Perhaps you felt a rumble beneath your feet, a sensation of what you were standing upon giving way underneath you as something
pulled you in and away from what it was you were doing. Or, perhaps it was simply a gentle tap on your shoulder before you had the same tugging sensation from behind your navel. No matter which it was; there is one other constant:
lp...A quiet rustle of the wind, wherever it is coming from as it hits your face.
help... u...The earth grumbling beneath you resounds with something unintelligible. Of course; it's the earth. Dirt can't speak, after all. Yet it won't stop, nor does the wind. All you wanted to do was sleep...
Yet suddenly it stops, and as you begin to stir, you begin to feel the crisp wind still seems to be picking up, yet as it settles, it's almost as if it whispers something to your ear.
'elp... u... sh....Before you can make sense of it, it is gone; and when you awaken, you begin to realize your surroundings. It looks like...a plaza of some sort? As they look around them, the ground beneath them is an intricate mosaic - a water fountain at the center of the plaza in this foreign world. There are many buildings around its perimeter, making this location seem like a central hub of whatever town this was. Some may even recognize the peculiar design of the buildings and sloped tiled rooftops as a Far Eastern theme. Were they somewhere along the Pacific? Who knows! But what is quite apparent is this: Along with the many buildings surrounding the plaza, the first thing that is noticeable is the amount of people sitting or standing around you in a similar daze.
You are not alone...One building seems to stand out among all the others; one that seems large enough to house all of the completely lost and confused masses gathered here to the welcome plaza. A sign outside the door reads:
WELCOME CENTER
Newcomers: Please come inside for refreshments and your welcome packets!Odd... This wasn't written in your own language, and yet you find it easily understandable. Soon enough, if you don't enter on your own, someone comes from inside the double doors to usher you and everyone else inside.
"Welcome to
Saeng Seong! I know you must be confused as to where you are and what's going on, but we promise to explain this to you once we're inside and away from this windstorm!"
Whether you go inside immediately or linger outside a little longer, eventually you must come in from the slight autumn chill, and sooner rather than later would probably be better. ...What
was that shadow from the corner of your vision?
You'll find yourself in a well-lit lobby, filled with comfortable-looking couches and chairs. Along one wall are refreshment tables, loaded with all sorts of food and drink, including some you probably aren't familiar with. On the wall opposite are a pair of desks, each with a sign and a person seated behind them -
Irene, General AssistanceDevin, Technological AssistanceMai, Medical AssistanceUnlike a few waves before, the only people in charge seem to be the people behind the desks. They look a bit busy.
However, before you can go over and give them a piece of your mind and ask questions, the same person who ushered you inside hands you a manilla envelope that contains your welcome packet, urging you to read this before asking the two figures questions that the packet likely answers.
Inside it, you will find: a ring with a key and apartment number on it, some kind of cash card, a
map and informational guide to the city, and a letter folded neatly on the top -
Welcome to Saeng Seong!
You are among a new group of arrivals to our city, from many far-apart worlds.
We have gathered you here because our city is in a crisis, and we are at our last resorts. The energy of the city is in a slow downward spiral, and is dangerously close to expiring altogether.
That's where you come in - you and everyone else we've brought to the city. Unlike those of us here, you have the potential to generate the energy the city needs, but you'll need to work together to do it.
Why? Because the energy can only be generated when two people touch each other. Any touch will do, but it must be between two of you who are new to the city. If you don't keep in contact with someone, eventually your energy will begin to drain as well, making you dangerously ill.
A few other things:
The closed-off sections of the city are closed off for a reason; approaching them will cause your energy to drain very rapidly. We're working to open the rest of the city to you as soon as we can, but for now, please remain within the four districts in the south and west parts of the city
You have been given a key to a one-bedroom apartment in a complex set aside for you and the other new arrivals, near the riverside in the 1st district. You're free to change your living quarters whenever you like, and we encourage you to move in with someone in one of the larger apartments. When you want to change, just come back to this building to exchange your key.
We've also included a cash card with a living stipend; if you're unfamiliar with this system, or the network established for new arrivals, you can talk to Devin in the lobby for help. It's what he's here for. If you need medical assistance, contact Mai, one of our newest and brightest doctors.
Again, welcome, and thank you for all your help.
Irene
Arrival Liaison
Back behind you, others still linger, and through the translucent glass you can see a banner hanging from the tiled roof of the building across the street in the blistering summer day:
WELCOME TO SAENG SEONG
(ENJOY YOUR STAY!)
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rekindleme2013-10-18 07:17 pm
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"Please do! I don't know if you'll be able to help, but even the idiots at the Science Department must've left a way to disarm it without the password..." He has very little idea how to technology, so this ridiculous device is beyond him.
no subject
"First of all, I need to know the capabilities of it. How does it hurt you?"
He brings a gloved hand up, with a small screwdriver for opening electronics.
"Is there a failsafe to prevent tampering?"
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If he knew the password he'd have been out of this thing and fleeing the city in minutes. Oh, but he's not a dangerous criminal who has been handcuffed for legal reasons. Promise!
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"The other handcuff must have some kind of way of communicating with it," he said thoughtfully. "If I could recreate that somehow... but getting it off is probably preferable."
He grins a little sheepishly. "Sorry, looking for a professional challenge."
He has a small tool, and begins looking for a place to open up the device and view the circuitry. "Ideally, if I can just cut out the power source, that should solve the shocks, at least."
no subject
There's seams on it where it would swing open if it were unlocked, but no visible latches or hinges. There is a panel that will come off to expose the interior so he can get at it.
Still, Allen finds it curious. "You have some sort of experience with this...? Do you work with a lot of technology?"
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"The short answer is yes."
He slides the edge of his tool into the seams, and fiddles with it quietly for a moment. But just one.
"I'm not unleashing unholy evil by doing this, right? You sounded genuinely distressed, but if this lock is on you for a good reason, I swear you'll be put right back in it."
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Why Johnny still felt that way after unholy evil had very nearly killed him... Allen couldn't say. But the important thing is that it serves no purpose now that Johnny isn't around.
Except to shock him every few minutes. So he's very interested in Dick's progress, and brightens hopefully when something shifts in the cuff.
no subject
"Cell phones would probably waste less battery power," he says absently, still tracing. He stabs experimentally past the panel he's pried off.
"For the record, I can damage this as much as I want, right? The not-right-now aforementioned unholy evil won't make a right now exception?"