exsilium | Seventh Blood [Video]

[This video recording takes place in a VR room with low power; the lights are patchy and gravity is only moon strength, making kneeling on the floor an easy position. Kanaya's words languish philosophically like students trying to pay attention in class.]

I've been part of the Initiative for a year now, if that's what the month being October again means. Bombs were falling on Exsilium for the first time back then, much like they did in May. I wonder how many of you remember that. Everyone was so surprised, back then, that the United Earth would attack us so directly.

That fact isn't very relevant to what I have to say, but it seems there is an unspoken tradition of celebrating these milestones and getting introspective about how often you ask yourself, "Is this day my last." [She seems to regard that with cynicism, reinforced by her pressing forward into business.] So to combat that existential doubt and make this post more than a waste of electricity, I'm here to announce my complete lack of anything better to do than go on missions.

[Remembering something else and turning sad, consolational, she goes on a tangent.] Madoka, if you're watching this, I'm so sorry about everything that's happened, and if there's anything I can do for you now, please just let me know.

[That taken care of, detachment gets easier.] Anyway, I've seen a fair share of posts about having a desired end for a mission but being apprehensive about going alone. I'm in pretty much the opposite position, having the cumulative experience of three missions and no objective. One solo, two paired, all successful.

In light of our current technological status having a partner is especially prudent if safety is of any concern at all. In case my age is giving viewers any doubts, let me assure you I have the strength and speed to offer adequate protection from most earthly threats.

Finally... it seems that I'm one of about five Transports aware of and interested in the virtual reality system prior to our lunar plight. [It's a little funny to her.] I heard about it before it went moonstream, you might say. So if you need help constructing assets for your digital home or office or what have you, that's something I can assist with as well.

[Just then, the power fails, turning out the lights, though the view of the room isn't entirely black considering its occupant's glowing skin. Kanaya looks up at the dark ceiling, frowns a little, then sighs and reaches out to the communicator (already beginning to drift for lack of gravity) and cuts the feed.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The "virtual" part is intended to imply something digital - like these tablets. Typed words can be called virtual speech and so on. While the reality component.....

It'd be easier to show you. Which wing are you in? I can tell you what room to go.

Uh...west. Where should I meet you?

[A VR room near that wing, that's where! Not the one she's in; the one nearest him.]

Edited 2013-10-16 02:45 (UTC)

[ Sokka arrives with a yawn. ]

Hey, Kanaya. So this is the place?

[She's not there! A filtered text message arrives with instructions for some numbers to put into the control panel; as described here, she's been working on a virtual version of her old respiteblock, though it still needs somework.

Once he makes it in, she'll wave.]

[ It takes Sokka minute or two get everything punched in. And then he steps inside and takes a stumble backwards. He glances into the hallway. Back into the VR room. The hallway. Then takes a cautious step back in, waving. ]

Wait, wait, wait. This is all fake?

More so than Earth human Santa Claus.

[She doesn't realize he doesn't know, but continues to smile as warmly as possible for an alien vampire.]

That's why they call it Virtual Reality. Because it seems so real.

Human who?

[ That reference goes sailing way, way over Sokka's head. He looks around the room, nodding with an impressed set to his expression. ]

That's crazy. Can I like, pick stuff up?

Most of it. Don't try to go for the hanging fabrics; they're only two-point-five-dee right now -- I mean, they're programmed as more like paintings than physical objects, if that makes sense.

This system was created with the potential to accommodate a wide variety of activities - I've designed my areas with more emphasis on the aesthetic but there are virtual training programs, virtual battle simulations, virtual exploratory games...

[ Sokka shivers. ]

That's...cool, I guess. And kinda weird, I dunno.

[ The fake real-ness feels so weird to him, though. Unnatural. ]

I mean, I can see how it'd be useful but it gives me the oogies.

You get used to it or you get bored pretty fast in this setting. If you really don't like it, your best interests would definitely be to find some other way to train.

I dunno. I feel like I'd rather be bored. It's...creepy.

[ Sokka is having a hard time wrapping his head around this. The artificiality of it disturbs him. ]

It's kind of like shared dreaming, isn't it?

I...guess? I've never shared a dream.

Oh. I thought it was a more common myth. Never mind.

[If she knew ATLA she might suggest The Spirit World but she does not so she keeps thinking.]

What does this remind you of?

[ Sokka shrugs. ]

Nothing from home. Maybe the Spirit World, but I don't have any experience with that, like, first hand or anything.

What's the spirit world? Though I suppose that's a disingenuous course of inquiry if you don't actually know...

Uh, the place that spirits come from, I guess? Sometimes they interact with the real world. And the Avatar is kinda the bridge between the two, maintains balance and stuff.

So a kind of mediator...?

I guess you could call him that, yeah. But he uses force if he has to.

To keep balance, you know?

That makes sense. A soft touch can't block everything, you and I know that from experience.

Seventh Blood [Video]

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