two point six four percent chance of harming the project's success."

<Tanan> And a two point three seven percent chance of helping. Recommending against this action.

<GMAmy> The man in fatigues speaks again. "I'm told that stunner effects would be very bad for you in your current medical state, Captain Barak. We need you to stand down until your memory recovers."

<GMAmy> One of the other men sighs in exasperation. "Stunners! They're stunners, not live guns!" He mutters. "Idiot AI."

<Victor> Captain...Barak?

* Niri swings her legs over the side of the bed and sits up straight. "Was that...Tanan's voice?"

<Trune> ...Tanan? Wait, what?

* Ryllan 's head shoots up, locking onto the speaker, "Okay, no. Medical experiments, threats I can deal with. Bringing hallucinations of dead friends into it is overdoing it." He turns to glare at the uniformed guards, "What the hell are you all trying to accomplish with that?"

* Victor turns to the door that closed behind Dr. Griffin. "Doctor... Griffin. Captain Barak."

* Mikel looks around as he manages to maintain a sitting position. "Prof? What in the hell? Did she remak- ugh, killer headache..." He shakes his head, trying to clear it.

* Trune attempts to sit up very slowly, massaging his head, "This makes no sense...he died..."

* Victor looks down at himself, his confusion compounding amidst the thoughts swirling in his head.

<GMAmy> The third guard speaks into a comm unit attached to his collar. "Subjects have acute memory loss. Recommend standing down." He pauses. "Yes, I know the AI just said that. No, these are stunners. I - Okay, FINE. I'll listen to the damned AI." He turns to the others. "Eberhart says to clear the room." The others holster their weapons and head for the door, ushering a protesting Dr. Dupont out ahead of them. The door clicks shut, locked once more, leaving the group alone.

<Niri> Tanan, if you're here, tell us what is going ON!

* Tanan sounds congratulatory. "You successfully completed the scenario while only failing three hundred sixty seven optional objectives, most of them minor or stupid. I believe a complete rundown will be available once you have recovered your senses"

<Trune> Wait, what? WHAT?

<Trune> What the fuck is that even supposed to mean!?

<Tanan> It means you shouldn't have rammed that church, you would have made three sixty six

<Niri> Scenario...?

* Ryllan slumps back onto the bed, sitting down heavily, "... Scenario. What Scenario?"

<Trune> ...fuck you I had a virus in my HEAD!

* Tanan goes back to a more clinical tone. "Some confusion is expected. Elements from your real lives were incorporated into the simulation for reasons that have already been explained."

* Victor gingerly gets up off the bed, and wobbles his way towards a closet door with a mirror on it. He leands on the door for support as stares at his face for the longest time.

* Tanan pauses for a few moments, then adds "To people who weren't you, admittedly."

<Trune> Simulation? Wait, this was all made up?

<Niri> Well. If nothing else, I'm reasonably sure that IS Tanan. I don't understand how, or what's going on, but... yep, I think only Tanan would say something like that.

<Victor> Simulation...

<Ryllan> "'Simulation'..." Ryllan glances at Niri, frowning, then says, "Tanan, what is your relationship, if any, to the Tanan that we knew before today?"

<Tanan> He served as a direct interface into the.... he was an NPC.

* Mikel pauses, looking around as he attempts to process this. "The... the fuck? Wait, I..." He shakes his head again, flopping back on the hospital bed with a groan. "It's wrong, this is..."

* Niri stares at the wall. "...I don't know if that's better or worse than him being dead."

* Trune then attempts to swing his legs over the table, and seems to freeze when nothing appears to happen. He pauses for a moment, the pulls the blankets off of his legs.

* Ryllan glances at the speaker, slowly, then asks one more question, "What was our safety measure regarding Trune?"

<GMAmy> A monitor flickers on, high on the wall. A uniformed officer appears on the screen, with dark skin and a short military hair cut. "Please remain in your beds for the moment. If you have gotten up, I recommend you sit down. Your muscles have been stimulated but still have atrophied."

* Trune whispers, "Why aren't they working..."

<Tanan> It was a nice necklace, captain, but I'm afraid the scenario would have been compromised by it working.

<Tanan> Clever though.

* Victor turns slowly to face the new ...person... addressing them.

<Tanan> Well done

* Trune 's voice slowly rises, "....Atrophied? My legs aren't even working! What did you assholes do!?

* Ryllan lets out a huff of breath - relief? at Tanan's words, then glances at the screen, surpressing an urge to salute. At Trune's shout, he stands again, stumbling toward Trune.

<GMAmy> The man continues to speak, calmly and seriously. "According to Doctor Griffin, your memory has been compromised and the simulation still appears real to you. As such, I feel I must introduce myself. I am Colonel Eberhart, head of the Makhai Initiative and the MAP training simulation, which you have just completed."

* Tanan sounds awkward now. "I am not supposed to be dealing with this. I really wish you hadn't tried to stab our staff psychologist. Please don't try to st- ok, you're standing. Please don't let mister McVrey try to stand. And.. no."

* Niri remains sitting on the bed, falling silent and merely watching the others.

<Tanan> We know you all too well to tell you to remain calm, that's not going to happen.

* Tanan settles for "Try not to panic too much?"

<Tanan> Your heads will clear more easily if you can relax.

<Trune> Not panic!? My goddamn legs aren't working and you're telling me to relax!?

* Mikel groans. "The fuck happened to us?" Once more with the sitting, eyes vaguely defocused.

<GMAmy> [Eberhart] Our AI has good advice, shockingly. You'd do well to listen.

* Victor slowly returns to his bed, and settles down onto it, half-listening to the events around him.

* Ryllan leans heavily against a table, out of breath even from the short distance. Something's not... "Colonel, unfamiliar and unexplained situations, especially ones involving sudden and unexplained paralysis tend to be panicking. Why don't you give us the really short version, and have Tanan there confirm?"

* Trune grits his teeth, "Yes. Explain. NOW."

<GMAmy> There are seven beds total. The occupants of two of them have so far not stirred; one, a woman with black hair, seems to still be unconscious. The other, however - a short black woman - speaks without moving or opening her eyes. "Storytime, kids! Can you all shut up for five minutes so I can hear a rundown of what's going on?"

<GMAmy> Eberhart raises an eyebrow wryly. "Indeed, Ms. Baker. Very well, let's bring you up to speed. Hopefully it will trigger your memory."

<Mikel> "Angie...? Wait, why isn't Saki up..."

* Mikel gives no fucks.

<GMAmy> [Eberhart] You were all volunteers to the Makhai Initiative and arrived here at Helicon Base roughly four and a half weeks ago. After an initial briefing, you entered the MAP simulation. This project is run by the Hemeran Global Defense Force, and the training simulation was designed to condition your psyches to effectively make use of the psychokinetic power of the Geodes." He pauses, waiting to see if this sparks any recognition.

<Victor> Hem...

<Victor> (eyes widen) GDF...

<Trune> Geodes?...I've heard that before...

* Victor gently grips the sides of his head and more bits of information start swriling around in it.

* Mikel takes a few breaths. "MAP... an AI..."

<GMAmy> Eberhart nods and continues. "You may also know this power as 'magic' - something that did not exist until eleven years ago, when the dimensional rift opened and brought the Geodes to Hemera, along with Erebos and the Xenians."

<Tanan> It's vitally important to believe that geode powers can be used by humans. You all- mostly- used similar powers in the simulation. Hold onto that memory. Things work differently and you'll need time to adjust once you've recovered, but don't doubt it.

<GMAmy> [Eberhart] My staff reports that some of you attempted to use these powers upon waking. This is good. Obviously, they didn't work, but once you have access to Geodes, your abilities should begin to return.

<Victor> We volunteered... for an experiment... a simulation to learn magic.

* Ryllan lifts his free hand to rub at his temple, "... Erebos." He glances up at Eberhart, "Spawn. Okay, accepting that provisionally, what part of the plan involved paralyzing Trune?"

<Trune> ....Vytor?

<Victor> Magic we need to fight Erebos spawn.

<Tanan> Caveat: Ninety nine plus percent chance of failure if you attempt to rip yourself into multiple pieces using geodes.

* Victor lets his hands fall from the side of his head, and stares at them. "I was... assigned to the project."

<GMAmy> [Eberhart] Unfortunately, Mr. Albien's legs have been paralyzed since early childhood. It seems that the simulation gave him full use of them.

<Trune> ...what? Wait, what!? It's permanent?! What kind of sick joke is this!?

* Mikel shakes his head. "No splitting, right..." As Eberhart drops the leg bomb though there is a grimace as he looks over at Trune. "You've got to be kidding..."

<GMAmy> Colonel Eberhart looks genuinely chagrined. "The shock of newly learning of the paralysis was completely unintentional. I apologize for that."

* Niri looks over at Trune and meets his eyes, deep sympathy on her face.

* Trune buries his face in his hands, going silent for now.

* Victor looks at everyone in the room in turn, jumbled pieces in his mind starting to click.

* Ryllan sighs, staggering back over to his bed to sit down, "...Experimental programs." He says quietly, "Okay. Hey Tanan. Pretty sure I believe the Colonel, but confirm for me. No one here's trying - or capable of - ending the world, right?"

<Tanan> This project exists, to the best of my knowledge, to safeguard human- and Xenian- life on this planet.

<Mikel> "So... someone's trying to end the world, just not us"

* Tanan falls silent for a few seconds, before offering "It's possible that they could be capable, if they bent all their resources towards its destruction, of destroying it."

<GMAmy> Eberhart pauses, looking at someone off screen and speaking quietly. He turns back. "Our medical staff is asking that you be taken to individual recovery rooms to rest and await full medical and psychological testing. Visits and communication with friends and family must wait until preliminary screening is complete - oh, with one exception. Trune Albien, your father would like to see you as soon as possible."

* Ryllan glances around at each bed, then looks back up at the Colonel, "You can let the medical types back in. We'll behave."

* Trune glances up, "...Dad?"

* Mikel shakes his head with a groan, then looks back up towards the ceiling. "... y'know, Tanan, you might have guessed how we would react."

* Victor settles back into his bed, still pale but less confused now.

<GMAmy> Eberhart raises an eyebrow. "Indeed, our medical staff has said much the same thing."

<Tanan> Your medical staff doesn't know what they're talking about. Doctor Griffin and her team are unlikely to attempt anything more sinister than asking awkward questions and recommending physical therapy, but I wouldn't have put her in charge of this if she'd been twice as clever as she thinks she is.

<GMAmy> The door lock buzzes, and Dr. Tilea Dupont enters again, cautiously. When no one makes any aggressive moves, she hurries over to check on Saki's readouts. Meanwhile, Angie has yawned and pushed herself up to a sitting position, fumbling around to see if her glasses are nearby.

* Ryllan looks at Dupont, concerned, "Should they still be out?"

* Tanan adds "She's a nice lady though. Please don't stab her."

<GMAmy> Angie waves a hand dismissively. "I'm good! I just can't see anything yet." Her voice is cheerful, and she makes an exaggerated bow from her sitting position when Dr. Dupont hands her the thick lenses. "Thank you, good doctor."

<GMAmy> Dr. Dupont frowns. "There's something strange going on with the brain wave readouts. I'm going to have to do some more intensive scans to figure out exactly what's wrong with Ms. Isai."

* Mikel glances over at Saki, frowning some. "...she's going to punch someone when she wakes up."

<GMAmy> A moment later, a young man with a lopsided tie and uneven shirt tails strolls in, hands in his pockets, looking bored. "Looks like I'm taking over psych duties for a while. Did you one of you really try to stab Dora with a needle?"

* Ryllan looks at the man, then says, deadpan, "She looks exactly like someone who tried to destroy the world once. It was a near thing, too."

* Trune just glances over to the newcomer, but hasn't quite gotten over the shock of his paralysis yet.

<GMAmy> The young man looks intrigued. "....Really, now? Oh man, I wonder how THAT happened. Tanan, was this your idea? If it was, Dora's gonna be FURIOUS with you." He looks delighted by the prospect.

<GMAmy> Dr. Dupont sighs. "Ethan, can it, would you? We've got a job to do. Dr. Griffin would like their personal effects brought to them. It might help them feel less out-of-sorts." She leans over and hands Niri her glasses. "Don't worry, the rest will be here shortly."

<GMAmy> Ethan Richardson sighs. "Fine, spoil my fun. All right, back in a few." He strolls out again, barking some orders at a couple of guards.

* Mikel runs a hand through a hair with a sigh, still trying to make heads and tails of the entire situation.

<Tanan> A recommended face was drawn from the provided pool. if she's angry, she should take it up with -

* Tanan falls silent

<GMAmy> Within a few minutes, a few guards enter the room, carrying some personal items and clothing, and begin handing them out. Mikel is presented with a silver chain of unusual design. Ryllan and Victor are given uniforms, Angie a rather familiar looking fur hat...

<GMAmy> Dr. Dupont straightens, frowning. "Tanan? Who's responsible for this?"

* Victor takes the uniform with muted familiarity.

* Ryllan runs a finger over the rank insigna sewn onto the uniform.

* Mikel holds up the chain for a moment, examining the joined jewels hanging from it. A yellow topaz in the shape of a lightning bolt, and a blue sapphire in the shape of a wave. "Ah... spirits, this is..."

<GMAmy> A female soldier hands Niri a sleeveless purple surcoat and a string of purple and green beads. "Here you are, Sister Nirika. And Sister Leandra is eager to hear from you as soon as you're given leave to place a call to the convent."

* Niri blinks. "Sister...Nirika?" She slowly accepts the bundle, shaking the surcoat out and examining it with a frown. After a moment she lays it on the bed beside her, but she slips the beads over her neck and fingers them thoughtfully. They seem...calming, somehow.

<GMAmy> A guard pushes in a wheelchair and sets the brakes next to Trune's bed. "Would you like some assistance, sir?"

* Trune stares at the wheelchair for a long moment, "...Just this once."

* Mikel pauses as he hears 'sister', looking over at Niri with a raised eyebrow.

<Tanan> The decision was not necessarily an incorrect one. Holst seems to have forwarded her to the top of the pool.

<GMAmy> The guard nods. Despite having called Trune "sir" he looks to be several years his senior. He lifts Trune under his arms and swivels him neatly into the chair, then undoes the brakes. "When you're ready, I can show you to your rooms. Unless you'd like to stay and talk with the others privately first. Dr. Richardson and Dr. Dupont won't be ready to begin screening for at least another hour."

* Trune finally glances up to Niri, and can't help but pout just slightly, "Does this mean I can't call her moon princess anymore?"

<GMAmy> Dr. Dupont jerks slightly. "HOLST? Dora's EX did this?" She snarls, rather uncharacteristically. "If you'll excuse me, I believe I need to have a word with the colonel. Possibly with General Tsukino." She puts down the clipboard she was examining and stalks out of the room.

* Niri blinks at Trune. "You...you COULD. It might not be wise! But you could." She manages a small smile.

* Trune can't help but chuckle, "Aw."

* Mikel watches Dupont make her exit, shaking his head with a sigh as he slides the chain over his head.

<Ryllan> "I think we all have a lot to... relearn? Rememember?" He shakes his head, "Terminology. Anyone wanting to stick around?"

<Victor> I'm staying... sir.

<Trune> ...Yeah, I guess I'll stick around.

* Niri shrugs and nods quietly. "I'll stay for a bit."

* Ryllan glances at Vytor, with a small chuckle, "That'll take some getting used to."

<GMAmy> The guards salute. "Very well then. We'll return later. Just hit the call button when you're ready." The speaker pauses, listening to something on his comm unit. "Ms. Baker? Your presence is urgently requested by General Tsukino and Colonel Eberhart."

* Ryllan returns the salute reflexively.

<GMAmy> Angie raises an eyebrow. "Oh, it is, huh?" She sighs. "My public needs me, guys. Don't save the world without me, okay?" She grins, waving as she takes the arm of one of the guards, waggling her eyebrows at him. She puts a saunter into her step to hide how shaky her legs are.

* Mikel taps a finger on the jewels, frowning. He closes his eyes, murmuring under his breath. "Storms and sea... ugh, it's like I'm seeing double but not..."

* Ryllan waits until the door shuts before looking around at the assembled group, "... Well. This is a hell of a revelation, isn't it?"

<GMAmy> Angie leaves with the guards. One of them unlocks the brakes on one of the wheeled beds and maneuvers Saki out the door. The door clicks shut and locks behind them, leaving Mikel, Ryllan, Trune, Niri, and Victor by themselves.

<Trune> ....Well.

* Trune sighs, "...Just, goddess, this is fucked up."

* Victor slides a glance at Trune.

* Niri is very quiet. "Maybe...we should re-introduce ourselves. Assuming we remember enough to do so?"

<Trune> ...Yeah. I'm...

<Mikel> "It's starting to come back...." He pauses. "Shit, she's going to be furious."

<Niri> Who?

* Trune pauses, takes a deep breath and holds onto the side of his head, "Trune Albien. ....Think I'm a student. I was just gonna go to college."

* Mikel concentrates for a moment, gripping the pendant. "... sister, my sister is going to be. How long were we...?"

* Niri smiles a bit. "You have a sister?"

<Ryllan> "Think I remember Hylan saying something about compressing time, falsified memories... -- probably not as long as we think."

<Victor> He said it was four and a half weeks since we started this.

<Mikel> "Not quite as dead, then." He nods towards Niri, then the eyebrow's arced again. "And you're... actually a sister?"

<Niri> Mmm. Seems so. *She pauses, thinking intently.* It's really hazy. But I think I joined the Order after...after my dad died. *She goes quiet again.*

* Victor rubs his fingers across the front of his uniform, as if coming to terms with it.

* Niri speaks again, after a couple of minutes have passed. "Well. I guess...it's nice to 'meet' everyone. I'm Sister Nirika Shanras, apparently. Of....Everwood? Yeah. Everwood."

* Victor stands up from his bed, sets his belongings down on it, and gives Ryllan a proper salute. He inhales once to calm his nerves, then proceeds with an oddly practiced-sounding introduction as if he's not 100% sure what the words mean yet. "I'd better start getting used to this now. Corporal Victor Nicholas Dunbar, Messembrian Air Cavalry, 3rd division."

* Niri blinks at him. "Victor? Not Vytor?"

<Victor> A nickname, ma'am.

<Trune> ...Ma'am?

* Trune knows it's formal military talk, but it still sounds rather odd.

* Ryllan returns the salute, but his face is bemused, "At ease, Corporal. Even neverminding everything else, this isn't exactly on-duty."

<Victor> Yes sir.

* Victor sits back down on his bed, but doesn't relax one bit.

* Niri looks a bit crestfallen. "So...am I supposed to call you sir, then?" This is directed at both Victor and Ryllan, apparently.

* Mikel snorts, shaking his head. "Ah, let's see... right. Sergeant Mikel Rios, Elysia's Erebos Rapid Response Force, Black Arrow Squad..." Another shake of the head. "I... think I'm on loan, or something, for this."

<Victor> No ma'am. At least not in my case.

<Trune> ...Are Niri and I the only ones NOT in the military?

* Ryllan winces, "GDF's nominally global, I think, even if most of it's Messembrian sorts like Vyt- /Victor/, and me. Not a hundred percent on how they're handling civilian sorts, at the moment."

* Niri fidgets uncomfortably. "Could you at least call me Niri, not 'ma'am'?"

* Mikel is in full off duty mode at least, no saluting and seeming fairly relaxed for having found out what he thought was his life was a carefully(?) crafted simulation. "Yes, ma'am."

* Mikel is trying very hard not to smile, if one cares to look.

* Niri fixes Mikel with a baleful look. "...Are you giving me attitude? You are, aren't you. You're making FUN of me."

* Ryllan shrugs, "For what it's worth, memory's saying that I'm Captain Ryllan Barack, until recently commanding a detached company of the 27th Infantry, as an informal Major Spawn response team."

* Victor is about to respond to Niri, but stops as bickering seems to start.

* Trune , for once, is actually staying out of this!

<Ryllan> Don't stand on protocol on my behalf, Niri. Ryllan Barack, crazed revolutionary is still here for the time being. We'll figure it out as it comes up. Besides, if you're a civilian, you're not even supposed ot.

<Mikel> "Well, it's either that or a wisecrack about you leaving out the nun bit..." He shakes his head with a smile, glancing back up towards the ceiling. "Ah... jeez, it's like I can see Blue Star and here if I just focus right. It's all skewed."

* Niri looks away from Mikel. "Yeah, that was...kind of a surprise to me too. I still only remember bits and pieces. I sort of remember my family, and then I sort of remember...well, Hiro and Lucia and Leah and the Academy and Haylee and -

* Niri squeezes her eyes shut. "None of it was real."

* Trune shakes his head, "Yeah, none."

<Mikel> "Except us, I guess."

<Victor> ...

* Niri opens her eyes again. "Well. Yeah, guess so. Hey...if we're part of this project, they have files on us, right? We could read up on ourselves." She chuckles.

<Trune> I need a mirror. I bet you I'm really all pimply and ugly in real life. Unless this AI...Tanan I guess, was an asshole and I'm really a hot stud in real life.

* Niri tilts her head. "You're...very similar? Coloring is a bit different. And uh...hard to tell with you sitting down, but you're not nearly as tall, I think."

<Trune> ...Damn, I was hoping I was hot.

* Trune sighs.

<Niri> ...Okay, you haven't really changed.

<Niri> Not with comments like that.

<Trune> I dunno...stuff all screwed up in my head. Who knows?

<Niri> It's not as if THAT'S new though, right? Hey, it's better than a brain virus.

<Niri> ...And if Tanan is alive - or something - that's a definite improvement.

<Trune> Let's never talk about the brain virus ever again. It made me a jerk.

<Mikel> "This is where Tanan's supposed to admonish us for not taking it seriously, I think... man, shit, I have a sister. She's still gonna be pissed."

* Ryllan glances at Trune, "...Nah, too easy."

<Victor> Or she might be glad to see you again after four and a half weeks. Unless you didn't tell her you were being reassigned.

<Mikel> "No, she knew I was coming out here. Just, supposed to keep in touch."

<Victor> No offense, but if she knows you're military she should also know that's not always feasible. ...sir.

<Niri> Maybe she knew how long the simulation might last. Did WE know?

<Victor> A week, minimum. That's the best timeframe I was given at the time ma'... Niri.

<Trune> Well they sure miscalculated.

<Mikel> "I don't... think so? I'll send her a letter or something." He shakes his head, swinging his feet off the bed now. "This is going to be weird." He pauses, then looks over at Niri as he mulls over something.

* Niri fidgets.

* Ryllan nods, "Don't force it. We'll all need some... recuperation time -- physically and memory-wise."

* Niri nods. "I think I need to have that talk with Sister Le- Leah? Leandra?" For a moment she looks lost and off-balance.

<Mikel> "... we're gonna have to talk, later." He sighs again, nodding towards Ryllan. "Yessir.. also I feel like a wreck." He holds out his arm, frowning. "... and am a wreck, I guess."

<Trune> Wonder what my Dad is gonna say.

<Niri> That depends on if he's anything like your dad in...in the sim.

* Niri glances at Mikel, then....turns bright red and looks away. "Um. Yeah. Guess so."

<Trune> No, no he's not.

<Mikel> "Small blessings."

<GMAmy> After a few more minutes of conversation, escorts arrive to show the group to their rooms, so they can recover and think. There's definitely going to be a lot of that. They are told to expect visits from Dr. Dupont and Dr. Richards at some point during the day, to begin preliminary screenings of their physical and psychological health.

<GMAmy> Once they've been given clearance, contact with families and close friends will be approved, along with a few days' leave time. Following this, and pending approval by the med staff, a security briefing and Makhai training will begin in earnest.

<GMAmy> == Session End ==

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