[ bright and early, splayed on the network feed in somewhat old-timey poster fashion: ]

IMMEDIATE HELP WANTED

with the

Refurbishment and Construction

of

Shelters and Outposts

for purposes including but not limited to

Accommodation, Assembly, Defense, Medical Aid, Technical Support, Supply Reserves, Agriculture

and other prospective services to Transports and other associates.

All forms of assistance and input welcome and encouraged

including but not limited to technical aid, general labor, delivery and supply, security, liaison with third parties, and crew support.

Inquire in this post for further details.

----

( video version, within the same post )

(( OOC: APOLOGIES FOR THE SLOWDOWN IN REPLIES I'll get to everyone's as soon as I can ))

Hey everyone.

First, if anyone here knew Ed Elric, he's left us for home. He was my lab partner and friend for the last few months, and I'm going to miss him.

Second: this cold isn't exactly the best environment for plant growth, but plants are an important food group for most of us. I've brought some spectrum lamps for plant growth back from Hydroponics on the base, along with some I built myself. There should be enough to power a small indoor agriculture operation for a while, and I'm working on more with my limited supplies.

Third: I'm also working on compact heaters if any of you ended up in unheated residences. The process is slow without supplies or collaborators, but if current progress holds, five should be ready within the week.

[The video snaps on showing an unusually contrite expression on Rosette's face. Or perhaps it's a bit more sheepish and nervous. EITHER WAY. It's not the normal bluster you may know her for.]

OKAY! So.

[A pause.]

There might have been a freak accident involving a zombie tearing open one of the walls in the shower room and those are completely closed off right now. I guess you can't get in at all, but I wouldn't try either.






...




[After some thought.]

We... probably need some mechanics. With space suits. before everyone stinks


((OOC: So yes, Rosette used a grenade inside a space station. TOTALLY FREAK ACCIDENT, and there is now a hand sized hole in the outer wall of the showers. AI has already locked the area down so there's no way to get to it from the inside to preserve the rest of the base from damage.))

Our medical clinic needs help now more than ever. We've already had calls for medics and trainees, and I'm glad we have so many volunteers. But I'm leading a secondary project to help the clinic, and I was hoping to ask for assistance as well. If you've been looking to help but you're too squeamish to handle medical duties, this might be your chance.

Jaime Reyes and I are working on increasing our available power supply because our sensitive medical equipment can't be allowed to shut down when the transporter pad is running. Jaime's collecting generators and parts from the past, so please talk to him if you're willing to do that. But I'm working on an eventual long term solution.

I propose that we instal solar grids at the poles of the moon, where there is constant access to solar energy. We need to reinforce whatever is already there, but I don't think we're harvesting as much as we could be---so that means we need more panels. And I'll need additional hands to collect and configure them. So if you'd like to learn some simple engineering, with the chance to learn more later, I'll gladly train you. And if you'd like to collect space suits for the eventual installation, that would help as well.

Thank you.

Hey everyone,

This is a terrible situation no matter how you try to phrase it, and we had to make a frankly horrific decision.

It took me a while to learn this, so I wanted to say it in the hopes that it would help someone: no matter how awful it seems right now, you don't have to hate yourself. Hate the situation, hate the enemies, but it's not all your fault, no matter how much it might seem that way if you're used to always being able to save the day. I know because I've felt this way---just recently, actually.

I'm not saying it's definitely going to be all right. The memory will always be with us, and I can't look into our future to see for certain that it ends well. But I think we stand a chance of undoing the damage.

 [It's after hours at the Uji tea house. Everyone else has gone home for the day but Saori and Mana stayed behind for one last cup of tea for the day. When the feed starts, she's looking out the window and let's out a sigh before looking at her tablet.]

I hate being a bearer of bad news and I'm sorry this comes late but....my roommate, Lee Chaolan, is no longer here.  It's been very difficult for both Margulis and I. It's seems lately we've lost a lot of people. Even...

[She chokes up for a second.]

Cedric is gone. It never gets easier even after this long. First Prospero and now here....I just wish I had a way of knowing they were okay.

[There's something subtly different about Kang, noticeable to anyone that has spent a fair amount of time around him and is observant. One thing that is obvious, though, are the silvery-blue metal caps on the ends of his horns.

Those who remember the good ship Stacy may recognize them.]

I apologize to anyone that had lessons or other plans with me yesterday, or today. I was... regaining something that I didn't realize I'd lost.

[He straightens slightly and smiles.]

Miss Boleyn, I do believe I can teach you a few things now.

And, for everyone else, my name is Kang. I offer lessons with bladed weapons such as swords and knives, and now axes, for fifteen marques an hour. I also offer my services as a former engineer, in both design and construction, for anyone with such projects. [He pauses to clarify.] Engineering in the medieval sense, that is, though I have a little bit of experience in what most here consider modern construction.

[OOC: Permissions post for fourth-walling is here!]

[The screen clicks on. There are stacks of paper on every side of Billy's room, with wire prototypes strung together. He looks weary and a little uncomfortable for a second, but this request requires a visual presentation.]

Do any of you happen to have experience with piano construction? I'm willing to trade services for materials, of course, and I'd like to help as much as I can. But my usual construction projects are much closer to this:

[Billy pushes a button on a remote in his hands, and then a little round robot walks on the desk that the tablet is propped on. It's a green baseball-sized bot that takes up most of the screen, greatly resembling a pea with tiny hands and feet. It 'smiles' and waves hello in a mechanical back-and-forth, then waddles out of sight.]

I can trade you a similar robot---it's useful for retrieving small items from small spaces, and it's easy to control from up to half a mile away. I'd like to add a camera mount with an additional viewing screen on the remote control when I have the materials for it. Or perhaps I can build something for you, or fix something you already own.

But this piano project is very important to me. I'd appreciate any help at a fair price.

Hello, everyone.

I have been in United Earth territory since June. I was released last week. Although I have been inspected and declared safe by the Initiative, I feel that it is my obligation to notify you all of what happened.

I am very eager to see some of you again. I am staying in my assigned housing at 502 while I continue to recover. Please come by at your convenience.


((feel free to use this post for both network conversations and action!))

 [It's late in the evening when Saori starts the audio feed. At first it sounds like someone is fumbling around  for a second before there's the sound of a throat being cleared.]

Oh, sorry about that. This is Saori and I apologize if I got some of you worried. Mana and I are okay.

[The kitten meows as if on cue to confirm their status. She sighs since she hates being the bearer of bad news.]

Two things I need to announce. The Uji tea house has suffered a major setback and will need to be rebuilt from the ground up. The second issue is, during the attack, I overexerted myself and I'm now paying the price for it. I've lost my vision for now. I still need a few more days to recover completely though so there's no need to worry about it being permanent.

If you work at Uji or are a regular, could you please let me know if you're alright? I'm sorry I couldn't contact any of you sooner. 

[Shortly after the bombs stop falling.]

Living in the caves is cold, dark and dismal. I'm gonna find somewhere else to be. Anyone who wants to come with me, I'd love company.

[Aidan doesn't go too far once he realizes the state of the rest of the island, but he does decide, given the attitudes of the natives, that perhaps finding a relatively safe area outside of the compound near the coastline where the tides and sea air have cleaned things up a bit, would be preferable to living in a cave surrounded by agitated people. So he finds a tent, a waterproof container for his lamps and the generator, knowing Billy would insist he take it anyway, and heads out with anyone who will come with him. He stays within the range of the tablet though. No reason to lose connection to the network.]

(OOC: If enough people want to, I might put up a log for them setting up their new temporary digs.)

(EDIT: Don't think Aidan and Billy leaving like this means no one else can be a part of this. Aidan is perfectly willing to come back and meet people, or even just tell them where he went so they can camp out too.)

[Billy's face appears on the screen. He looks defeated, though he tries to school his face into a professional expression---for the past day or so, his horror's been growing until he couldn't deny his failure anymore.]

Hello. My name is Billy Cranston, and I'm the co-creator of the telepathic devices some of you have been testing for us. I'd like to issue an apology for my part in the failure of the test, and to put a stop to it. Edward Elric served as the director of the test, and he's done a fine job---but as the creation was my idea and I have the most experience with the technology, the fault is mine, not his.

I failed to adequately account for the differences in available materials between the telepathic communicators at my previous residence and what I managed to scrape together here. As a result, private thoughts have been broadcast, and I can't apologize enough for the intrusion.

[He stares idly at his hands for a moment, biting his lip.]

Removing your devices from skin contact should be enough to stop the broadcast, but please return them to the garage at your earliest convenience. I doubt my efforts are salvageable at this point, but...if any of you believe you can fix my mistake, I'd appreciate the assistance.

Once again, I'm sorry.

[He turns away and the feed clicks off]

[edit: added attached note]
I've especially hurt our telepathic population. I never should've sprung that mental assault on you, and I was stupid to think I could fully control it. I'll scrap the project altogether, but...if any of you think it's at all possible to save it, we would appreciate your assistance. I definitely understand if none of you are inclined to offer, though.
---

((and that concludes the broadcast plot! development to fix the devices is open to everyone, and please feel free to backdate telepathy posts if you want in))

Seeking volunteers for a trial of a prototype comm device. As many as possible - new or old, human or nonhuman. Telepaths, mind readers, whatever else along those lines, those would be a bonus, but what we're after is variety.

I won't lie: it's nothing glamorous, we don't have a fancy name or brand like some people and we can't compensate you as well as we should. But we're not talking a huge time investment - all we need for now will be spread out over two days.

I can take questions if you have them. If you don't, be at [street name where the weapons lab is located] by 0700 tomorrow. We'll fill you in.

[ooc: This is the IC announcement of the broadcast mind player mini-plot! Please note the adjusted timeframe if you caught it when it was first posted; it now wraps up on June 5th, to overlap less with modplot.

No need to explicitly sign up, new characters equally welcome, and threadjacking discussion is encouraged! o/]

[Kang is sitting at the desk in his sparsely-decorated room, carefully putting together what some may recognize as a handmade miniaturized catapult. The bowl is just big enough to easily fit the little worn minotaur doll also lying on the desk, next to an equally worn copper dragon twice its size. There are no instructions; he's building it entirely from scratch, and from memory. It's highly detailed, and the angle of the arm is adjustable.

He pauses after making a small adjustment to one of the pieces of wood with his dagger.]

I know these are considered to be outdated weapons by most here. They remind me of home, though. I made one a little bigger than this for my children last spring. In hindsight, it probably wasn't the best of ideas; they took to knocking things off of shelves from a distance. My mate was not very pleased with me.

[He smiles wryly.]

I'm sure we've all been thinking of home lately.

[The dagger, held in his right hand by only three of his fingers, is set down. It has a wicked wavy blade on it, clearly meant for battle rather than whittling.]

This isn't going to be some sort of speech about whether we should or shouldn't help the Initiative. There's been more than enough of that already.

It's simple curiosity about other people's homes. Do you live in the mountains, the forests, a city? What do you do for a living? Who do you have waiting for you?

[He shrugs.]

It wouldn't be fair to ask without talking about my own. Many of you are aware that I am the Lord-Governor of my kind's nation, Teyr. There are mountains to the west and south, and marshes to the east. Most of it is savannah, with the city proper near the middle. It was originally an old dwarven kingdom, abandoned long ago. We've nearly finished rebuilding it, and we have begun building a road from one of our smaller towns to the port city of Kalaman in the west.

[A pause, and he picks up the dagger again, nodding at the sword leaning against the wall.]

I would also like to remind everyone that I do offer training with blades, particularly swords, and hand-to-hand.

[And, private to Crucible:]

I would like to speak with you, in person.

( Audio picks up the sound of industrial construction, either things familiar in woodshop, car garages, or anywhere of a similar sort. When the feed goes live, Collette is framed to one side, looking forward and away from the camera.  She's clearly resting on her arms, and given the angle of the ground on the screen, she's probably lying on her stomach in order to do this.  She glances over her shoulder, eyes going to something behind the tablet being used for recording, then smiles as her eyes drop down to the tablet itself.  For all intents and purposes, the camera is positioned to make the viewing audience seem like they're side by side with Collette, wherever it is she is, keeping a low profile in this industrialized looking area.  Concrete floor that she's resting on, packing boxes ahead of her, bundles of cables and chains glimpsed somewhere past her head. )

Guys!  ( She keeps her voice low, not a whisper (they carry further, and can't be heard about the ambient noise), but low to avoid excessive attention. )  Anyone else catch where they dragged the ship off to with that giant crane after the crash? I wondered about that. But I've got news!

( She makes a waving motion at the camera, and it shifts, jarringly, to leave Collette off screen and show something covered in plastic and wiring and cables, a few Initiative workers using welding guns, others wheeling parts away or calling out shouts of questions over the sounds of construction. )

They say the spaceship's salvageable!

I hope that everyone will make the best of their new housing arrangements. The meeting of two personalities is like the mixing of chemicals: if there is any reaction, both are transformed.

[soft piano music begins.]

Of course, "home" is not a place, but people. Seeing the face of a loved one brings you home. Likewise, the presence of an enemy brings you back to the conflict you have with him, regardless of your physical location.

[he pauses, letting the piano fill in the empty, unstated spaces around his words.]

...No matter who else may come, I'm fortunate to have that good part of my home here with me.

[The voice on network is cheerful enough, infinitely outgoing.]

Hello there! I'm planning to make an expedition into the outlands this month and do some rudimentary mapping of the area. If you'd like to join me or have been exploring the area before and would be willing to act as an experienced set of hands during the trip, I'm happy to have you along. Please just make sure to be properly equipped with survival gear and the like. Depending on how much time it takes for everyone to get their kit sorted, I'd like to head out on the 10th and return on the 13th -- Initiative missions permitting, of course.

For anyone who's been to the outlands: have you any suggestions or tips for the rest of us? I hear it's largely empty wasteland, but it never hurts to be prepared for this sort of thing.

[Charlie usually prefers to post text to the network, but he's in a hurry and talking is faster than typing. He sounds to be a bit in a rush and the announcement is hardly polished.]

Hey you lot, we've got a movie theater up on the run and we're screening our first-- [It's not really a film, is it? More like a carnival act. This is the last time he lets Collette pick something to screen without intense supervision.] --uh, movie. Admission's a flat rate of one marque for any transport to cover operational costs, no fee for civvies. I've attached coordinates and a blurb about the-- movie we've got running to this message.

Come if you like, though I warn you now that minors are probably in for a bit of a shock.

[There's an attachment to the voice message that contains both the coordinates of the theatre - "The Usual Place" - and a description of the movie. The latter reads:]

CRANK (2006)
Rating Information: R for violence and saucy language as well as some extremely adult situations and some truly godawful camerawork as well. Not recommended for anyone under the age of 16 or over the age of 65
Summary: Professional assassin Chev Chelios learns his rival has injected him with a poison that will kill him if his heart rate drops
Director: Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (god help them)
Starring: Some git, Amy Smart, some other people as well


((ooc: There's an open log HERE for anyone who wants to come! Come mingle, eat snacks, watch a terrible action movie.))

Greetings,

I have seen the poisoned earth and the strange trees beyond this city's borders; I did not recognise half of the roots scavanged from there abouts. And no doubt the quality of produce from seeds sewn out there would surely be questionable at best. As such, I would know what means Exsilium has for the growth of plants.

Though I imagine that a poison brew would simple enough to make from what currently exists, there must be some means of harvest provided for use by apothecary?


[ About ten minutes later, the post is updated with a second (unrelated?) query: ]


And if anyone knows the best means of cooking lamb, I would be most grateful for assistance.

( In which someone is owned in a swordfight. )

[He lets the human up and crosses his arms over his chest after sheathing his sword, watching as the human stalks out of the room. He then turns to face the tablet, making it clear that he'd meant for others to see that scene.]

A few of you may have already received some training from me, or seen me helping others. For those who don't know who I am, my name is Kang. I'm finding myself in need of a paying job, and I've decided to offer private sword lessons to anyone interested. 15✥ per hour, and I much prefer coin over card. I'm also proficient with knives, and hand-to-hand, if that is more to your liking.

[The video feed is almost painful to look at. It's fragmented, and disorienting. Someone hasn't fixed the lens they cracked a while back, apparently.

But at least the video is short? For once, Yosuke's not chatty. He gets right to the point.]

I'm in ten-oh-five. My name is Yosuke. I...can a doctor come here? The clinic is far. I can pay.

[And then for good measure:]

Please?

[The kid isn't bleeding, and aside from being damp and dirty -very dirty, he must have just come back from a hike- doesn't appear to be in bad shape. But he does sound sincere about the request.]

(Ooc note! He's back from his hike tonight guys, and if you were in on the log go on and do your own things. It's that time. I sent out charts so you know what to do!

Anyone else? It's not contagious, don't worry.)

[ Sokka is sitting cross-legged on his bed, leaning against the wall. There seem to be a few books scattered around next to him as he leans forward to address the camera. The young man scratches at his chin, then speaks. ]

Heeeey, everyone. I've been doing some reading and stuff and I was wondering if there's anyone who could give me a hand, now.

[ He holds up one of the books, the worn and battered volume open to show a diagram of a car's engine. ]

Is there anyone who can show me how to work with an internal combustion engine?

( action; backdated to the 2nd and 3rd )

[video]

[If the camera angle is any indicator, the tablet recording this must be lying flat on a table. All the better for Ed to loom over it. Most of the room isn't visible behind him, but the machinery that is suggests a lab or workshop of some kind.]

So I hear some smartass thinks it's well past time the Initiative got serious about this full-scale war. Whether or not you think that's the kind of judgment we get to make is your problem. [His tone of voice, initially light, hardens a little here.] But the Initiative guys aren't the only people at home, and they still won't be when that war does come knocking.

If the Initiative has too much on its plate right now to focus on them, then let's take them off its hands. We've got the knowhow, the equipment and the skills. Even if some of us are more ordinary than others, we've got more resources put together than anyone trapped in a single world could dream of. Stepping in to protect them works for now, and I'm glad we can do it, but someday they've gotta be able to stand on their own feet. We might not last here forever one way or another... [He lets that hang in the air for just a moment.] but we can at least leave them that much behind.

[He leans in a little closer, just to be sure - the whole point of filming himself is as a lightning rod for people's attention, after all. The small smile on his face doesn't quite match the uncompromising look in his eyes.]

My name's Edward Elric. That's [he points his left thumb towards his chest] Edward Elric. If you think you might be interested, get in touch. I don't care who you are - there's something you can do to help, and I want to hear what it is. [With the same hand, he reaches down to the side of the tablet.] I'll be waiting.

[The video shuts off.]

[ooc: This is the IC announcement of this weapons development research team! There's an OOC post on it here. Signups are open to freaking everyone and can be done wherever; handwaving is totally fine. (Replies to the video that aren't signups are entirely welcome, though!) In the distant, distant future, there should be a log related to this. ♥]

Hey everyone!

Are you an engineer, mechanic, inventor, or someone working under another title who has a talent for working with nuts and bolts? Would you like to be? I just wanted to let you all know that I've finally finished renovating my inventing garage, and I'm now taking requests for repairs of most devices, particularly vehicles and weapons. I also like working with unusual requests, so domestic appliances and items with interesting uses are accepted too. They just might have to be prioritized behind more urgent projects. I can't guarantee that I can do everything, especially if it's far removed from Earth's late 20th century, but I'm expanding my skillset as I work.

I'd also be interested in working with partners, especially if our skills complement each other in some way or you're willing to learn those skills. All I ask is that you fill out this questionaire, and I'll invite you in for a talk and some practice if I think we could be a good fit for each other. You definitely don't need to know everything on the list, it's just there to give me a general overview.
( The questions: )
Feel free to ask me any questions you'd like. I know it's a little much to ask for you to trust me when I'm still relatively new and haven't had all that long to prove my abilities, but I'll do what I can to address your concerns.

-Billy Cranston

[Lee's face isn't showing a happy one. He has spent a good chuck of this month, enough to make him take on radio silence, working on the ores and projects that has him busy since he got them from Gilgamesh. Now, it's time to break that silence.]

I sincerely apologize for my silence. Even more-so to my team. I shouldn't have locked you out when I should have asked you for help. Please understand that it is nothing personal.

Without further delay, I hope that now we can finally achieve our goals. I have more materials to work with and now the means to take the steps toward a finished product. What say you in completing what we started?

[The lab is finally finished and the gases, ores and other raw materials have finally been collected properly and organized the way it should be. There is a ton to work with now and the cannon he was working on is now a fully functioning working model.]

[The displayed name reads 'Billy Cranston', but the face isn't his. Billy's trying to act as Lady Celebrían would, he really is! He sits up straight, his long hair awkwardly twisted into a loose and messy braid. He hopes that doesn't harm her hair. And he's especially grateful that the lady isn't the makeup type---he'd messed that up for one friend already. But his arms are crossed and there's an odd expression of disappointment on his face. Still, he waves, one hand making a graceful arc in the air.]

By my calculations, we've almost reached the estimated time that the personality displacement will be reversed. And...you know, it's funny. This isn't the first time I've been through this.

I asked one of my best friends to help me test a new invention that was supposed to allow thought-sharing once, but a missing wire resulted in this same effect. We were only switched for one day, and of course we wouldn't deliberately sabotage each other, but even then we made so many mistakes and tarnished each other's reputations so severely that we ended up nearly destroying our friendship. That was painful enough! I can't believe how many would do that intentionally.

Anyway, I've been doing my best to recreate my old device as a backup should the Initiative's efforts fail. If anyone has experience with something similar, can you help? I'll be in my garage on the west side.

[He seems almost apologetic for clogging the network, but the cause is, he considers, rather serious enough.]

I'm looking for someone who looks like me.  Kind of like me.  

His name's Drift. I've heard he's here. 

[He's been looking, but he hasn't found him yet. And that only compounds Wing's worry.]

I fear he may need fuel. If so, I am hoping someone will help take some of mine.  

[It's late, but apparently tonight is a night Lacus is having a harder time sleeping. So she's still awake, trying to keep Haro from being too loud and waking Cagalli or Sheryl. She decides to check the tablet, maybe others are in a similar position, being friends from home but from different points, like she and Kira were. Maybe they might have some advice that might help. She never had particularly thought of it as an issue, not until Kira had brought it up with the fireworks earlier last month.]

I don't suppose....any others here have friends from home that are from different points? I have one who remembers two years more than I do. I didn't really think anything of it initially, but I'm just wondering how others might have dealt with it, that might help. Two years doesn't seem like that long, but a lot can happen.

[Well. That and, she figures things get more serious and intimate between them over that time. For her, they had only recently started dating, but for Kira they had been for a good while by the point he ended up here as well. That is probably her main concern, though she knows Kira would never push her on it, and that he had assured her it was okay to tell him if she wasn't comfortable. But she doesn't want to upset him either.]

[The camera clicks on to reveal a skinny kid with a mess of brown hair. He's holding the tablet in front of him, so the view's a bit shaky; it doesn't help that he's fidgeting and gesturing with his other hand as he speaks, first and foremost being a quick and awkward wave hello.]

Hey. Hello? This is on, right? You know, they should put a light on these things to show they're transmitting. Maybe they do, I didn't really - [Barely a pause as he checks himself, gets back on track.]

Sorry. Hi, my name's Peter. Peter Parker. So I got the welcome tour, and I guess my big question is - where can we get decent food around here?

[Priorities. He got most of the relevant info the other day, anyway. He almost looks like he's done, but then he abruptly remembers something and speaks up again in a rush.] And I made a thing. I mean, I didn't really make it, I just re-made it. I probably messed some of it up, but I guess nobody here's going to know any better, right?

It's for Collette, but I figured anybody could use it. Let me know if you have questions, or just type "help" and it should cover the bases. And don't forget to use your lanterns. [And Peter out - no wait, just kidding. He's half a second from ending the transmission before he stops.]

It's a game, by the way. The thing.

[He's done for real this time, pending an attachment:]

► ATTACHMENT 1: zork.exe

I know that in my world, on the fourteenth of this month, there's a holiday called Valentine's Day.
On this day, people express their affection for one another, right?

I was wondering if someone would be willing to explain this to me a bit more.
I don't understand.
It seems to me that expressing one's love, and having love expressed to you in return, is meaningful when it's done spontaneously.

[VIDEO // Encrypted to everyone who interacted with him during the timewarp mix-up]

Hello. I wanted to thank you for helping me the last couple of weeks. [smile.] And I wanted to apologize for my child self, if he said anything strange to you.

[The face of a man about sixty-five years old appears on screen. He's squinting at the blasted device through glasses that he's very glad he kept, but he would still struggle to make a text post at the moment---not with his old prescription. The voice is rougher, but still recognizable as Billy's to the few people he knows.]

Please answer this question for me: it's urgent.

Is extreme accelerated aging a known side effect of the transporter? I have several other hypotheses about my sudden condition, but this is the first I should test. And if you know of any cures for this condition, I'd appreciate a pointer. I'm drawing up my own attempts at a cure, but there's not much I can do with our limited supplies.

[He sighs wearily.]

I calculate that I'll age to the point of death within the next 36 hours, or sooner if it accelerates further, so there's not much that I have to lose.

((ooc: The aging is a canon event caused by his own tinkering at home gone wrong with a delayed reaction. And there's a canon medicine that would likely be at the Hold, but he hasn't a clue.))