INTRO LOG - JUNE 2014

[rekindlemods]

Who: Everyone
Where: The Welcome Center
When: 18th June, late afternoon
Summary: The new arrivals, freshly pulled from their worlds or others, awaken in a strange place...
Warnings: Inbox death may occur. System overload at own risk. NPC responses may be slow.

It's a shuddering breath, a sensation of being pulled to elsewhere and finding oneself pressed against something on the soft and some place cozy. However, before one can fully stir, there is and odd, warm stirring sensation that lifts you up from wherever you've been dropped, when you begin to drift off once more.

Yet the feeling passes quickly, and when you awaken, you begin to realize your surroundings. It's a small room with what some might recognize as a Far Eastern theme when it comes to decor, from the walls to the sofa (or bed) you find yourself on. Illumination is provided by carefully crafted lamps, and even a candle flickering on a nearby desk. The doors are made from paper and wood, with a thin frame; through them it's easy to hear other people stirring, talking, or coming to.

You are not alone...

Close at hand there's a note that reads:

WELCOME CENTER
Newcomers: Please come downstairs to the lobby 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, there's a gentle knocking on the door as someone comes from downstairs to usher you along.

"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 you've had a chance to stretch your legs!"

Whether you go downstairs immediately or linger a little longer, eventually you must come down and get out of the small space, and sooner rather than later would probably be better. 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 cool and relieving food and drink, including some you probably aren't familiar with. It's just as well they're in good supply, as the windows outside show a city well heated from a summer sun.

On the wall opposite are a pair of desks, each with a sign, and one person at her station-

Rhea, General Assistance
Andi, Technological Assistance

The plaques have a shiny new look to them, as do the desks. The one with 'Andi' listed appears to be empty, though. Gathered around both desks and several tables are boxes as well, and...Empty jars? The woman minding her desk doesn't appear to give them a second thought.

However, before you can go over and give at least one of them a piece of your mind and ask questions, the same person who ushered you downstairs 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 first five districts 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 nurses.

Again, welcome, and thank you for all your help.

Irene Rhea
Arrival Liaison

Outside, and through the translucent glass you can see a banner hanging from the tiled roof of the building across the street. The cheerful colors on it match well against a bright blue sky:

WELCOME TO SAENG SEONG
(ENJOY YOUR STAY!)

Comments

[forcowardice]

The K-Con steels himself for what's probably going to be a somewhat difficult conversation.

"I don't think it was ever here, Spinister. We were kind of, um. Taken. To here. Did you see a note when you woke up?"

[triggerhappycopter]

"Nope." Accompanied with a shrug, of course. "It's probably burnt right about now if there were one. Didja need it?"

[forcowardice]

At the response, Fulcrum just sighs and lets his shoulders slump. "No, it's okay. I know what it said. But you need to listen to me carefully, okay?"

His optics dim and he debates on how he's going to phrase this. "All right. So, it seems like we were captured and placed into a city called Saeng Seong. Apparently, to keep the city powered or something they require people to have physical contact with each other. From the looks of it, I'm pretty sure the ship's not here. Does that make any sense?"

[triggerhappycopter]

[triggerhappycopter]

[triggerhappycopter]

"Yeah, actually!"

[forcowardice]

"Yeah? Well. Okay, then!"

That was easier than he thought.

"I'd say we probably shouldn't hoard the energon for now. I dunno how many other Cybertronians are here, after all."

[triggerhappycopter]

"That's a reason to hoard the energon, not... not hoard it," Spinister tuts. "If they turn on us, we'd have fuel at least. More energy to shoot! Or run. And shoot."

[forcowardice]

"I-- okay. I'd see how that'd be a totally reasonable conclusion if we still had a war going on. But we don't anymore, right? So, we're just gonna have to get along."

Fulcrum pauses, then adds, "Let's just hoard like... more than half of it."

[triggerhappycopter]

"Those red badges were shooting at us long before any war started, kiddo!" he laughs, trying to affectionately pat Fulcrum's shoulder with his gun hand. "Pretty sure they're gonna keep shooting at us long after. So we keep all the energon. And shoot and run if they start giving us trouble."

[forcowardice]

"I'm not that young," he grumbles. No, he's totally close to being that young. Being under 3 million years isn't as impressive as some, he guesses, but Fulcrum still folds his arms like an indignant teenager. "Look, not all of us have the luxury of having a firearm. I think we should try to be a little more reasonable. Anyone's liable to get angry when they notice there's nothing to refuel on, right?"

[triggerhappycopter]

"Don't worry, you're good at running," Spinister intones jovially and attempts to herd the small mech to a more defensible corner of the building.

[forcowardice]

"Okay, sure, I have a ton of practice at that-- was that a jab or an actual compliment, I'm not sure."

Herded he is, but only because he's not going to physically fight off Spinister, who is most certainly larger and stronger.

"Spin, I just don't think we need to be making enemies here. Not unless we really have to. Be careful about the hoarding thing."

[triggerhappycopter]

"I'll put, like..." The towering magenta terror stops momentarily to try and count but one hand is holding the cubes and the other is holding a gun, and it takes a good minute before he continues; "Two. I'll put two back if that makes you feel better?"

[forcowardice]

Well, it's better than nothing. Fulcrum sighs and shrugs helplessly. "Okay. Sure. Two. Put two back and we'll keep the rest. Deal?"

[triggerhappycopter]

"Deal!" He shoves an energon cube into Fulcrum's arms having finished herding him into a corner. "Now drink this up in case things go South. And stay 'round here. I'm gonna go and see where the rest of the gang disappeared to."

Just because ship isn't here doesn't mean everyone else isn't here!

[forcowardice]

A tiny meep emits after the cube is shoved at him. At the very least, Spinister's just trying to look out for him. In his own way, of course. Fulcrum holds the cube awkwardly in his hands for a moment.

"Well, okay. I'll stay in the area. I imagine it'll be pretty easy to find me. Not many K-Class hanging around, I bet."

[triggerhappycopter]

"You kinda blend in real easy with the cowering thing. Also, short." Also, Spinister just has a hard time keeping track of things in general.

"Try to look more threatening," the heli squares his shoulders and looms threateningly in example. "Anything starts happening, you start yelling."

Now that he's done schooling the newbie, Spinister turns to go.

[forcowardice]

"I don't-- I don't cower that much, and I'm only a little shorter than Crankcase!" His shoulders slump a little. Jeez!

Fulcrum frowns and looks after Spinister as he goes.

"I'll be around here. Probably. Um. Be safe, Spin."

[triggerhappycopter]

Yeah, alright, Mr. 'Meep' McTotallyNotCoweringorShort.

"Trouble starts, you yell," Spinister repeats, giving the beige mech one last look over his shoulder before walking out of any comfortable conversation range.