[Fang's up...somewhere pretty high, up on the rooftop of a building. Looks like she's pulling a Batman and getting her brood on. She is in heavier, drabber clothing than usual (to her displeasure), save the scarf around her neck, which looks a fair bit more elaborate. Her spear is propped up nearby.

It almost seems as if she doesn't know she's being recorded, but then she speaks up:]

'Round this time of year, in Oerba — that's where I'm from — there would be big hunting parties. A last little bit of celebration before the chill and the frost set in from the mountains nearby. Suppose that'd be my version of this "Krissmiss" thing you lot have been going on about.

[She picks up the spear and stands to her feet. Stretches her free arm over her head.] When things started to go south, with the war and all...

[Another bout of stretching...] ...we couldn't do that no more. Not enough groups to go hunting, you see, and the land wasn't safe. The animals scattered. I figure they were smarter than we were. That's not much of a holiday story though, is it? Guess I'm in a reminiscing mood. But I was wondering: is there anything to hunt around here? Anything safe to eat? A spar'll only go so far.

[She tilts her head.] Have any of you ever hunted for your own food? There's gotta be someone around here who's not like... [Cocoon people. She waves a hand.]

Point is, I'm starting to go stir-crazy. Even Cocoon had some nature, here and there.

I'm already familiar with the fact that people seem to appear here more than once, disappearing and then returning as if renewed. I'll spare you the effort of convincing me of it.

[ Oh, so look at this pink-haired but serious-business-looking woman finally addressing her tablet for the first time! In a marked contrast to the unusual armor she originally showed up in (no doubt causing more than a few stares at the masquerade), today she's got on a rather unremarkable, plain grey shirt on instead- a fact that, given her posturing, even she seems to think is unsavory.

... But more importantly, despite her direct words, her tone is definitely a bit at odds with them, too; she speaks with purpose, but her voice is low and more careful than you might think... and carries a strange sense of barely-hidden weight behind it- whatever the cause of that might be. ]

If you've seen me before, if we've spoken at any point in time, I want to hear about it. More importantly... if you've ever spoken with my sister, Serah Farron [ ... ] I want to hear about that, too.

[ She knows Serah was here before, but. These things don't record everything, after all, and in a strange way, it's definitely engaging Lightning's sense of annoyance that she isn't familiar with all that has happened yet. After Valhalla, she's not so used to being in the dark about things... and even asking that question seems to spark something painful in her pale face. Regardless- ]

Thank you.

[ She doesn't allow the camera to pick up on any emotions that sneak out past her defenses for long, ending the transmission there in wait for replies. ]

[The setting: The camera is currently facing towards Lucifer, who is standing in some particularly dreary-looking ruins. There's some semblance of a roof here though, so both the camera and the devil are both dry. Also in the shot is an overlarge raven, to whom Lucifer is feeding raw chunks of meat. He continues doing this as he speaks.]

Given as this war seems to be in the scale of every other war I've ever seen, it's not really that exciting to me. However, the fact that these people are actually pulling folks without their acknowledgement through dimensions is very interesting. I have some questions on it that I'd like to put to the intelligence of the masses. This is going to be a little long, so get a sandwich.

[He feeds the last bit of meat to the raven and pats its beak. The thing flies off. Then, he takes the camera in his bloody hands and sits in a corner.]

So far what we know is that this device they have can take entities of any strength, shape or species, from any time period, from any universe. It can take multiple people from the same universe, and people from different variations of the same universe. In short, to the best of our knowledge, that one creature is here has no effect on any other creature. Additionally, while some people randomly 'go home,' this has no effect on creatures close to them from their home universe.

If you have some kind of power in that universe, you'll likely to keep it, even if it's from an external source, like a god you pray to a magical force, like the Light. Can worshipers here feel the touch of their gods on their backs? Can the gods here listen to the prayers of their followers?

The Initiative claims it takes people with the possibility for heroism, but unless I hear some actual specifications I'm hesitant to include that. Especially because I'm sure some people here would disagree on the heroism of others. What qualifies 'possibility for heroism'? What happens if I've helped an old lady across a street and started a hospital fire by pouring gasoline on the neo-natal ward?

My other question is, why aren't there repeats of people? Given the circumstances, it seems unlikely to not pull multiple copies of the same person with slight variations in their universe.

My guess would be as follows: when they boot the thing up, it has a certain amount of... pulls, we'll say. However, each pull of a repeat, it doesn't take that person. However, you don't get another pull. That's why there's waves of people, but a different number every time. But the question is why? Repeats would help. It would increase body count and some repeats would obviously be welcome. But... none.

That's all. Feel free to contribute.

So here's the thing, right. I mean, yeah, the Initiative kinda kidnapped us. But they say they didn't do it on purpose. And I believe them, 'cause nobody in their right mind would wanna recruit me into their army on purpose. Some junkie loser. Ask anybody who saw me my first few weeks here, okay, all shitting in my pants scared and useless with the shakes. I couldn't hold a gun steady if my life depended on it.

So they didn't exactly bring us here on purpose. But what do they do when we end up here?

[He raises his hand to the camera, counting off on his fingers:]

They patch us up, bring us back to life. Hey, that's a big deal for some of us, ain't it?

They give us some swanky ass apartments. Yeah, we got roommates, but do you see what the rest of everybody's living in? We got some damn nice cribs in comparison, yo.

They give us money. Just like that. Like, "here you go, go buy a sandwich."

They give us weapons. You ain't never been a prisoner if you think that's something they'd do if they meant to keep us prisoner. Okay, nobody arms a prisoner. They'd be taking away our weapons if they were trying to hurt us all on purpose. And look at this shit -

[He holds up his own gun for the camera, popping the magazine out so the poison darts inside are visible.]

- All high tech. They ain't just giving us sticks to go out and defend ourselves with. This is some quality craftsmanship.

[He sets the gun aside.]

And you hear how I said "defend ourselves"? Yeah. Those U.E. sons of bitches are coming after us. They bombed the shit outta this place we're living in like my first week here. I mean, look around. You can see what they done to this place. To the people in this world. And they got the technology to do that to our worlds, too, unless we do like the Initiative says and go on missions and fix this shit.

And you know what else? You got a problem with the Initiative, you can just talk to 'em. Yeah. They ain't gonna hurt you. I was having some problems when I got here, so I went and talked to them, and guess what? They gave me everything I asked for! That's all it took. So yeah, maybe they can't send you home right now. But they'll help you out best they can.

Look, we're pretty much their only hope here. They wanna do right by us. So just... stop talking about dumbass rebellions and start - I don't know - communicating.

➔ INITIATIVE ANNOUNCEMENT

[ Throughout Exsilium, all of the communicators will beep several times before the video feed activates to show a stern woman. A purple Initiative banner hangs behind her. ]

Good evening, Transports. My name is Mera Vestus. I am a member of the Initiative Consulate. Jointly, we head the Initiative. I have elected to speak on behalf of the Consulate today, and hope to address some of your concerns.

I would like to begin by apologizing for our lack of communication with the Transport population. Organizing our endeavours is no simple task, and has occupied the entirety of our attentions. That is no excuse. We have brought you here, and it is our obligation to be as forthcoming as possible with you. From this moment on, we wish to seek out a greater degree of transparency with the Transport population as a whole. No Transport should be afraid to voice his or her concerns, nor should they feel that they are falling upon deaf ears.

I also wish to apologize once more for interrupting your lives by bringing you here. If there were any other option, we would not have resorted to such measures. As it stands, you are the last hope not only for our world, but for many.

As some of you have already been made aware, it is not merely the fate of this universe that is at stake in our ongoing struggle against the United Earth. Many of this world's natural resources have been depleted, with only stockpiles remaining for the United Earth to rely upon. These stockpiles are running low. They have been forced to resort to extreme measures. They have begun to utilize their own version of the transporter technology to drain resources from other worlds in hope of supporting their own regime. One by one, they are leaving other worlds as barren as this one. Each of your homes is a likely target. The United Earth is indiscriminate with their targets, and consumes without temperance or remorse.

We wish that it had not come to this. We wish that we could send those of you home who do not desire anything to do with our ongoing battle. But this is unfortunately beyond our control. We cannot control who the transporter selects, or when it chooses to send individuals back to their own worlds. We will do anything in our power to make your stay here as comfortable as possible in gratitude for your cooperation.

I will now be receiving questions. I will answer to the best of my ability, and look forward to engaging in civil conversation with all of you.

Light! [ Sure hope you wanted one (1) two meter tall guy shouting over the network today, Exsilium, because you're going to get it. Snow shakes his tablet a few times for emphasis, yelling into his surroundings as much as the screen itself. ] Vanille! Fang! Hope! Sazh! C'mon, someone answer...

[ Well, scratch that. He rubs the back of his head for a moment, before setting the tablet down and turning away. ]

I'm gonna need some help here... Ladies! Mind lendin' me a hand?

[ The feed catches the summoning of said ladies, though the pair are onscreen only a moment before transforming into a motorbike which Snow gleefully leaps aboard. He gives a heroic thumbs-up pose to the tablet before snatching it back up, tossing the (still transmitting) thing into a coat pocket. ]

Haha, alright! Let's get this show on the road!

[It's not long before something else is heard in the distance, a sound akin to a low rumble, or perhaps a growl.

It's all but confirmed when that growl becomes a roar, and a little later, a voice that might be familiar to some speaks up:]

I'll take the sky! We'll cover more ground that way. [Fang adds, in a mutter:] They've gotta be around here somewhere. No way we all could've been separated that quickly...there's something else going on.

[ ooc; TL;DR IF YOU EVER WANTED TO BE ACCOSTED BY A GIANT MAN ON A LESBIAN MOTORCYCLE OR AN ATTRACTIVE LADY ON A DRAGON today is your lucky day because they will be hitting up everyone they come across in addition to answering the network. Tags will come from both in separate threads! ]

Oh! Andaran atish’an! This is such an interesting way to talk to people, don't you think? I can see your face and you can see mine! It's like a mirror, but it reflects other people back at you.

[Merrill waves, smiling broadly, her large eyes sparkling with delight.]

My name is Merrill, and I'm looking for my friends. I appear to be a little lost. [She swings the tablet around too fast to really see anything useful. Just a lot of stone.] Did you see that? I'm lost. But I have friends who can help me become, ah, not lost.

Sometimes, when I was lost in Kirkwall, Isabela - she's one of my friends - would swoop down from the top of a building and tell me where to go. She's very pretty, with dark hair and a lovely blue bandana. Oh, and a necklace. It's quite hard to miss her necklace and what's below it. And there's Aveline, but sometimes I worry she doesn't like me. She has red hair, like the sun, and quite a lot of freckles. I like her freckles. I wish I had freckles... [Merrill trails off, tapping her fingers against her cheeks as if counting freckles. She comes back to herself suddenly.] I'm sorry, I tend to get lost in my thoughts. I think that's how I ended up here. Do you ever do that? You start thinking and then you just don't come out. What was I saying before?

Oh, yes, my friends! I have quite a few of them. Isabela and Aveline and Varric! Varric is a dwarf, and he's very funny, but his stories aren't always true. He tells me stories about pirates, but Isabela says they're mostly made up. And Fenris, he's elvhen, like me, but--that's not going to be trouble, is it? In Kirkwall, they make us live in alienages, and they're very dirty. I had a nice house, but it was very small. No one in Thedas seems to like the elvhen very much, and living in the alienage is very uncomfortable...

[She stares past the tablet screen for a moment, thoughtful.] I hope there aren't any alienages here...

If you know my friends, would you tell them I'm looking for them? Ma serannas for your troubles. Or, if you recognize this place-- [She ducks out of the frame, an alleyway filling the screen for a few seconds before she fumbles the tablet and then drops it. Merrill's face pops into the frame again, a worried expression on it.] Oh, dear, I hope I haven't broken you...

[ooc: Feel free to engage the very lost Merrill in actiony posts. As a Dalish elf, she tends to speak in the elvhen language frequently. You can hover over the text with your mouse to get a translation!]

[GODS how do you use this thing? Hiccup will be pushing buttons and every now and then there's a short 'Wow', or 'Well that didn't work.' or... various other mildly frustrated phrases and then finally.]

Okay... so I push this and... tilt it like. Oh! Hey, I think it's working. If that... green light thing means what I think it means.

Okay! So. ... Everyone. I guess. [Man, how's he going to put this? He'll speak slowly, it's obvious he's double thinking this. Enjoy the elaborate hand gestures as he tries to describe his sentences.]

I haaave a question for you.

[More hesitation and some minor background noise since no one responds right away.]

I guess I should just come out and say it then, huh?

Right um. So how does everyone feel aboooouuut dragons?

Not that. You know, it's a big deal or something to be worried about or anything. Just... a general question of curiosity. Right. [Not suspicious, nope. NOPE.]

I'll just... hope somebody actually heard that.

[ who is ready for a nice, big helping of complaining? i hope you are, exsilium, because shadow has plenty of it go to around!!! ]

The network seems to be mainly full of jesting and levity. I awaken to seek new information, yet all I come to find are drunkard jokes, obvious attempts at mind control veiled by a need for 'help', needless stammering over the new technology, etcetera.

[ yep spelling out etc. instead of abbreviating it. that so makes him edgier than all of you! clearly! ]

You are all fools, treating this situation lightly. If you are as hellbent on leaving as per the usual transport tendencies, you will stop at nothing until you are freed. Instead, you bumble about without a care, as if playing and chortling will get you somewhere.

I will give you all a vital hint. Heed my words:

It won't.

[ golly. who peed in his frosted flakes this morning? ]

[ beep beep beep beep beep--

Riku's just hard at work typing on the new tablet. his face is the empitome of concentration--and then, as he moves the screen, the tablet boots up a holographic function. he jolts slightly as he looks at it, glares, and clicks out of it.

beep beep beep beep beep, moving--

it happens again. ]

Seriously?

[ Exit Window.

beep beep--

third time. Riku just stares right through the holographic window, then flickers his eyes up straight into the camera, noticing that it's... recording... ]

Couldn't they fix the recording problem?

[ ugh. ]

This could be United Earth spying. They could've just fixed the security on the old computers.

... [ now that he's recording and obviously broadcasting, though-- ]

Anyone having problems with their new stuff?

[ Oh hey, it's that confused looking barely-dressed lady that had been wandering around the courtyard in a haze of bemusement earlier! She's looking a little worse for the wear tonight. Her white fuzzy bathroom is blood spattered and torn at one shoulder, and there's strange tears at her cheek and nose. And possibly more attention-grabbing, there's a whole lot of blood coming out from under the hand cupped over one of her eyes.

Needless to say, she doesn't look pleased. ]

Finally. [ UGH THIS WHOLE TECHNOLOGY THING REALLY SUCKS. ]

Tell me someone can fix this.

[a soft crackle as the tablet is set down, then--]

Welcome to the Initiative. Enjoy this bomb.

Really, what kind of greeting is this?

[--a pause --]

Anyone know if these tunnels will really hold up or are we going to get buried alive?

[The feed turns on to a pair of large golden eyes. They pull back just far enough to reveal a dark-skinned face framed in black hair--a woman who looks to be in her mid to late twenties. A large bowl--about the size of a mixing bowl--rests on the seat next to her, the tips of a pair of chopsticks barely visible over the rim; she’d wasted no time raiding the fridge after her arrival]

[Frowning, she reaches out to hit a key on the netbook, clearly not yet at ease with her new communication device.]

They could have better explained how to use this... [She mutters, giving the computer a narrow look as she decides whether or not it’s actually working. Finally, she shrugs, figuring she might as well try.]

I assume everyone got the same story upon arrival. I can’t help but wonder at the fact that people with the power to pull us from our homes without warning aren’t capable of winning a war without our help.

[Her voice is even, with a clear sardonic edge that suggests she’s not quite ready to jump in and be a team player just yet. Still, she’s not rushing to judgment just yet, preferring to gauge the attitudes of others presumably in her situation.]

So, tell me--assuming you all cooperate with our [abductors] hosts--how did they convince you to do so?

[pauses]

And on the off chance there’s anyone here from Seireitei or Karakura, I’d appreciate you contacting me.

[Frowns again, and reaches out to tap the screen.]

Shit, this thing isn’t on, is it?

[She sighs and stands up; might as well go out in her cat form and gather information that way, until she can figure out how to work this stupid thing.]

[That decided, she hooks her thumbs into her waistband and draws her pants off in one smooth motion.]

[Luckily for those more squeamish, her shirt hits the tops of her thighs, keeping this PG-13]

Oh, I do have rather a lot of you here to meet, don't I? It's very nearly overwhelming! Ah, but lucky for me, I'm very good at meeting a lot of new people. Many don't realize it's a skill, but it most certainly is!

Why, if each of you told me your name, I promise you I would still remember each one in a month's time. Try me, if you like!

And while you're telling me your name, perhaps you might tell me your favorite bar, as well. And preferred drink! Mm, and possibly your favorite way to pass an evening? None of it will be forgotten, I promise!

[ PRIVATE to Collette ] And don't think I haven't seen you flitting about this network! Gods, but it's a relief to see a familiar face. Where are you hiding, my dear? I've already found a quaint little restaurant I think you might enjoy.

[Oh hello there, Exsilium, have the face of a bright-eyed girl that looks way too excited to be here. It seems after much technology abuse and generally failing at turning it on, she finally gets the video working! Success for a failure]

Don't worry, fellow kidnapped people of Exhelium! [That's 'Exsilium', Maya] You don't have to explain everything, I've got it aaaaaall figured out. In fact, I'm an Ace Explainer myself, so just sit back and let me break it down for you, Maya-style!

We're in future England! [This is probably the only fact she's gotten right, but-] Brought here by the United Earth people because they're being oppressed by the Initiative! [And then there's a pause for some very Deep and Philosophical Thoughts. ...Not.] ... I bet it's the tea. England's known for its tea, you know? Anyone would be jealous of that selection!

... But anyway, we've been brought here because we've got to go into the future to change the past! It's just like that movie with Mikey K. Box, except with tea on the line as well as time! [WHAT WAS IT CALLED AGAIN..... Oh, well]

But more importantly than all of that.... I have a question. [SUDDENLY SERIOUS? Look, she's even leaning into the camera all dramatically] A question that will change the fate of the entire world! [Whatever's left of it] Well, mostly me right now, but for everyone's sake, I need an answer!

[There's a long, long pause as she stares intently into the camera. And then:]

Where's the nearest burger joint? I'm starved! And if we're really in the future they must have invented a way for burgers to be even more delicious! Right?

[... And then there's a brief flash of embarrassment, and when she continues she's a little more low-key] ... Um, and how do I get to the housing place? Unit... 406, I think?

So my gun, it's supposed to just…get stronger right? [ Hello network, here's a face you haven't seen in a while. Dean's been trying to learn what this place is all about, but today finds him in the training hall with his beloved .45 caliber Colt. He's shaking the damn thing like its offended him somehow. ] Maybe mine is broken…

[ Hm. Tucking it away, he has another thing to ask. ]

Also, a year on freakin' paradise beach land has left me feelin' all sorts of rusty. Anyone up for a little rough-n-tumble? [ Meaning sparring. But take it as you want, especially since the look he's giving the device speaks of entirely different sort of fun. ] Y'know, of the physical sort.

Who do I see for medicine?

Fuck this. I'm tired of waiting for those damn bastards to get their act together. It's not going to happen.

I need everyone's attention. And I mean everyone.

Those Initiative bastards are continuously dragging people, us, to fight in their failure of a war. We hardly have a choice in the matter, and the entire situation is just sick and wrong. But the worst of it is that they're dragging in anyone they can grab. Not all of us can hold a sword or throw fireballs at our enemies and yet they're supposed to be able to defend themselves.

And before any of you get started, this isn't some kind of rebellion.

What I'm proposing is that we get our own act together and organize. Which is why everyone needs to listen to this. If you prefer to be difficult? Fine. I'll be knocking on doors anyways.

First, we need to know who can fight and who can't. DO NOT play hero because you saying you can and want to help others when you actually can't is going to get both you and the person who should have been defending you killed. So be honest.

And if you can fight it'd be nice to know how you can pull that off. In my own case, I'm a mage. I can use both offensive and defensive spells, but I need someone to watch my back and keep the enemies busy while I cast my spells. The idea is to get evenly matched teams so when we're thrown into a battlefield in the middle of our sleep three or seven or whenever nights from now, we'll be able to organize ourselves and survive.

[Taking in a deep breath, she's getting so worked up! She needs a moment, okay.]

I can't organize this on my own and I shouldn't even have to. If you think you can help gather answers from others, do it. Let's not keep making these same damn mistakes.

[A long pause and then...]

... Thanks.


[OOC: Okay. I'm making a spreadsheet for everything that will act as both an OOC reference and an IC reference for organizing actual battle parties. I'm hoping to have the spreadsheet basics done by tomorrow and I'll post that on the OOC comm then (it's a Google doc/spreadsheet). The way the spreadsheet will work is going to do with numbers 1-10 on ability (-numbers meaning a threat, 1 meaning defenseless, 10 meaning you're god in a bottle), list of types, and so on. Details on that OOC post tomorrow. BUT IC responses will also be useful! Because Fiona really will be knocking on doors. And it may help me get a basis to better shape the spreadsheet. IC wise, no need for numbers. That's just weird.]

[ The recording opens to a close-up of a young woman's face, light pink hair tied into a ponytail that drapes across her shoulder. As she notices it's actually recording, she smiles. ]

… Hi? Can you hear me? My name’s Serah. Serah Farron. I just got here not very long ago and… to be honest, I’m still a little confused. [ There's a beat, and she furrows her brow slightly. ]

But… first things first. There’s a few people I’m looking for.

[A moment later, another woman shows up, looking at the communicator over Serah's shoulder. She's taller than Serah and solidly built, brown-skinned with bright green eyes. She appears to consider something (perhaps to let Serah handle things, but no that is silly) and then pipes up:]

Hey, Vanille. Are you here? Can you see this?

[Oh, that is a very...imaginary Australian-sounding voice there. She taps the screen, and adds, as an afterthought:]

I found Serah. [They actually showed up at the same time, but details. Fang is not one for details.] Got no idea what this place is about, but we're both fine.

[ Serah nods in agreement to that. ]

Yeah, we are. But we're also looking for Noel, Hope, Sazh... [ she hesitates momentarily, then: ] ... and Snow and Lightning, too. If anyone's heard of them, just knowing if they're here would be great. Thank you.

[ She smiles again, then shuts the recording off. ]

[Not two steps outside of the Hold and Ico was back to toying around with the netbook. He switched the video on by accident and he wondered if it had changed into a mirror. In the background, the guide turned away, unaware that they suddenly separated. Also unaware to the both of them was that electric vehicle coming down the street.

The car crashed into the boy and the feed tumbled through the air and landed on the ground. Frantic chatter filtered the air although Ico could be heard reassuringly stating that he was okay.]