[The feed is full of static when it starts, creating a background fuzz at best and bursts of incoherent noise at worst. As well, it switches indiscriminately between audio and video, flashing onto the annoyed and confused face of Ms. Lara Croft between blackouts.]

No, no, no--czzzrk--piece of--czz

--anyone can unders--czrk--roken, require assistance repai--

.......

--for God's sake, bloody future techno--

[The feed ends, but attached to the network post is a text message.]

IT APPEARS I HAVE MANAGED TO DAMAGE MY COMMUNICATION DEVICE. IF SOMEONE UNDERSTANDS HOW THESE THINGS FUNCTION, ASSISTANCE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. OR DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO GET A NEW ONE.

AS WELL, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO LEARN HOW TO TURN THE CAPS LOCK OFF.

[Ygritte's got her furs on, though her trousers aren't her normal, bulky ones. These ones have been gratefully given to her by Gwen.]

I've got enough supplies now. Should be headin' north any day. Just wanted to talk to any o' you who've made it. Like t'know which paths you've used and the like.

[Not that she needs help to travel.]

Just like t'know is all. I've got enough supplies with me to last a few weeks. But I'm a good traveler and don't expect to be out that far. Just like t'see what's out there.

[See if it's like home.]

Look, I'm still getting this whole thing to sink in. I still can't really wrap my head around it, but I have to know one thing.

Is there a little girl out there? Her name's Clementine. She's eight, has a baseball cap on with the letter D on it.

And Clem, if you're there, please tell me.

[Lara comes onscreen, and she looks tired. Tired and disheveled. Tired and disheveled with some cuts and bruises.

But mostly so, so tired. Perhaps a better word would be "beat" or "disheartened."]

... I was wrong.




About leaving, to clarify. The Initiative is ... well-protected. But to be fair I am not often wrong.

[She gives a sigh.]

... I am going to explore the area, then. See what has happened to my homeland.

[The feed flicks on to the rather perturbed face of a woman. A new women. Yaaaay, sudden influx of transports, right? Yeah, not so thrilling to her either.]

Oh, it is just like the queen and country to fight against every strong power with nothing left. I suppose I should feel proud to be ripped from my home to be brought to this wasteland. And I had always been curious to see how our civilization would end … however I didn’t think I would bear witness to it.

[She pauses with thought on this for a moment, giving it the proper weight an idea like that should deserve. But the thought is quickly ended as her regular annoyed tone starts up again.]

Regardless, I’m really not in the mood for impossible odds today, and I have many things to attend to. So could someone point me to the bloody transport home?