outer_divide | [ 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

I can. I think I can understand; I was used to following orders when I served in my Emperor's army. But things are not nearly so clear-cut here.

[A grimace.] It would be nice, for once, to be somewhere where things are clear cut.

Thanks.

It's nothing. But given the circumstances, it's nice to meet you all the same.

My name is Mulan.

I'm glad to meet you too. [He hesitates, not sure how much of his first message she'd listened to.] Schwanhelt Bulge.

Do you know where I could find some tomato juice?

Tomato...juice?

I suppose you could always try Callahan's.

Yes, you peel the tomato and crush it to get juice. I used to drink it a lot at home.

[He makes a doubtful noise about Callahan's.] I suppose I ought to get by there again. I couldn't find the owner when I was there my first day.

Pepper Potts? Well, depending on when you got into town, she may not have been...herself. It's complicated.

what do you mean? I can take complicated if you use short, easy to understand words.

I'm not sure I'm the best one to explain it, since I barely understood what was happening myself at the time. [And her voice is a little tart since she felt mildly insulted by his wording.] But people were turning into strange versions of themselves. Some of them were aging backwards, suddenly changing into themselves only much younger. Pepper was one of these. She had become herself as a young girl, for awhile.

[He can hear that, and has the sense to grimace a little.] That wasn't really directed at you. Sorry.

I've been so frustrated.

[But he nods as he listens to her explanation.] That would explain it. This place gets stranger and stranger the more I learn.

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

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