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[Upon awaking Mulan took her time warily exploring the ship, after having retrieved her armor and weapons of course. Finding no one to speak to, eventually she turned to the unfamiliar device she located among her belongings.

The video focuses mostly on her face, revealing a young determined looking women wearing red and black armor with a coin pattern. Her dark hair is unbound and hangs carelessly around her face, straight and loose.]

It's my understanding that wherever they are on the other end of this...object, someone can hear me. Whoever you are, I want you to show yourselves. [Tersely, teeth briefly bared.] This is not a request.

I do not know if I came to this strange place by chance encounter or deliberate action. But this is not my land, nor is it any land I am familiar with from my distant travels. And I have no memory of my arrival here, either. The only explanation I'm left with is abduction.

Whoever you are, whatever it is you may want me for, speak. The longer you make me wait, the less the likelihood you'll have of anything like my willing cooperation.

[Posturing? She is, a bit. Normally her course of action upon arriving in unfamiliar territory would be to keep her head down. But given the circumstances, she thinks it's important that she put on a strong front, let anyone out there who might be looking know she means business. That she's no easy pickings.

And that the abrupt manner of her being brought here has made her more than a little angry.]

Or if my unknown captors are too cowardly to explain themselves, then it is my hope that these words will reach someone who can enlighten me.

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[The large, feathered creature that appears on the device appears to be in some sort of workroom - there are metal parts scattered across the parts of the bench that are visible, and some sort of plans hanging up on the wall behind it. Its muzzle has a conspicuous grease smear.]

If only it were that easy, my friend. We've all been searching for answers and have precious little to show for it. I can promise you that none of your fellow abductees - myself included - mean you any harm. At least, none that I've met have been so inclined.

[Its voice is gravelly and dry, somewhere between a human's and a parrot's. At least it's polite?]

[What the- She leans back, eyes widening perceptibly.

She has no idea what sort of creature this is. But it speaks intelligently and, well, it is polite.]

...How long have you been searching? What kind of a place is this?

Well, I don't know for sure, but some of us have been here for some months. I should ask Wing - I know he was one of the first to wake on the ship.

[Darwin ponders a moment, her feathers fluffing up a bit.]

This is... a different world than the one you're from. A different planet, and possibly a whole different dimension. It's a little unclear, but people from the ship are from many different types of worlds. Some just appear to be alternate histories, but others... well, there's some with magic, or strange creatures, or sentient robots. Not to mention technology beyond my wildest imaginings. And I should tell you- [Darwin grins] I have a very active imagination.

For example... I take it you're not familiar with my kind? No one here is. At least, not one so evolved as I.

Edited 2013-02-17 21:28 (UTC)

[She's not going to be able to stop staring at him for a while, is she. In fact she almost has a hard time listening to what he says.]

...No, I am most definitely not familiar. But, there are more like you around here? Or are most of the arrivals...people?

I like to consider myself people, my friend. [She doesn't seem offended, at least.]

But yes. The natives of Verdana are human, and most of those from the ships are some variety thereof. I'm an exception, as is Wing. If you see anything else that looks like me, I'm afraid that you'll probably want to steer clear of it with all possible speed. The wildlife I'm distantly related to is all carnivorous, and in some cases quite aggressive.

I meant -- people that are more shaped like, well. What I'm used to them being like. [Awkward pause, a bit.] Where I come from the only creatures that look like you would be dragons, or maybe ogres, and they...they are not particularly considered people. Or potential allies. They are dangerous monsters, and not to be reasoned with. [She sounds a little apologetic about the whole thing, at least?]

And this...Wing, you mention?

No hard feelings here. I'm still getting used to being a... ah... oddity, myself. My kind is quite well integrated into society back home.

[She chuckles, or something that sounds close enough to it] A dragon, huh? That would be something. I assure you, I'm quite reasonable.

Ah, Wing? Now he's an interesting fellow. [She brightens, her feathers pricking up. She likes Wing, both as a friend and as a marvel of engineering.] He is a robot - ah, an automaton? But he is as sentient and feeling as you or I. And even his engineering is... organic. I can't quite figure it all out without taking him apart, of course, and -

[Darwin realizes she's rambling a bit, and that casually mentioning dissecting a friend may be inappropriate.]

Not that I ever would! I do apologize. I'm an inventor, you see, and I tend to get a bit carried away sometimes.

No apologies necessary. [Even if she really didn't get what you were saying. But asking more questions at this point in time would probably not get her any closer to understanding.] But in any case, thank you for the...

'Warning' seems crude. The advance notice?

At least you know now that not all alarming things around here are dangerous? If there's anything else I may assist you with, please don't hesitate to ask.

Whatever might be said about the unknown ones that captured and brought us all here, at least the company so far seems good.

[Darwin looks pleased.]

Well! I do thank you for the compliment. My philosophy is that we all need to make the best of a bad situation.

I wouldn't go so far as it to call it a philosophy, but I could say I ascribe to a similar outlook on life.

There is no point in raging against that which you cannot change. The past is the past. The future is still in motion.

Poetic! I'm not such a whiz with words, myself. Give me a nice machine any day.

And I myself much prefer swords. Everyone has their corner, their strengths.

Couldn't agree more! Which is why, if you need me, you'll find me at the big, box-like workshop at the edge of town. Door's always open.

I'll be sure to keep that in mind, should I ever have any need of your...services.

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