[Video | 001: Arrival]

[artofpersuasion]

Mom?

Dad?

[Closing her eyes, she forces herself to focus as she takes a calming breath.]

Think, Ella.

[The harder she tries to recall how she got here, the less she seems to remember. Why can't she remember? Her memory isn't something she usually has to worry about. Sighing, she slowly climbs to her feet, cautiously following the lights.

Sitting not far from the exit, she looks out over the destroyed city. She wonders what happened in this place, whether anyone had survived. More than anything, she wishes her parents were here to see it with her.

Finally turning her attention to the device, she studies it a moment before figuring out its basic functions. After a moment's hesitation, she activates the video feed, drawing her knees up to her chest.]

I'm not supposed to be here.

Comments

[facilitating]

I didn't think so. I'll be there in a few minutes. [Long enough to tell the ragemonster she's babysitting that she'll brb, and to walk the distance to the ship. Luckily, at this point she was only a couple of miles off. Give her 20 minutes, and you'll hear her call down the corridors of pods:]

Ella?

[She'll find you either way, but it's easier with help.]

[artofpersuasion]

[The twenty minutes feels much longer than it actually is, and she nearly starts talking to herself again to fill the quiet. She looks up sharply when she hears her name, and it only takes a moment for her to answer.]

Yeah. I'm over here.

[facilitating]

[She follows the voice until she's in sight, rounding the corner with a thermos in hand and a hint of a reassuring smile.

When she gets close enough:] Hey. [And she offers out the thermos. It seems like there's some sort of soup inside, vaguely reminiscent of something with beef and veggies but not quite.] It's not exactly Campbells or Progresso, but it's not bad, either.

[artofpersuasion]

[She edges over some so the woman can sit. It seems the polite thing to do, despite it being unnecessary. There's plenty of space.

Ella gives the contents of the thermos a sniff before trying it. She isn't exactly hesitant about new things, but this situation warrants a bit more caution, she thinks.]

It's fine. Thanks. [She offers another small smile.] You've been here a while, then?