[Berserker's communicator comes on in the middle of him standing in a clothing store. He has his comm open, camera pointed towards him and a very irritated cashier. He's standing at the front end of a clothing store.]

What is this?

Isn't it one of those phones you guys use?

Did I leave this in my armor?

How should I know?

[Glancing at it a bit closer, Berserker turned it over. One could see that he was wearing a black suit, black dress shirt and an equally black tie, much as if he were going to the most grim of all grim funerals.]

It must have fallen out when I shifted my attire into this suit.

No, you must have slipped into the dressing room and taken it!

I don't have any need to steal. I simply altered the state of my dress to reflect an outfit I've seen. It's not theft at all.

I'm not getting into a data-sharing argument with you, pal.

[Somehow, this caught Berserker's attention.] Was that a joke?

[ it's rare riku actually turns on his tablet for an actual broadcast; even if he obviously has deliberately turned it on, for a few moments, he doesn't know what to say.

what can he say? that was...

he exhales, runs a hand through his hair, and then straightens. ]

A lot of people have said their piece already, and everyone's got a good point.

[ well, actually--he makes a face, and rolls his eyes. ]

... some are better than others, but arguing won't get us anywhere. We need to come together as a group, and if you don't want to protect the Initiative, I get it. [ a sigh. he looks down. ] I do.

I've been here for more than a year, I've been here for a lot of their mistakes, seen them firsthand. They're definitely far from perfect, but going against them... if we've learned anything, it's that, to keep our homes safe, we should take arms against United Earth. You can fight the Initiative all you want, but it's not going to help. They aren't getting ready to decimate entire worlds and leave no prisoners.

[ another hand runs through his hair, pushing back his bangs. his tone is more firm as he speaks again, but his eyes are on the floor, to the side. ]

It's almost the beginning of the month, again. That's when the new arrivals come in.

[ then, he looks back to the camera. ]

What're we going to say when they say they want to go home? "No, or your home world will be destroyed"? And don't say the staff's going to take care of that. If I've learned anything in my time here, it's that not everything can be condensed into the ten-minute talk the greeter gives them.

--maybe... oh! I think I got it this time!

[The woman speaking carries an Australian accent and she sounds triumphant albiet a little tired.]

Technology like this really is useful, huh? [A pause and then a deep sigh.] I can't believe it. When I first got here all these people told me nothing happened here! It isn't nice to lie like that!

[She does see the irony in saying that, yes.

She sighs again.] I hope everyone is all right. I still don't understand all of this but I'm glad I was able to be useful and help heal people. If anyone still needs anything like that just let me know.

I don't really know what to expect from this place anymore but it sure does make me nervous.