--knoww anythin' about it. It's not my fault you're gettin' sick or wwhatevver the problem is here.

[The video feed is currently displaying, well, nothing. The netbook is still closed, but not switched off. Whatever initiated the feed must have been accidental on his part. The audio's coming in clear though.]

I'll say it again so fuckin' listen this time, do I LOOK like I got any idea a' wwhat's goin' on? Nothin' is evven happenin' to me so wwhy the fuck wwould I both-HEY!

[There's a loud clatter, and a cracking noise, as the netbook opens partially. It seems to have hit the ground, because right now with the way it's angled, there's nothing but ground on the screen. Seems like it's somewhere outside in the city, dark too.]

Don't you fuckin' dare.

[Silence.

Something breaks it, as if someone suddenly took a step, at which point there's a noise almost like thunder and a flash of white light.

More silence, and then footsteps.

A grey hand takes a hold of the bottom half of the netbook, fingers pressed tightly against the keyboard. At this stage the feed just shows fingers covered in gold rings, as it's closed on his hand now.]

Rot for all I care, assholes.

Now, hmm, how does this work...?

[There's sound before there's video: the random pressing of keys and buttons, accompanied by a chipper, breezy sort of voice with an accent those from Earth might recognize as something resembling Australian, though the girl speaking is from a world without an Australia.]

This is like those gadgets they had on Cocoon.

[The video feed blips on, the focus swinging wildly between a pair of fawn-colored boots, a flash of leg, the bright orange fabric of a skirt, the ceiling, a wall, a wrist covered in bracelets and bangles -- about enough to give anyone watching motion sickness.

The shaking stops soon enough, having failed to yield the result Vanille is looking for, and the image shifts to a very close view of half an impatiently frowning face, and a ginger pigtail.]

She said I could use this to talk to people, but how?

[And then the shaking resumes.]

Hello? Are you on? Can anybody hear me?