exsilium | Second Network Dive [video]

[It's a little before dusk when the screen clicks on, and for anyone familiar, the camera is panning around the massive, abandoned arboretum on the edge of the city. The camera turns slowly to reveal a few piles of broken stone and metal, and then a small flower garden tucked in between what might have been a statue, long ago, and a section of shattered wall.]

[Eventually the camera shifts and moves, slowly panning around until the owner has moved to sit down next to the small flower garden, and it is turned towards Shelke, who rests her back against the base of the broken statue. She has changed out of her deepground uniform finally, and is dressed in a raggedy part of baggy pants and a t-shirt a size too large for her frame, making her look even younger than she already does. She has her weapon sheath attacked though, hanging over her shoulder.]

I am no stranger to ruined buildings. [She sounds almost as though she's half talking to herself as she speaks, her voice tinged with tiredness, and her eyes are turned upwards, but then they flick back towards the camera for a moment.] But other than transients, no one appears interested in this place. No one is attempting to salvage it, or reclaim it, or utilize it in some fashion outside of planting a few flowers. That is...strange. Not the flowers are not pleasant, but...

Even after meteor fell on Midgar, people were constantly trying to reclaim destroyed sections of the city. I...

[She frowns suddenly, as if she isn't certain exactly why she's bothering to talk about this, and after a moment she just shakes her head.]

It doesn't matter. I came here looking for...anything, but there isn't much I can use. I need electronics. Circuit boards, appliances, anything I can salvage parts from. I do not have much to trade but I can attempt to find what other people are seeking.

Computer parts would be preferable, but I know they're difficult to find here. I-

[There is a commotion from nearby, the sound of footsteps and raised voices as two of the local squatters appear to be getting into a heated argument, though the words are indistinct. Shelke just sighs softly. She was almost enjoying the silence.]

I suppose I cannot remain here.

[She pushes to her feet as she turns the camera off.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Painwheel. Is that a codename, or your name?

The first one, I guess.

I had one but I don't think it really qualifies anymore. Do you have a regular name?

I do, but I can't use it anymore.

Can't?

I'm not that person anymore.

I understand that sentiment more than you might realize. Did you change because you wanted to, or did someone force you?

It was forced. I was kidnapped and they took everything from me!

[There is a long pause before she answers.]

Me too.

[Wait what.]

Really? What happened?

[Another little pause as she considers how to answer.]

When I was nine years old I was kidnapped by the Shinra. They took me to an underground facility and experimented on me because of an ability I didn't really even know I had. What they did stopped my aging process, augmented my abilities, and made me entirely dependent on a specific magical chemical called mako. If I don't receive some every day, I will die. Rapidly and painfully. Then I spent ten years trapped in Deepground with the other experiments and soldiers, some of which were extremely dangerous and completely insane.

Edited 2013-01-01 13:30 (UTC)

[At first she doesn't really know how to respond. This one sounds like she's it pretty rough, too.

They weren't experiments, damn it. They were people, they had lives!]

I don't know if this means anything to you, but... I'm sorry for what they did.

I mean it.

Thank you. But it isn't anything that can change now.

[A little pause.]

What happened to you?

I was kidnapped, by Lab Zero. Taken away from my parents and everything I knew.

They did experiments. Turned me into a weapon, tried to force me into obeying them. But I'm not going to!

I'm going to find them, and kill them for turning me into a freak!

Good luck.

I think I would do the same, but everyone who experimented on me is already dead. The scientists were killed when Shinra fell and the guards were killed during our revolution.

Lucky you. Must've been a pretty big revolution.

Not big, exactly, but as an organization, we Tsviet's were...thorough.

[She hesitates.]

I suppose I am not one of them anymore, but still.

So what were you doing after?

It's somewhat complicated. I was assisting the Tsviet's in trying to awaken Omega. But they tried to have me killed.

Why you?

I had fulfilled my purpose and located Vincent Valentine and the proto-materia. I was expendable, and if what Azul said is to be believed, they never considered me one of them anyway.

Wonder if it'll be the same with me. Probably, they can't do anything with me as it is, those people.

Perhaps you can just remain here.

I can't. I have my mom and dad to get back to, and a bunch of other stuff I need to do.

You still have parents?

[She doesn't mean to be surprised, but after that story...]

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painfeels - 2013-01-31 12:34 (UTC) - Expand

shelkethetransparent - 2013-01-31 16:07 (UTC) - Expand

painfeels - 2013-02-04 16:24 (UTC) - Expand