001 //video

[goneonenight]

[The feed turns on to a pair of large golden eyes. They pull back just far enough to reveal a dark-skinned face framed in black hair--a woman who looks to be in her mid to late twenties. A large bowl--about the size of a mixing bowl--rests on the seat next to her, the tips of a pair of chopsticks barely visible over the rim; she’d wasted no time raiding the fridge after her arrival]

[Frowning, she reaches out to hit a key on the netbook, clearly not yet at ease with her new communication device.]

They could have better explained how to use this... [She mutters, giving the computer a narrow look as she decides whether or not it’s actually working. Finally, she shrugs, figuring she might as well try.]

I assume everyone got the same story upon arrival. I can’t help but wonder at the fact that people with the power to pull us from our homes without warning aren’t capable of winning a war without our help.

[Her voice is even, with a clear sardonic edge that suggests she’s not quite ready to jump in and be a team player just yet. Still, she’s not rushing to judgment just yet, preferring to gauge the attitudes of others presumably in her situation.]

So, tell me--assuming you all cooperate with our [abductors] hosts--how did they convince you to do so?

[pauses]

And on the off chance there’s anyone here from Seireitei or Karakura, I’d appreciate you contacting me.

[Frowns again, and reaches out to tap the screen.]

Shit, this thing isn’t on, is it?

[She sighs and stands up; might as well go out in her cat form and gather information that way, until she can figure out how to work this stupid thing.]

[That decided, she hooks her thumbs into her waistband and draws her pants off in one smooth motion.]

[Luckily for those more squeamish, her shirt hits the tops of her thighs, keeping this PG-13]

Comments

[hornedomen]

I’m Ico. Can you fight, Yoruichi? There’s a training room in the Hold.

[goneonenight]

That's good to know; I wouldn't want to get out of practice.

Are you a fighter as well?

[hornedomen]

I wasn’t brought up to be one, but I know how and I’ve been training here. What weapon do you use?

[goneonenight]

I've been trained in several weapons. But these days, I usually don't use any.

How about you?

[hornedomen]

I have a sword. Kahlan taught me how to use it, but she’s gone now.

Was there anything else you needed to know about this place? I’ve been here for about two months.

[goneonenight]

Two months? Have you been on a mission yet?

[hornedomen]

No, but there was a time when we were all taken for training. I don’t know what happened, something went wrong and we all went into each other’s minds. It hasn’t happened again so the Initiative must have fixed it.

[goneonenight]

Went into each other's minds? What do you mean, kiddo?

[hornedomen]

It was like small patches of everyone’s worlds were together and we could walk into each one. But it was all in our minds. Except for the Transports, everyone else in the memory wasn’t real. We were never gone and we woke up a few days later.

[goneonenight]

That must have been strange.

[And unnerving. She makes a note to find out more about that later, if possible.]

So, the...Initiative, the people who brought us here--do they ever speak to the Transports?

[hornedomen]

There was someone from the Initiative that spoke to us before it all happened. I don’t know what he was trying to say. He sounded drunk.

[goneonenight]

Well, that could explain it.

[pause]

So, do you live here by yourself, kiddo?

[hornedomen]

Yes, Miranda and Thane were with me, but they’re gone now. The Initiative returned them home. I don’t know why.

[goneonenight]

[Yoruichi's eyes narrow; so they can in fact return people home. Her opinion of her hosts--not all that great to begin with--is taking a serious drop.]

[But she doesn't let on any of those thoughts.]

I'm sorry to hear that. Do you have other friends here, though?

[hornedomen]

[Ico smiled reassuringly.]

Yes, I have many. Don’t worry, Yoruichi, I can look after myself.