outer_divide | [ video ] 001 (Sunday p.m., Week 66)

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[ video ] 001 (Sunday p.m., Week 66)

[A man in a blue uniform coat with a ridiculously high stiff collar appears. His expression is grim under an abundant mess of brown hair peeking from under the large front-brimmed hat he has jammed onto his head.]

This is Captain Bulge of Sirius Platoon. If anyone in the SDF can hear me, please respond. I don't know yet where I am, and I need to know what happened. Did the Alfort forces retreat? Is Destiny safe?

This is very important. I have no idea where I am, except that it's not one of our trains. I may be in an enemy ship. If-if that's the case, then if anyone in the SDF gets this transmission, leave me. It isn't worth a rescue. I know what to do if the situation is that hopeless.

[A pause, because it isn't usually in the course of his duty he has to offer to commit suicide if necessary. He looks around again, and the background shows he is still on Salvation, although its obvious not something he recognizes. After another grimace and frown, he turns back to the device.]

I have reason to believe that I may be somewhere else entirely. It's far too quiet here to be still in battle.

I've been prepared to give my life to the Railways for years, but I don't want to waste it. Yu-Manabu, one of your damned insubordinate rescue attempts would be welcome about now, so long as I'm not on an Alfort ship. The rest of you, David especially, you'd better take care of Big One. I'm counting on you, too. Save Destiny and the Railways and get your butts home.

Somebody please respond. Come in, SDF headquarters.

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Not yet.

I didn't want to leave until I knew what I was walking into.

I suppose that makes sense. At the moment, nothing too dangerous is going on that I've heard about. If you'd prefer, I can come and fetch you.

[He tries to make his smile more appreciative. There are things to be learned here, but he needs to see the larger picture first.]

That would be kind of you. We could meet at the outer hatch. I'm pretty sure I can find my way there.

Alright. We'll be there in a few moments.

Thanks.

[Action]

[Bulge double-checked the footlocker where he'd found his clothes and such. Empty. He made sure the leather gun belt was secure and the gun was still changed. No point taking stupid chances.

Finding the outside hatch wasn't hard, as he suspected. An alien sun was setting, and he noted the landmarks on the horizon with the intention of asking about them some time soon. (Considering how long he stay on the ship, it's sometime on Monday now.)

He kept an eye out for the woman in the video, remembering just now that he hadn't asked her name.]

[Caryo being as fast as she is, it didn't take long before they were riding up to the ship. She almost never wanted to see that thing again, but at least she didn't have to go inside it this time.

The man is easy enough to spot and the pair moved to intercept him, stopping in front of him at a comfortable speaking distance.]

Hello again.

[The woman he recognizes. He wasn't expecting her to arrive on a horse. He only gives a brief glance before going back to assessing her. The Whites are something to note.]

Thank you for coming so quick.

Did you catch my name? I don't think I got yours. I'm Schwanhelt Bulge, captain of Sirius Platoon.

I don't know what the "Sirius Platoon" is, but I suppose that's rather a common thing in this place and I really shouldn't be surprised.

Well-met, Captain. My name is Selenay, and this is Caryo, my Companion.

It's just--my... it's the crew of my train.

[His attention goes back to Caryo. What a strange creature.]

Is Caryo enough to ride two? I don't know much about horses.

[That earned a snort from Caryo, and she tossed her head in irritation. Selenay for her part, looked just a touch exasperated, though she tried very hard to hide it.]

Companion, if you please. And she can hear you just fine. The both of us would appreciate if you spoke to her instead of about her.

Yes, she'll carry double, if asked nicely.

[That surprises him, but he nods.]

I'll try to remember. [He will remember. It just may take him a while to get curious about why.

He looks at Caryo, a bit uncomfortable.]

I hope you don't mind. I didn't realize this is what she was offering.

That's quite alright. Apparently, not many here use horses any more, let alone come from a place with Companions. I warn you, the experience can be strange, at first, so if you'd rather walk, that's fine as well.

How far is it? [The closest he can see is the Old City, which wouldn't be beyond him.]

Far enough away that riding would be a good idea, if you're up for it.

I can be. [His fingers go to unbutton the uniform coat to give him more freedom of movement, though his eyes go to Caryo. Talk directly to her, Selenay had said.]

I'm sorry I'm so poor a rider.

[Caryo tosses her head again, this time rather proudly, and Selenay reaches a hand down towards the man--easier with a hand up.]

That's perfectly alright. She won't lose you.

[Bulge takes the offered hand, and settles behind her on the Companion's back. The creature didn't seem that much bigger than a horse, but the size and strength of the remarkable animal surprised him.]

I can see this is going to be quite a ride.

I'm sure it's an experience you'll not soon forget.

[And with that, Caryo turns and gallops off toward the city.]

[Hopefully Selenay will pardon the clinging. There isn't much else to hang onto.]

She's fast!

[He can see they're going to get back to civiliation much sooner than he'd anticipated.]

[She is fine with the clinging.]

All Companions are. They can run much faster, farther, and longer than ordinary horses.

[So far as Bulge could tell so far, Companions were faster than many ground vehicles he knew.]

I appreciate the effort. What is that city we're going to?

Poseidon, I think. I'd never heard of a name like it until I came here.

[Bulge had the advantage of being from somewhere that made use of popular Earth mythology. All the platoons were named for constellations as visible from Earth, which in their turn were mostly based on said mythology.]

God of the sea. Is it on a coast?

Yes. Is that where the name comes from? I've never heard of any god by that name.

Probably. Humans like referencing things. I think Poseidon is Greek. I learned quite a bit about Earth history in school when I was a boy.

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