[This is a short video post from a ponytailed guy in a white lab coat. Someone must have convinced him not to wear the Black Feathery Coat of Revolutionary Doom while working in the clinic.]

The clinic staff is down by a few. Possibly lucky for them, if it means they've gone home, but not so lucky for us. With the conscript -- pardon me, the "transport" population growing in number, we'll need more healers and medics. Not only for the clinic itself. We're also the people who patch you up when all of us get rounded up and sent into battle for the Initiative.

We're a fairly friendly lot, and we're not picky about credentials, as there's hardly a universal standard to go by. I'm a mage and a healer; the fellow who runs the clinic with me, Ashraf Salib, is also a healer. We've also got doctors who use technology rather than magic. And we're happy to teach those who are interested in learning, whatever talents you may bring to the table.

What we don't have at all is a person who specializes in teeth. Did you know how profoundly the condition of your teeth and gums can affect your health? I'll freely confess I didn't. I do now.

Also, we haven't got any psychologists. [The word is a somewhat recent addition to Anders' vocabulary -- in the past month or two, he's learned a little about the subject, enough to know he has no idea what it involves.] That's something many of us could probably use, given the pleasant tasks the Initiative likes to set us from time to time.

I'll say this now, because you might be wondering: We don't report your condition to the Initiative. We don't report your visits, or your diagnosis. That's the difference between us and the Initiative hospital: we've got no interest in tracking or managing you.

We do what we like with what they've given us. But the supplies do come from the Initiative. So did the training in what devices weren't already familiar to our staff, things that originate in this world rather than the ones we're from. And yes, it is not outside the realm of possibility that they've put some surveillance in place. The same principle applies to this network, and to the apartments most of us live in, and to everything else in this city. It's best not to delude ourselves on that score.

But, then, if you're seeing this message, you're using the network, and you've already accepted that inevitability. [He's rambling a little now...] Anyhow. Yes. Reply to me, or send a note to Ashraf Salib, or drop by, or whatever you like.


[[ OOC NOTE: The sign-ups and directory for the clinic are in this post. ]]

[The video feed flips on, focusing (after a few seconds of jostling around) on Galadriel, sitting on the steps of the Initiative Hold, her sheathed sword beside her. Having just finished training, she’s attired appropriately, wearing a simple dress and with her hair braided and wound about her head- displaying those pointed ears quite prominently for those who might have missed them before.]

I grow weary of the constant grey here. It is overlong since I have heard a running stream or seen the sunlight filtered through the forest canopy.

Tell me, those of you who have journeyed outside this city: does greenery yet remain in this world? It would do my heart well even to hear of it.

What makes you worthwhile? Reluctantly interested parties want to know.

And if you're completely useless as I imagine most of you are then tell me why do you want to go home. It sounds like most of you do so indulge me. It must be absolutely fascinating.

[ all replies are text unless otherwise noted! ]

[somewhere out beyond the city there begins the shakiest video post ever. it's clear that whoever handles this device is not accustomed to using anything like it--but eventually, it rights itself, with some muttering and swearing, and then hello, there's Arthur, in his full armor, standing in the barren outlands. there's a smudge of dirt and blood on his forehead, but otherwise he's very clean and presentable and princely (all indignity of technological unfamiliarity aside).]

I am Prince Arthur of Camelot, recently brought to this place. I do not take kindly to being pressed into service, but as our captors have said, they have no choice in our being here. [yeah right. even with his princeface on, he sneers a little at that. but.]

If we take what we have been told as truth--that there is a force that threatens all of our kingdoms--then our way is clear. We are not united, but this threat gives us common cause. [though the way his mouth tightens when he says that indicates how very not pleased he is by that.] I am not content to wait to be told what to do when my kingdom is threatened. So it falls then to us, to organize ourselves. The training sessions that this Initiative provides--I have found them to be wanting, yet they can be used to our purposes, should we chose to.

But we must first know what strength is ours, and what weapons we have been given. No force can be organized without this information. And if this United Earth presumes to steal resources from our kingdoms, we must know what it is that they would look to steal, so we can better protect against these threats when the time comes. And it had best come soon.

I have set the task of collecting this information to my servant, Merlin, wherever the idiot's gotten off to. He will ask each of you in turn, or else you may come to him.

[and you will answer, that's the message here, and with an imperious nod, he reaches to--fumble around with the device again, and the rest of this is muttering.]

Damn-- thing--

So here's the thing, right. I mean, yeah, the Initiative kinda kidnapped us. But they say they didn't do it on purpose. And I believe them, 'cause nobody in their right mind would wanna recruit me into their army on purpose. Some junkie loser. Ask anybody who saw me my first few weeks here, okay, all shitting in my pants scared and useless with the shakes. I couldn't hold a gun steady if my life depended on it.

So they didn't exactly bring us here on purpose. But what do they do when we end up here?

[He raises his hand to the camera, counting off on his fingers:]

They patch us up, bring us back to life. Hey, that's a big deal for some of us, ain't it?

They give us some swanky ass apartments. Yeah, we got roommates, but do you see what the rest of everybody's living in? We got some damn nice cribs in comparison, yo.

They give us money. Just like that. Like, "here you go, go buy a sandwich."

They give us weapons. You ain't never been a prisoner if you think that's something they'd do if they meant to keep us prisoner. Okay, nobody arms a prisoner. They'd be taking away our weapons if they were trying to hurt us all on purpose. And look at this shit -

[He holds up his own gun for the camera, popping the magazine out so the poison darts inside are visible.]

- All high tech. They ain't just giving us sticks to go out and defend ourselves with. This is some quality craftsmanship.

[He sets the gun aside.]

And you hear how I said "defend ourselves"? Yeah. Those U.E. sons of bitches are coming after us. They bombed the shit outta this place we're living in like my first week here. I mean, look around. You can see what they done to this place. To the people in this world. And they got the technology to do that to our worlds, too, unless we do like the Initiative says and go on missions and fix this shit.

And you know what else? You got a problem with the Initiative, you can just talk to 'em. Yeah. They ain't gonna hurt you. I was having some problems when I got here, so I went and talked to them, and guess what? They gave me everything I asked for! That's all it took. So yeah, maybe they can't send you home right now. But they'll help you out best they can.

Look, we're pretty much their only hope here. They wanna do right by us. So just... stop talking about dumbass rebellions and start - I don't know - communicating.

[Drake's little band isn't very discriminate about airing its dirty laundry on the public network, and so Talbot's monitoring and retracing of various conversational threads has led him to the name of a potential ally. He doubts he can trust this man to the extent of involving him in his larger plan for Drake, but refusing to feel out this resource would be a terrible mistake.]

My name is Talbot.

I believe you and I may have a common enemy.

Hello, Exsilium! I must thank you for the amount of information available for us. I haven't even begun to scratch the surface yet but I am looking forward to reading everything about this place so that I can be of more use.

I've noticed that things seem a little hostile & tense lately... Really, I'd like to get to know all of you better so I have a question for the other Transports here, & I hope that it is not too much trouble!

What is it that makes you happy? What makes you smile, or makes you feel at peace the most?

In my case, it is doing my job by helping others & reading books. You never know what adventures or knowledge a book can bring you until you open the cover!

So tell me what makes you happy!

[KAYCEE CHILLING IN BED WITH HER HAIR PULLED BACK IN A MESSY PONYTAIL WEARING A SPORTS BRA AND SUCKING ON A LOLLIPOP she is so classy. she pulls the lollipop out with a loud POPPING sound, and twirls it around with her free hand as she talks.]

So, looks like it's that time of the month.

[PAUSE FOR EFFECT]

By which I mean, it's my time of the month, aka I'm not pregnant, so boys you're free to calm down and stop your worrying.

[WINK AT THE CAMERA.]

It's been awhile since I've got my period, actually. Comes with travel and stress et cetera et cetera. I kind of missed it. Gives me an excuse to be a slob for a few days.

[AND BACK IN THE MOUTH HER LOLLIPOP GOES.]

Long time no see network.