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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

So how about a trade, Selenay? Why aren't Companions horses? I can tell there's something different, but not what. Caryo obviously moves much faster than a horse. [And if anyone gets cranky because he's not asking Caryo, he doesn't think she can answer him, and she seems busy.]

Mm. How much of a history lesson do you want?

How long do we have?

Unless you're planning on running off immediately after we arrive, quite some time.

I guess that depends where we arrive. [Which Selenay knows better than he does.]

It looks like I'm arriving like a refugee.

So do the rest of us. There used to be a place where we could stay, but it was destroyed recently.

As for Companions, the simplest explanation, perhaps, is to think of them more as guardian spirits in horse-shape, rather than actual horses.

[That explanation makes far more sense than he'd like it to.]

A few days living rough won't hurt me too much. Until I find out what people do for work around here. [He doesn't think abels are spendable here, even if they were real gold.]

I'd caution against that if at all possible. There's a curfew in place, and I haven't had to test exactly how stringent they are in enforcing. There may be a few beds left among others of us from that ship. You may want to ask around.

I don't know who to ask.

I'd start with a woman named Pepper. She owns a place called Callahan's. She's rather helpful and surprisingly knowledgeable about the place. I can leave you there if you'd like.

That would be kind of you.

Very well then. It shouldn't be much longer.

Thanks again.

Certainly. If nothing else, I'm sure there are others there who know more of the place than I.

You've been very help. When I have my bearings, I'll be sure to find you and Caryo to thank you better.

Thank you for the consideration, but there's no need for that.

Of course there is. If you don't think it's a big deal, it can be something simple.

I suppose if you insist, there's no stopping you.

Why don't you make your case when I'm in a position to make my offer?

Why not make it now when I don't need to expend nearly as much effort?

Very well. I'm sorry.

Don't be. I'm perfectly happy to help without a reward for it.

I only wanted a chance to see you again, since you're the only person I've met in person yet.

You only had to ask. No payment is required for my company.

[Just ask? What's that? Even at his age, Schwanhelt Bulge is awkward with women he doesn't know.]

I'll try to remember that.

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