VIDEO

[shootwithmymind]

[The viewer is greeted with a pair of huge, gold-rimmed eyes peering at them from behind a longish snout that is currently sniffing delicately at the screen. A moment later a young boy with blue eyes and shaggy blond hair desperately in need of a trim leans down over the golden-eyed creature, an almost identical expression of curiousity on his face.]

I think I've got this thing working. Guess we'll find out, huh?
[The boy clears his throat self-consciously before continuing.]

If anyone else is listening... Um. Hi. My name's Jake Chambers, and this is Oy--say hi, Oy.

[The strange, gold-eyed creature again sniffs at the screen before barking out.] I! Oy!

[The boy giggles and shakes his head.] Smartass.

[Oy grins--there's no other word for it.] Ass!

[Jake smiles again, but it quickly fades.] Is anyone else out there? I...um...I'm guessing this isn't the Clearing, after all, 'cause if it is, then somebody really needs to come up with a better name. [Another short laugh, slightly tinged with hysteria.] Anyway. If this isn't the Clearing, then could someone please tell me where we wound up this time? [He pauses, chewing thoughtfully at his lower lip for a moment before adding] I woke up on a--a spaceship, I think. I can see what looks like a village down at the foot of the mountain. Is there anybody down there?

Comments

[redhat]

You can say that again! This guy's worse than most. Seems safe enough, though. [She's perfectly glad to change the subject]

There's a lot goin' on, let me tell you. But it ain't hard to get used to, not if you're already used to vampires and killer robots and stuff like that. [Sounds a lot like her home, actually.]

'Course I know New York! Who doesn't? I'm from Sector V - 'cept that don't mean much if you ain't an operative - Cleveland. East coast.

[shootwithmymind]

Yeah, I guess you can get used to just about anything--not that we've got much choice about it. I'm guessing we're pretty much stuck here, right? [Not that he has anywhere else to go, anyway.]

[He laughs a little.] Well, I didn't know! There's a lot of worlds out there! Sounds like you're Earth is a lot different from mine. We have a Cleveland, but it's not on the East Coast.

[redhat]

If anyone's found a way out of this place, they're not tellin'. [Abby sighs] Gotta make the best of it while we're here, I guess.

Huh. Well, that's weird. [She's not sure she likes hearing that her hometown doesn't exist in other realities.] Guess if the KND ain't in every world, cities might get moved around some, too.

[She's quiet for a moment.] Numbuh Five can see the ship from here. Should meet up with you soon.

[shootwithmymind]

[He can see that once again, he's made her uncomfortable, so he lets the subject of Cleveland drop.] The really weird thing though is the little stuff that changes. Brands of soda, types of cars, stuff like that.

[And in a couple more minutes, she'll see him round a curve in the path, Oy running along a few feet ahead. When he catches sight of her, he waves.]

Hey!

[redhat]

I'm still gettin' used to this place not havin' candy, so I don't think there's soda around to be different brands. Like all the adults would let us drink any if there were.

[Yeah. There's a drinking age for soda where she's from, and it's thirteen.]

[Abby spots him easily enough, and takes off her hat to wave back with, grinning.] Hey yourself, baby!

[shootwithmymind]

[Jake is a little confused by the soda comment, but lets that pass. Instead he grins back at Abby. She would be able to see that aside from his backpack, he's also wearing a shoulder holster complete with a Ruger.]

Nice to meet you in person, Five.

[Oy takes a moment to sniff at her shoes.]

The town's down that way, right? [He nods in the direction she came from.] So, is there anywhere in particular everybody stays, or do we just camp out wherever?

[redhat]

Likewise, kid! [Abby slaps Jake on the shoulder companionably, then leans down to ruffles Oy's ears. The gun does get a sidelong glance, but she can hardly blame a kid for having something to defend himself with.]

Well, I guess there's this buildin' called the Flop. A lot of people stay there. Me, I'm buildin' a treehouse on the edge of town. And there's plenty of abandoned houses too, but not all of 'em are safe.

[shootwithmymind]

[Oy leans slightly into the ear scritching. Yep, Abby has just made a new friend.]

A treehouse, huh? Cool. If you need any help with it, let me know. Dunno if I'll be much help with building, but I can hold boards in place and stuff like that.

I guess I'll try out the Flop for tonight, at least. I don't think I'm up for house hunting right now. [He pauses a moment, frowning slightly.] Nobody's gonna bitch about Oy, are they? 'Cause I'm not leaving him outside.

[redhat]

Hey, that'll be better than the help Numbuh Five's got now. You'll do fine, if you want to come help.

[She smiles and keeps scratching the little critter.]

Hey, there's this one guy, he's got two of these big... cat lizard things. In town, if you can imagine. Numbuh Five don't think this critter's gonna cause any trouble, baby.

[shootwithmymind]

Yeah, I'll help--just wanted to let you know I'm pretty much unskilled labor.

[Oy flops over on his side, begging for a belly rub.]

Big...cat lizards... Okay, I guess Oy won't attract much attention compared to that.

So, are we ready to go, then?

[redhat]

Aw, you can't be worse than Numbuh Four. And he's had trainin'.

[Abby kneels so she can give Oy a proper belly rub now. He was kinda like a dog. She approved.]

Well, we kinda accidentally killed their mama, so I guess he felt guilty or somethin'. But still, steer clear of those things. They're gonna wind up eatin' somebody.

Yeah, come on. Town's just down this road.

[shootwithmymind]

Well, I'll try and stay out of reach, but I've gotta say, I'm kinda curious to see a couple of giant cat-lizards.

[Oy is definitely digging the belly rub. Jake laughs a little and shakes his head.] He'll lay there all day, as long as you keep doing that.

[He hitches his backpack up onto his shoulder and starts walking in the direction Abby indicated.] C'mon, Oy, let's get going.

[redhat]

Yeah, well, ask around for the froggy-lookin' teenager- [She says the word like it leaves a bad taste in her mouth] -who smells a bit funny. the little monsters are his project. Numbuh Five thinks she'll stick with the more civilized critters, like Oy here.

[Chuckling, she steps back and holds her hands up, letting the billy bumbler know that petting time was over.]

Common, Numbuh Five will point out her treehouse on the way, in case y'all want to stop by.