[ The technology of this day and age definitely makes gathering an audience easier. She's not as charismatic as Sinbad or Hakuei, but this is something she wants to talk about. ]

My name is Kougyoku Ren... [ She gulps. Does she want to out herself as a princess? No. Does she want to bring up the last time she appeared on the network? No. ] and I have something to ask those who were brought into this world in the same manner as I. Somehow, I'm not getting any sense of urgency after being conscripted into an army fighting a battle that isn't even my own. Did this Initiative simply pluck me out of my own world to waste my time? How impudent it was of them to bring me here. I'm not even of this world! There are more pressing matters I have to attend to than aiding this rebellion! I'm certain there are people here who feel the same.

[ pause ]

But there is an eerie similarity of this world's situation to mine... There are countries in my world, too, that need to defend themselves from a strong nation much like United Earth. If I return to my homeland, I can prevent the empire from attacking these countries and a place like Exsilium from ever existing! [ "The empire?" She, and she alone? Wow, overshare. Let's backtrack a bit. ]

That is, well-- [ if she can actually TALK TO HER BROTHER THE PRINCE jeez Kougyoku ] Anyway, I have to go back, yet I just feel that - I just can't leave this place alone. [ Sinbad. Sinbad would have felt the same way. ] Even in our downtime, I want to do something! I can't stay still. So... I invite anyone watching this to have a light spar with me, if they are able. Let us polish our skills before the next battle, no matter who we have to face!

[ She looks pretty excited!! Wow, Kougyoku, you just want to fight. Wait, wait, now she's putting on a sad smile. I-it's not like she was hoping for anyone to accept or anything! ]

But... if you aren't interested... I want to know more about this United Earth, or what you think of the idea of one country ruling all - this concept of "one world." A discussion - that's what I would like.

[ This message comes in 5 minutes later: ]

Oh, yes! What does one usually give their friends for this holiday?

[It's been days, perhaps weeks since she arrived, and it's taken this long for her to feel comfortable broadcasting even her voice in a public place. Even so, the message is short as she makes an effort to keep distress or dismay out of her voice.]

Since we've all been taken from our homes, there must be many out there who have left behind family, friends, and loved ones. As I've been told, there are people who have been trapped in this place for months.

Does time make the ache of being apart fade? Is there a way to make that pain subside?

[A slightly pale and more-than-slightly displeased Ema greets the screen. It looks like she may have had one or two or three narrow escapes from undead.]

This is a really nice way to bring us in here... Oh, it's on already--? [she clears her throat and launches in with barely a preamable.]

I'm Detective Ema Skye... I have a question. So we've pretty much taken care of those... zombie-things now, right? [she ticks off on her fingers:] Also, we heard that animals were the disease vectors, and that something called "holy magic" [she wrinkles her nose at that] can cure them.

That's all well and good...But has anyone done a real forensic investigation? We could trace this back to the source, or at least figure out how it happened... [Her displeasure seems to melt away rather quickly.] It's all part of the power of science!

tl;dr: A bunch of kids are stuck in an apartment room, the hallway outside surrounded by zombies. They tried to pull off a "Left 4 Dead" but end up getting stuck inside. Anyone care to evacuate them? (May it also be noted they're technologically blind, so they don't know how to use kitchen equipment to cook for themselves, etc. WHAT IS A TOASTER??) God bless these kids.

Note: All four will be tagging you! (On separate threads for speed.)

[ Why hello there strangers! What a beautiful day to be locked inside of a room with a bunch of people, right?

Wrong.

The image flickers to a face unknown from this world, and from the looks of it this boy does not seem happy. His lips are pressed together; eyes knitted into a glare while still trying to retain his normal and proper composure. ]

I need to know how I was brought here— there has to be a way out! [ His voice was rushed, and concern was clear upon blemished features. ] What... is this place?

[ The question was addressed not only the device in his hands, but also the various array of people that accompanied him. This prince was Not Pleased.

Also he may or may not be trying to leave the room. ] If anyone were to provide answers to this situation, it will be greatly appreciated.

[ Thankfully, the other people— a bunch of kids really, one of those kids immediately secure the uneasy prince before he decides to rush out to the hallway full of zombies. The shortest kid, Aladdin, gives him a huff very close to a pout. ]

Hakuryuu, we already told you! There's no way out yet. I'm sure everyone is working on it, so... A-anyway, this isn't the time for that!

( BUT WAIT there's more )

Fragging cog-piss!!

[ It's the morning of the 14th of December and the tablet is currently flying across a bedroom and Glen is screaming obscenities. The video shows a whole lot of nothing swirling around until it hits something metallic with a CLACK! Finally, it stops when it hits the floor face up. Above it is a bird cage. Old, dead-looking feathers fall through the slits of the cage toward the tablet on the floor and Glen appears above the tablet, chest heaving, eyes wide and totally freaked out.

She's holding her weapon, a dagger with a celtic knot design on the hilt, and apparently staring down the bird inside the cage. ]

You little cog-rotten bastard, what in all the mucking hells happened to you? [ There's a flapping of wings and an unholy squawking sound in reply. ]

Damn it... [ Glen takes a deep breath, cringing all the while. She's got to do this quickly. Biting her lip hard enough for it to bleed, she opens the door of the cage and screams a battle cry, grabbing the undead bird, her annoying, stupid, now dead little almost-friend, and cuts the thing's head off in one swift motion.

The lifeless bird head falls right on the tablet. She looks down, following the head's movement as it falls, nursing a finger the creature had managed to bite before she'd removed its head.

There's silence for a few seconds. ] ...It turned on. Okay. It turned on.

[ Still breathing heavily, uninjured hand shaking a little, Glen reaches down and picks up the tablet with it. ] Hello. Sorry about that, if you're watching. I don't usually kill living, rotting animals in my spare time. But... hey, it works as a warning, right? I think the animals from the other day might be sick. Terminally sick. At least, mine was. So... watch out? Watch out.