outer_divide | Audio/Action | The ship | Monday before the riots

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Audio/Action | The ship | Monday before the riots

[Currently a petite strawberry-blonde teen is clutching the pendant hanging from a ribbon around her neck as she scuttles between hiding places in the ship and stares with wide-eyed curiosity mixed with finite fear at the names located on the other pods located all around her. Yes, she is looking for specific names and is both dreading and hoping she might come across one she recognizes. There are thousands of pods here, however, and the fingers of her other hand begins to clutch more firmly at the small device she found with her clothing where she had first awoken. After a short hesitation, Chloe presses a button and brings the device to her lips.]

H-hello?

[A hesitating pause, then Chloe seems to find her courage--and outrage.]

Wh-whoever is in charge here, I really don't appreciate being left in the dark. Where am I, and why am I here? Wh-where is my Aunt Lauren, Derek, and the others? Haven't you done enough? Just l-leave us alone!

[If she was thinking clearly, she would realize the Edison Group never would have left Chloe her Swiss Army knife or can of mace... But she was kind of freaking out after waking up naked and without her pendant around her neck.]

Or else.

[Those two words sounded almost like a growl--something Chloe may have loosely picked up from her werewolf boyfriend. Despite the threat, her panicked mind silently taunted her: 'Or else what, Chloe?']

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[Garrus's mandibles twitch slightly, affording a glimpse of narrow, needle-sharp teeth. He steps in out of the doorway, hands lifting as though to show they're empty, though unarmed doesn't, strictly speaking, apply. He can only hope that the gesture's as universal as it's so far seemed to be.]

Easy, I'm not planning to hurt you. My name's Garrus. What's yours?

[She jumped again when his hands moved--Chloe couldn't help it. She is jumpy. His gesture didn't go unnoticed, however, and Chloe nearly breathed a sigh of relief as she relaxed partially. She wouldn't relax completely--he was a stranger and this was an unknown place. But her hand relaxed around the knife in her pocket. Not that it would do much good, anyway.]

I--I'm Chloe. Where am I and--

[And what are you? She wanted to ask it, but even through her fears she didn't want to be rude. She had so many questions. Was she really so far away from home? Were the people in these pods being experimented on? What was going on here? Taking a deep, steadying breath, Chloe attempted to push all her fears aside and focus on what was most important. Obviously someone here would have answers.]

Why did I just wake up on a space ship when I don't remember ever getting on in the first place?

[With a sweeping gesture, Chloe motioned to all the pods around them.]

And what's going to happen to all these people?

Edited 2014-04-07 06:15 (UTC)

That's the thousand-credit question, isn't it?

[Garrus sighs, lifting one hand to scrape a knuckle over the silvery scars along the right side of his face. The gesture's almost unconscious, like a bad habit he hasn't quite shed.]

The prevailing theory is that this is a rescue ship. Something happened to knock you out of phase with your reality, and Salvation retrieved you. The same thing happened to everyone here. Those pods are medical stasis bays - they're all live, so the people inside are fine. The ship isn't - we've crash-landed on a human colony world. So far, the people here have been happy to let us stay.

[Seeing Garrus's unconscious gesture towards his silvery scarring, Chloe feels an odd compassion fill her. Sidling a couple steps toward him, she wonders what he must have gone through to get those wounds. His words--being in a place so far from home-- finally starts to really settle in.]

Everyone? So that means you were picked up by this ship, too? Salvation?

[Sounds more like a setting to a sci-fi movie to Chloe, but if she's learned anything this past year, it's that things aren't always as black and white as one may think. And he did say human colony. Did that mean almost everyone here was human? Did it make Garrus feel ostracized at all, if he was a minority? That didn't sit well with her.]

I--I'm sorry. You probably have dozens of people asking all kinds of questions and threatening all kinds of things when they 'wake up.' It's not your fault we're all here. It's going to take some getting used to, though. I still have over a hundred questions.

[Suddenly her throat closed up, and her vision began to blur. Taking a deep breath, Chloe fiercely attempted to keep any and all tears at bay as thoughts about her family, Derek, and the others flooded her mind. They were okay. Had to be okay. She'd search for their names here one by one--however long it took--even if it was just to come to terms with the fact that they...might not be here. Her eyes darted to the pods near her, but she couldn't read the names through her blurred vision.]

Hey.

[Garrus lopes forward, crossing the distance from the chamber's door to rest his hands on Chloe's shoulders, as much so that he can catch her if she collapses as to offer what scant comfort a stranger from an entirely different species can. He'd seen the reaction often enough during the Reaper War, and while the circumstances may be drastically different, losing your world is still losing your world.]

It's going to be okay. Once this ship's spaceworthy again, we can work on getting everyone back where they belong.

[The comforting gesture brought more comfort than Chloe felt she deserved just then--especially from a stranger of a different species who probably lost just as much as she did upon arriving here.]

S-sorry. I didn't mean to turn this into a pity party. I'm fine. [She even attempts a smile.] It's not like I lost anything more important than anyone else here.

[Listening to his reassurances, Chloe can't help but feel like he may be placating her. It was hard to keep positive when she was at the complete mercy of those around her.]

Do you really believe that? That the ship will get repaired, and every single one of us here will return home? [Her expression was solemn as she met Garrus' eyes, a certain lack of conviction visible in her own.]

Yes.

[Though his expression is difficult to read, lacking many of the usual mammalian tells, he meets her gaze steadily enough.]

The people working on repairing the ship aren't going to give up until they're dead - and since, in my experience, engineers are very fond of shotguns, doubting them really isn't in my best interest. Besides, I don't really find the alternative acceptable.

[That one word causes Chloe's throat to briefly close up as she finally dared herself to hope. The tears she desperately tried to hold back tumbled down her cheeks, and Chloe hastily swiped them away with her palm.]

O-okay.

[The shotgun bit earned Garrus a watery chuckle, and Chloe nods.]

Alright! Looks like I'm going to have to do some digging. I want to help. While I'm no engineer... if there is anything I can do, I'm all for it!

[Garrus's mandibles flare slightly, and he dips his head in an acknowledging nod.]

There's plenty to do, here and in the city below. We'll find a way for you to contribute that suits your skill set.

[He pauses, considering her for a moment.]

But first, let's find you a meal and somewhere to sleep.

[And someone of her own species to speak to, though he doesn't say that out loud. Her reaction to him had been better than some he'd encountered on the planet - enough so that he's fairly certain she, at least, doesn't come from a reality where her species' first contact had come in the form of an invasion - but a familiar face in a strange place can go a long way.]

[That suits your skill set. Chloe tries to hold back a bit of a hysterical laugh. It gets strangled in the back of her throat. She had a strong inkling communicating with ghosts wasn't a particular skill set Garrus had in mind.]

I--I'll do whatever I can to help.

[At his mention of food, Chloe's stomach growls and she blushes.]

Food sounds great. Thank you.

[She hesitates.]

So, when people wake up here, where do they go? We're all essentially homeless.

[She wanted to ask more questions, but her throat was closing up again. Being alone, and homeless, was a lot different than being on the run with Derek.]

Edited 2014-04-10 04:08 (UTC)

There's a city south of here. Its leaders have opted to provide housing for people waking from the ship. It's not a luxury suite on the Presidium, but as refugee quarters go, it's comfortable.

[He cocks his head toward the door leading out into the ship's main corridor, and turns to lead the way out onto the planet proper.]

[Nodding, Chloe takes a deep breath and casts a small, thankful smile up at Garrus for a distraction.]

What's the Presidium?

[She follows him easily, trying to keep up with his longer stride.]

The wealthy levels of the Citadel - the space station that served as the government seat for the galaxy in my dimension.

[He glances down at Chloe, checking his stride a little as he realizes just how much longer it is - the humans he's dealt with most frequently are a good bit taller, which makes pacing a bit of a learning curve.]

It's mostly inhabited by diplomats and business people, but there were a few sections that catered to tourists. C-Sec would station anyone who'd been causing trouble there - it was the post no one wanted.

Wow. Sounds impressive.

[Sensing Garrus' slower pace, Chloe smiles her thanks. While she's used to Derek's long stride and maddening pace, Chloe is still incredibly petite for her age--barely five feet.]

Did you ever get roped into that duty?

[She grins a little, hoping he can laugh about it with her if he had.]

[Garrus snorts in amusement, and dips his head slightly - a nod, at least, is a common gesture amongst most of the Citadel species.]

My first posting was on the Presidium. I still have nightmares. Depressingly boring nightmares - I can still tell you the exact timing of the station's enviro-cycle.

[She laughs aloud at that.]

I bet. Torture by boredom. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Thankfully, boredom isn't really an issue here. Yet. --The airlock's just ahead.

[The sunlight may not penetrate deep into the ship's corridors, but the slanting rays are visible overlaying the glow of the floor. Outside, on the ramp, it's high summer, the soaring temperature a stark contrast to the chill of the ship.]

I don't know whether I should take that as reassurance, or a warning.

[Grinning in tandem to her words, Chloe still can't shake the feeling of trepidation as she approaches the airlock with Garrus. It's with no small amount of trepidation when Chloe slowly edges outside and takes in her new surroundings--and the heat that comes along with it.]

You're positive there aren't any hidden cameras here? No one is going to jump out at me and go on and on about what a sucker I am for falling for all this?

[Then a cute little animal with a long, fluffy tail comes into view and Chloe smiles. Then gapes.]

D-does that squirrel have f-fangs?

Edited 2014-04-23 06:01 (UTC)

["Squirrel" doesn't mean much more to Garrus than "Earth animal", so he follows Chloe's gaze rather than seeking the creature out himself.

The small, furry creature, one of the ones that seems to turn up everywhere on this world. He's seen a hundred of the things, and never thought anything of them - new worlds mean new creatures, after all.]

Don't they usually have fangs?

[Shaking her head repeatedly, Chloe can only stare as horror scenes of raised zombie-squirrels with fangs flash before her eyes.]

N-no. No, they usually don't.

[Forcing herself to shake off those images, Chloe turns back to Garrus and flashes a depreciating smile his way.]

Sorry. I guess I forgot who I was talking to for a moment. It's kind of funny, though. You don't seem at all perturbed by them.

[Garrus shrugs, an easy gesture that nonetheless does not quite match the mechanics of human motion.]

We don't have squirrels on Palaven, and the human worlds I've visited haven't had any.

[Except, presumably, Earth, but he'd been far too busy trying to stay alive to notice, and telling her of her planet's fate in his time would be counterproductive.]

As local wildlife goes, I've seen much stranger.

Edited 2014-04-28 03:33 (UTC)

No squirrels? Really. What do they have, then?

[Chloe's curiously amused look turns into one of wary humor.]

I think I should be glad I haven't seen stranger, then. But now I'm curious. Just how strange was it?

Large furred creatures with heads the size of a shuttle. Like someone had bred a varren with one of your Earth crocodiles, and decided to give it hair.

[He shakes his head slightly.]

I've heard that a number of the animals here are ones that have gone extinct on Earth.

Impressive. I think I'm glad those don't exist where I'm from. Th-they aren't here, right?

[Chloe does not want to be accidentally raising anything that sounded like that.]

O-oh, no.

[That didn't bode well for anyone.]

They are. I'm sparing you some of the things that live in my galaxy.

[Though his tone remains a little amused, he isn't entirely joking.

No one needs to know about Thresher Maws. The universe is better off that way.]

You get used to it. Every planet has its own ecosystem.

Audio/Action | The ship | Monday before the riots

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