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

[no_dreams_for_you]

“Yes,” Gaara answered in his customary calm tone, “A research facility, of sorts. Or rather, that is what the Doctors had claimed. They are also capable of causing memory loss.” Which he assumed they did just that to Luke, as with everyone else that had suddenly forgotten about the facility.

His expression turned curious, at the unexpected mention. “Hotel?”

Auldrant… that was the name of Tear’s original world. Gaara remembered a few conversations they had about fonons, fonic artes, fonic hymns… All of those details were slowly surfacing within his mind, which still felt a little disoriented. Shukaku was also prodding him, wanting to take advantage of the fact that there was no longer a collar to suppress his chakra reserves. Gaara purposely ignored that source of distraction, and returned his attention to the conversation at hand.

“When residents are terminated from the facility, the Consortium returns them to their original world.” He will… leave out the fact that they are terminated in a rather gruesome fashion. He won’t ever forget the sight of limp bodies being shoved into the incinerator, so carelessly.

A sheepish look finally broke through that endless stoic mask. With a slight incline of his head, he replied, “My name is Gaara. I have just arrived here, not long ago. And yourself?”

[headfons]

He blinked, a very faint sound escaping his throat. That didn't sound good, at all. From "research" to "memory loss", Luke's mind was coming up with several ideas as to what kind of place it could have been. He'd leave that alone, for now, though. Namely, because the other redhead had questioned the...hotel...

His eyes shifted to the side as he spoke, "The hotel was in a place called 'California'. It was a place that had two solid weeks of day, and then two solid weeks of night," his expression was slowly darkening just a bit, "It drew people in; and it was referred to, by the man in charge, as our 'home away from home'. He treated sitting back and watching us kill one another...or be killed by the staff, like a game. In a lot of ways, he acted like he was doing us all a favor."

Teeth clenching, his hand tightened into a fist so tightly it began to tremble a bit. Appearing to catch himself, he forced his hand to relax. Green eyes slowly looking back to the other teen, "He told us he was there to deliver us from 'an ill fate'. That we'd never be a number in his eyes. He said to consider that place our canvas to...'do upon it' anything we have 'ever dreamed of wanting'."

There was a faint and somewhat dry laugh as his eyes drifted back to the side, "During the night period, the hotel would...turn on us. All of the staff would turn into strange creatures, and spend those entire two weeks trying to kill us." then, after swallowing hard, "Nobody arrived in that place with a weapon, so most of us were pretty defenseless. In a lot of ways, we were set up to be killed without so much as a chance of defending ourselves."

He decided to leave out the part about how he'd been killed while fighting to protect someone else- more like, failing to protect someone else. Luke wasn't ready to talk about that. Besides, he wasn't actually sure why he'd even told all of that to a stranger. Maybe it was just nice to be able to talk about it with someone, while in a place he apparently didn't have to worry about any of that stuff-

Suddenly, brow tensing, he turned his head to the side. His eyes were resting on the sun- only, it wasn't the sun, itself. The fact that the sun was setting had Luke's body tensing for a moment. He tried to remind himself that he wasn't there, anymore. That kid hadn't mentioned anything about something crazy happening at night. Then, again, he could be working with the staff. After holding a blink, he forced himself to pay attention to the conversation.

"...I see. Well, that would be good, right?" A faint smile appeared on his lips, "I'd rather them be home, than...anywhere else." Read: a place like the hotel.

The sheepish look had a more genuine smile appearing on Luke's face. He nodded at the introduction and answer to his question, his hand lowering back down to his side, "Nice to meet you, Gaara. Today's my first day here......"

Green eyes shifted back in the direction of the lowering sun, though it was only a glance. Almost as though to force himself to focus on- anything else, he looked back to Gaara with a curious expression, "Has anyone explained how things work, here? A kid that's been living here for twelve months gave me a more detailed explanation."

[no_dreams_for_you]

Gaara listened without comment, his light eyes never leaving the other’s face. California – that name sounded familiar, but not in firsthand practice. If Luke was disturbed by attempts of murder alone… then the facility would have been much harder on his mental state. For some, death was preferable, to the types of experiments that were conducted on the general populace. It was a horrific place, run by sadistic individuals hell-bent on breaking their test subjects.

Then again, perhaps for Luke, death was considered the worst outcome, rather than instances of physical and mental torture. Judging by his reaction, he bore emotional scars from his imprisonment at this hotel, however long it had been. So, once again, the night was feared. Darkness was considered to be the source of evil. Gaara wisely concealed the small note of amusement that he felt, at this familiar stipulation.

He nodded at the end of Luke’s explanation, and attempted to appear sympathetic. Death didn’t truly perturb him, though he understood that many people were on the opposite end of that spectrum. “It was a game, to those in-charge,” he muttered with a clear edge of disdain, “They utilized these tactics in order to control their victims. Their methods are crude, at best. Effective, but with little room for varying results.”

Which, in his opinion, was useless. If the subjects were all left defenseless, then the results could be predicted much more easily. That seemed… rather tedious.

After a moment of hesitation, Gaara nodded, though it wasn’t necessarily in agreement. He should desire a safe return for all of the residents in the facility. (Except a few of the villainous types, perhaps.) And this empty, hollow feeling – it didn’t exist. He refused to let it surface, through sheer force of will. He wouldn’t allow himself to be affected by it.

His features quickly shifted back to their default neutral, even as he was wondering how he should respond. If he said it was nice to meet Luke, well. That wouldn’t be the truth, because they had been acquainted, once before. “I see,” he finally answered. Not very informative or particularly enthusiastic, but social interaction was still an attribute he needed to improve on.

“I haven’t spoken to the workers of this city. I do not trust them. This city doesn’t seem to be as dangerous as previous locations,” he remarked in his customary calm demeanor, “Though, I could be proven wrong. I intend to validate the information presented in the pamphlet, beginning with the living arrangements.”

[headfons]

It wasn't the murder attempts- though, he did find those awful. Death didn't bother Luke as much as the fact that it had been treated as a game. That man had toyed with people's lives. He'd all but laughed in Luke's face, and the replica wouldn't have hesitated to put an end to that man's games. It would have maybe...saved everyone else in that hotel. He'd come to understand the necessity of...killing...certain individuals. Not that he'd ever revel in taking the life of even the most villainous of beings...

"Yeah. He played a sick game. I was actually going to organize a search party to try and hunt that guy down, and put a stop to it." Luke had seen it as one-sided, "Although, I'm not really sure how that would have worked. He clearly had some kind of ability to warp our perceptions. No matter how far we traveled, away from the hotel, it always seemed like we were getting nowhere. We could walk thirty minutes, look behind us, and the hotel was...always there..." It was enough to eventually drive some of them insane, in the end.

Honestly, Luke wouldn't have been surprised if it had.

Luke listened quietly to Gaara's answer, then nodded. Really, he couldn't help but give a wry smile at the mention of lack of trust. Well, it sounded very familiar, after all. He hadn't approached those receptionist, either. He also agreed that the city didn't seem as dangerous, but that had been how the hotel had been. During the day period, it had been just fine. It was only when darkness cloaked everything- warping even the rooms themselves, only to add to the gruesome nature of the place.

"I didn't speak to them, either...for the same reason." Luke offered a somewhat awkward smile, "Well, if you like, I could show you to the apartments. There's a place called a media center, in Building One. It's where you go if you wanna use what they call the Network."

[no_dreams_for_you]

Organize a search party to locate the one responsible? Under those circumstances? “Rather ambitious,” the Suna ninja commented blithely, though not without a hint of mild admiration. “The hotel may have been confined in a solitary location, such as an island…” or a space station, like the facility. “The most effective counterattack can only occur, once a weakness has been exposed. Then, it can be exploited to gain advantage.”

Gaara suppressed the urge to sigh. Like Tear and his other companions, Luke wasn’t an ordinary civilian without the capability to fight. Nevertheless, he was still unarmed, which limited his venues of self-defense. It would seem that he couldn’t fight very effectively without his weapon, a sentiment Gaara understood all too well. He absolutely hated being rendered defenseless at the facility, and it had happened a number of times, via those damn collars.

He waited until they weren’t in direct view of the general public, and then reached into the folds of his long coat. He pulled out a kunai, and offered it to Luke; he had several in his possession, along with a few other ninja tools. His supply wouldn’t last forever, but as long as he had access to his sand abilities, he didn’t need to use them. Luke, on the other hand, didn’t seem to have any supplies… which Gaara presumed was intentional, on the hotel’s part.

“This is only a temporary solution, but one should never remain defenseless.” And then, after a pause, “Do you know how to wield this weapon?” At the facility, he hadn’t asked Tear what kind of weapon Luke primarily fought with. He didn’t want to assume that Luke would automatically know what to do with a kunai.

“…Furthermore,” he continued, glancing away to purposely avoid eye contact, “if anyone attempts to attack us, I won’t hesitate to kill them. It won’t be necessary for you to fear the night, in this setting. Darkness can be utilized to one’s advantage, in a combat situation.”

The mention of a network had Gaara looking up with renewed interest. He could use it to communicate with the other residents, and ask to be contacted, should his companions arrive. Even so, he had every intention of searching for them personally. He didn’t sleep, and that would be the most efficient utilization of his time. And… he wanted to realize the true nature of this city, once night fell. If monsters truly only appeared after the sun disappeared… he certainly wouldn’t oppose engaging in combat.

“Very well,” he replied coolly, making a conscious effort not to show any hints of eagerness. What could be misconstrued as desperation, would work against him, once revealed. Information was a very powerful asset, after all. “Is the Network a source of communication?”

[headfons]

"Unfortunately the only clue I had was the sound of his voice. He'd only ever speak to us using the voice feature on the device, like a coward." He then muttered with a sigh, "Even after being quick to threaten me for calling him out, he never came out of hiding."

...Luke had absolutely hated being defenseless.

That had been part of what had him driven him crazy. When Luke's eyes landed on the weapon, there was a pause. After glancing from Gaara's face, back to the weapon, he reached out and accepted it. Listening quietly, there was a soft smile appearing on his lips. It was almost apologetic, as he heard the question. There was one person he could think of that might be able to wield something like that. Softly, he reached and scratched the back of his head with his free hand, "Well, I can't say I do, but I'd be more happy to learn! Thanks, Gaara. This...means a lot, actually."

Even if Luke's words weren't enough to express that, the appreciative smile should have been. The next words had Luke's face falling serious, for a moment, however. Luke had learned what the price of hesitation was- several times, in fact. His chest tightened just at the thought. That had been the reason Takasu had- No, stop thinking about it. Just stop. After watching Gaara's face, a moment, he finally spoke. His voice was just as serious as his expression; though, there might have been a hint of forced calmness.

"Heh, you sound almost like them. Don't worry, though. I won't hesitate, either. Even without a weapon, I'll figure something out. I refuse to stand by and be useless, while other people do the fighting." Just like that, his voice sounded considerably more determined.

To the agreement, Luke's expression brightened up. With a nod, he turned in the direction in which they needed to go. One hand on his hip, he lightly gestured in that direction, "It's this way," he started, then nodded at the question, "Yeah, it's actually pretty simple, too."

He was, soon after, starting that way, Luke's expression softened a bit, in faint worry. The redhead's hand lifted from his hip, one finger reaching to scratch at the side of his face. With that, he was muttering, "I really hope he wasn't left there, alone..." he started- then, the volume of his voice increased to normal, and he glanced to the other redhead to ask, "Do you have anyone you're looking for, Gaara?"

[no_dreams_for_you]

“Similar to the Doctors.” Gaara allowed a lot grunt of disdain to slip free. “Perhaps his display of power was a mere façade.”

His expression dimmed a little, with disappointment, at hearing that admission of not knowing how to wield the kunai. He couldn’t very well allow Luke to use it carelessly, and end up accidentally stabbing himself, now could he? Such emotion and gratitude, for a small bit of help. Gaara secretly felt relieved that he wasn’t facing the other. That made it far easier to conceal the softness flickering across his face, for a brief instance.

“…Mmm. You are welcome,” he simply nodded, to indicate that he was willing to teach Luke. He had experience in doling out instruction, though he would first need to realize the extent of the other redhead’s capabilities. “What types of weapons are you experienced in utilizing?”

That kind of resolve was certainly promising. Gaara had no intention of wasting his time, teaching a student that didn’t possess the desire to learn. “…Them? We can begin instruction, at your earliest convenience.” He tilted his head slightly, looking over his shoulder at Luke to gauge his facial features. “Good. Being useless typically results in fatal consequences. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t behave foolishly. Understand your limitations, and adhere to them.”

He followed Luke toward the first district, opting not to comment on the fact that he already knew how to access a network… of sorts. Perhaps the mechanism was different, in this world. He would need to adapt, quickly. “Have you utilized it yet?”

Hearing that quiet murmur, he was curious enough to ask, “A friend of yours?” But that question… prompted Gaara to turn away again. Maintaining a stiff, but emotionless tone, he replied, “Yes. My siblings, my b-… my comrade, and my friends. And you are searching for Tear, Jade, and Guy, amongst others. Correct?”

That near slip of the tongue was unintentional, and he scolded himself, inside his mind. His relationship with Sai had been used as a weapon by nefarious villains, a number of times before. He shouldn’t disclose that tidbit of information, unless it became a necessity.

[headfons]

"Maybe. One theory I came up with, while I was there, was that he was working with others. I kept getting the feeling that it was a group. Either way, though, it doesn't really matter, right now."

Considering he wasn't even there. He wouldn't assume that he was never going back. Really, it was more that he didn't want to think about it, at that moment. He'd like to have just...a moment to not think about that place. Though, he knew it wouldn't be that simple. Almost everything was reminding him of it. Not to mention, he couldn't help worrying about the one person he'd spent so much effort protecting. Damn it, was it really just him...?

That was a welcome question, "Swords. I spent seven years training with- a man named Van, and my best friend, Guy." His expression faltered just slightly, but he continued, "Though, my last year on Auldrant was spent learning most of what I know now."

Honestly, he hadn't really know anything beyond the basics, prior to getting spirited out of the manor. Thinking back, his expression softened as he took a moment to stare at the ground in thought. It still felt like, just yesterday, he was living a quiet life in ignorant bliss. So much had happened in such a short amount of time. Man, he missed his friends. His brow tensed as he smiled, "Tear and Jade. What you said kind of...reminded me of something they'd have told me." Luke nodded, soon after, "I'm free pretty much anytime."

He then muttered, "I doubt I'll be sleeping tonight, anyway."

Green eyes rested on the other's face, his own expression tensing at the mention of fatal consequences. With that, his eyes were shifting to the side. He was quickly having to force his mind not to drift back to that place- that cafeteria, where those knife-wielding chefs waited for him, every night. He hadn't been lying about not sleeping, tonight. Turning his head to the side as he forced a smile, however, he nodded, "That's why useless is the last thing I want to be. And, yeah, I know. I'll be careful."

On the way to Building One, Luke worked to keep himself calm, in spite of the steadily lowering sun. After that last two-week stretch of darkness he'd encountered back at the hotel, he couldn't help but get into a fight-ready demeanor. It wasn't that he was necessarily scared, more than he was ready to...defend himself against who-knows-what. He nodded at the question, "Yeah, I managed to send out a message, asking people to let me know if they hear anything about any of my friends."

The question had Luke nodding, yet again, "Yeah, Takasu Ryuuji. He was with me at the hotel. He was the only one there that I could really call my friend. There were other people I trusted, but I didn't really have a chance to get close to them. Takasu was also my roommate."

Oh, and he'd caught that slip. In fact, he'd paused just to tilt his head a bit, giving Gaara a very brief and curious stare. Luke was sure to follow it up with a polite smile, however. He wouldn't judge or push for information. But...well, that was certainly a non-descriptive list, "What are their names? I'll be sure to keep a watch out for them, and let you know the second I hear anything." He paused a moment, "Yeah. There's also Anise, Natalia, and Mieu."

[no_dreams_for_you]

Luke was right; since he was no longer trapped in the hotel, it would do little good to continue theorizing on his captors. So long as they didn’t appear in this new world. If any of the Doctors showed up, Gaara would capture them for questioning… and then consider killing them. At the facility, the consensus had been to spare the interns’ lives, and he respected the decision of the majority. However, if left to his own devices, he wouldn’t be as merciful. Not by this point.

Ah, so he was a swordsman. A kunai was much smaller, but the basic concepts were similar, considering the type of weapon. Presumably, after seven years of training, Luke would have enough experience to execute efficient body movement.

“What you know… with regards to this world?” The dim in his expression didn’t escape the ninja’s scrutiny. Nostalgia seemed to be the most logical source of that distress. It was all but confirmed when Luke mentioned two of his friends, in relation to him. Gaara would certainly agree that he and Tear shared a few of the same values. Jade, he had never directly interacted with – merely monitored his presence over the network.

“I will be occupied tonight,” he informed Luke vaguely, even though the reason should have been fairly obvious. He was going to spend that time searching and exploring this new city. “Otherwise, I will be available for instruction.”

He hesitated, wondering if it would be wise to reveal his techniques, at this point. Well, it wasn’t as though other shinobi would lack that knowledge. In all honesty, he was never very secretive when it came to demonstrating his capabilities. It taught possible opponents not to underestimate him, based on appearance or demeanor alone. Furthermore, Luke wasn’t familiar with the mechanics of the ninja world, while Gaara knew about the fonons and such.

They were approaching his assigned building. Gaara stepped off to head toward the side of it, and then within seconds, created perfect sand clones of his siblings and Sai. With regard to his friends… he would search for them himself. The Leaf shinobi, as well, if any of them had arrived. It would overwhelm Luke, to expect him to memorize the appearances and names of so many individuals. He had his own agenda to carry out, and didn’t need to be burdened more heavily.

“Kankuro. Temari. Sai.” He identified each one with a swift wave of his hand. “If you encounter any of them, please contact me immediately.”

In return, he made a mental note to read Luke’s network post when he accessed it. He would keep an eye out for the individuals Luke had named, including his roommate from the hotel. Meanwhile, the sun was swiftly slipping away, heightening the Suna ninja’s sense of awareness. He preferred to conduct his search during the night, while exploration of the city itself could be reserved for the daytime.

[headfons]

The misunderstanding had him blinking, and then letting out a soft laugh.

"Ah...no. Not this world," his face reddened just a bit, before he looked away awkwardly, "I didn't learn anything about the outside world, until a year before I was spirited away from Auldrant. Until then, I was confined to my manor. They had claimed it was for my own safety, but..." He let out a very brief and awkward laugh, "Uh...I didn't really start learning how to wield a sword, until I finally saw the outside world, for myself. I was able to fight real battles, and learn some pretty amazing things!"

Then, he was blinking, and glancing at Gaara with a slightly apologetic expression. He hadn't meant to start rambling. Clearing his throat, he spoke in a sheepish tone, "Heh...sorry about that."

Luke nodded, understandingly, at the fact that Gaara would be busy. Thinking about it, Luke realized that might actually be a better idea. Instead of sitting around, restless and on-edge, he could use that time to look around. Smiling lightly, Luke nodded, "Well, how's tomorrow, then?"

When he saw Gaara head over to the side of the building, Luke hung back for a moment. Slowly, he stepped close enough to see, and-

Green eyes widened at the additional three people. He was looking from Gaara...to the....replicas(?)...to Gaara, again. His expression was caught somewhere between wonder and confusion. Stepping closer to the three strangers, Luke was leaning closer to inspect them. They looked like actual people, yet the way Gaara was talking...they were just there to demonstrate the appearance of three people he was looking for. Curiosity took over and he was reaching out to poke the chest of the one called Kakuro.

"So, you can create...replicas?"

That was literally the only explanation Luke could come up with. After all, replicas were the only copies of other people he'd ever seen made. Of course, he also knew that required fon machinery of some kind. Hence, his utter confusion.

[no_dreams_for_you]

“Confined…” he mumbled softly, as he was suddenly reminded of his childhood. Being restricted from having contact with his siblings, and the majority of the other villagers. “Are you frequently in danger?” Because his friend Ishtar, back at the facility… in all honesty, there were times when Gaara wished she would be confined. Unless Luke was confined for the opposite reason… his existence endangered those around him.

Then, he shook his head at the follow-up statement. “You don’t need to apologize.” He was naturally curious, and gleaning information from others was expected of a skilled ninja. When easily offered, he didn’t have to expend as much efforts to be deceitful or manipulative.

“Very well. I will contact you, over the network, to arrange a time and location.” Since… there wasn’t another simple method of communication. He didn’t intend to go directly to Luke’s residence. They were acquaintances, nothing more, and Gaara preferred to keep their bond that way. Having emotional ties severed was a painful experience, as both his past and the facility had taught him, repeatedly.

He observed Luke’s reaction to his clones with some amusement, smirking a little. This wasn’t the first time he had elicited this type of response from another. The clone of his brother didn’t move, even when Luke poked him in the chest. All of them were solid, much more durable than the clones that Leaf shinobi typically produced.

“Replicas…?” Derived from the word “replicate”? Not the exact term shinobi would use, but it was fairly close. “These are clones. They are commonly utilized for combat and reconnaissance missions. Most shinobi are expected to have the capability to create them.”

As further demonstration, he summoned one more clone: this time, of Luke. It bore his exact appearance, and like the others, remained completely stationary.

[headfons]

Luke smiled wryly at that question- in a lot of ways, he could answer that with a 'yes'.

Considering what he and his friends had been doing, it was no surprise they got arrested several times. There was that time he'd been kidnapped by Arietta's pet bird. Twice. Then, there was the matter of the God-Generals trying to kill him and a his friends many times. Still, though, all of that had been danger they'd brought on themselves. In the end, however, that hadn't been his reason for being confined.

"It's not quite like that," he started hesitantly, "Put simply, the real reason I was locked away, was to fulfill the Score. They didn't want to let me out until the day I was destined to-" he paused, his voice lowering just a bit, "-...visit a mining town."

Even to that day, he wasn't exactly thrilled to announce he'd killed approximately ten-thousand people. He had no idea how the stranger would react to hearing something like that. Besides, someone having the power to destroy an entire town in a matter of seconds? That wouldn't exactly be easy on the nerves to hear about. With that in mind, Luke was opting for keeping quiet about that particular detail. He nodded to the next words, then lightly smiled at Gaara saying he'd contact him. Well, that made it more simple for the both of them.

Clones? Shinobi, combat, missions...So, that pretty much settled any doubts that Gaara was an average person. Seeing the clone of himself had Luke's expression tensing just a bit. Well, the last time he'd seen his own face...it'd been a less-than-pleasant experience. Forcing himself to exhale, he managed a soft laugh. His voice was low and somewhat tense as he explained:

"Replicas are identical physical copies of both living and non-living things. They can be created using a machine or a fonic arte. On Auldrant, the act of creating replicas is referred to as Fomicry, and it's been proven possible to create replicas of dolls, animals, people, and even entire continents. One person was going to attempt to replicate the entire world, but...my friends and I put a stop to that. There's a reason Fomicry is a forbidden ability, though. Most of the time, either the replica or the original...dies." He paused, then added with a smile that didn't match his eyes, "...In fact, there's literally only one replica currently in existence, that...I know of, that's lived for more than just a few years."

[no_dreams_for_you]

Tear mentioned something about the Score before, during one of their conversations… the details hadn’t fully surfaced, though. Parts of his memories were a little hazy, not that Gaara would outright admit it. An effect of departing from the facility? Well, there had to be some flaws in the Consortium’s apparent ability to extract people from multiple worlds.

So Luke’s existence had a specific responsibility tied to it, from birth. A little too startlingly familiar, but the Suna ninja revealed nothing on his face. The natural follow-up question was, “Did you fulfill your purpose?”

Even with his limited understanding of social interaction, Gaara could tell when the mood suddenly changed. Luke was fairly transparent, with regards to expressing his emotions and inner thoughts. A notable difference from Tear, who freely divulged information, but wasn’t very open with her feelings. The way Jade spoke to his comrades suggested that he used bluntness and cynical remarks as a cover, to deter outsiders. And Guy, he hadn’t remained at the facility long enough for Gaara to properly assess his mannerisms.

Now, if he were to look into Luke’s eyes, would even more be revealed?

An identical physical copy… so, not a temporary clone that could be easily discarded. Was that process truly possible? Gaara’s brows furrowed in contemplation. Yes, there would certainly be a morally gray area for the actual creation of a sentient being. Especially if it was against the will of the original individual. Dolls, however… Would there truly be such a frequent need for that? Most materialistic items were replaceable, by mass production in the market.

“Replicate the entire world?” His eyes widened a little; to have that level of capability… “At the risk of all the individuals perishing?” How ambitious. Pursuit of a forbidden technique, like Orochimaru’s desire to attain immortality. Not to mention, Sand ninja from his own village, that had once experimented with techniques involving puppets and humans.

“Only one,” he repeated, with a slight head tilt. “And you are acquainted with this replica?”

[headfons]

Luke's expression darkened and he gave a faintly startled expression at the question- not that he was necessarily surprised at the fact that Gaara asked it. Lowering his head a bit, eyes planted to the ground, he had to force his expression to relax. Which was difficult, considering the swarm of thoughts rushing forth. Of course they were more so memories, than thoughts. The things he'd only allowed to surface within his nightmares, they were coming through due to that single question. His voice was tense as he said, "Yeah...I did..."

If Gaara were able to look into his eyes, right then, he would definitely notice the cloud of emotions. Luke was transparent; without a doubt, he was not good at hiding his feelings. It was an unfortunate thing, considering he was not eager to discuss the matters of Akzeriuth. With a clearing of his throat, he lifted his head and gave Gaara a forced smile- his eyes definitely didn't match, "...unfortunately."

...

Yes, Van had certainly not cared about the fact that he was going to destroy billions of lives. The man Luke had blindly trusted had never seen the err of his ways. Even to that day, Luke couldn't hate him, though. Luke's voice was quiet as he muttered, "He was going to repopulate the world with replicas. It was all part of his plan to destroy the Score."

The last question had Luke's brow tensing. The smile held as he nodded. It was still very difficult to tell people about his being a replica- he still remembered the reactions that almost all of the staff at the manor had given. Chest tightening at the memory of the fear. The hatred. It was difficult to just...up and forget something like that. Fortunately, two of the White Knights...and Pere...had never changed their view of him. The rest of the staff, though? Forcing all of those thoughts to the back of his head, he reminded himself that it was all in the past. That was all over and done with. Heck, he wasn't even in that world, at the moment.

"Yeah," he started, reaching up to scratch at the back of his head, "It's me."

[no_dreams_for_you]

His body language was telling, in itself, along with the abrupt shift in expression. Amplified more so by the tone of his voice, and that obvious fake smile. He had seen similar ones on Sai, often enough to detect them easily.

Most importantly, was the look in his eyes, when Luke finally lifted his head. It was haunted, plagued with guilt that would take a great deal of time to recover from. Gaara had looked into a mirror once, back when he was a child. Shortly after his father had punished him for losing control of his powers, and consequently killing one of their villagers.

“......”

Whatever had happened in this mining town, was a painful memory for Luke. Gaara considered asking, but relented, before the words could fully form. Luke was clearly uncomfortable with this line of questioning. It wasn’t his place to force that type of heavy burden on someone he still didn’t know. Though, he did make a mental note of it, for future reference. Just in case he needed to probe deeper, one day.

“He didn’t have the right to make that decision, unilaterally,” Gaara stated in a dry tone, “What reasons did he have to abhor the Score to such an extent?”

…Luke himself was that replica. Well. That was certainly unexpected.

Without announcing his intentions, the Suna ninja dismissed the clones and returned his sand back into his gourd. It explained why Luke had tensed up at the sight of his own clone, while expressing curiosity at the ones he didn’t recognize. What remarkable technology to possess, being able to create an entire planet… but it was undoubtedly a dangerous power. He could only imagine the number of wars that would take place in the ninja world, if such an impacting technique was available.

“Then, your original has perished?” Unless the original was still alive, back in Luke’s home world. Auldrant, he had called it? “…Hmm. You are unique and fortunate, to be the sole survivor.”

[headfons]

There was obvious relief when Gaara didn't push the topic further. Luke was far from thrilled to talk about Van; he simply wasn't quite as painful of a discussion. Eyes lowering, Luke was quiet for a moment. He fully agreed with Gaara's statement, in spite of his tense demeanor. With a sigh, he lifted his eyes back to the other redhead's face.

"It started as revenge, and then..." He didn't honestly want to go into that subject, "...We tried reasoning with him, but it never did any good. I used to wonder if I'd done enough to try convincing him, but..." He held a blink, then let out a very brief and sad laugh, "In the end, I think it had become a crazy obsession for him. After dealing the final blow, I realized there was nothing else we could have done." A sad smile rested on his face, "We all did what we had to. I'm just glad I was able to finish everything, before..."

His throat went just a bit dry, and he turned his head to conceal the sudden pained look, "Now that Lorelei's free, Auldrant should be just fine. Everyone should be fine." That was what he'd focus on.

Luke watched the clones disappear...and then his eyes followed the...sand(?) to the thing on Gaara's back. Oh...Well, that was certainly cool. While he'd witnessed some amazing things in his lifetime, he'd yet to witness anything like that. He was distracted, instantaneously, by the question. His face tensed, a bit, before he nodded, "Yeah," he looked away, though, at the mention of him being unique and fortunate, "Well, I'm not the only replica left, period. Not...all of them were killed," or sacrificed, he finished in his head, "The oldest one, though, is only maybe a fourth of my age. Fortunately, last time I saw him, he seemed to have plenty of energy."

A smile appeared on his face, at that. Florian certainly had quite a bit of energy. It was a good thing, no doubt. Luke very much hoped he'd live a long life. His thoughts were interrupted as he glanced off to the distance. The sun was sinking behind buildings, at that point. His brow tensed, though he instantly forced his expression to relax. He reminded himself that he wasn't in the hotel. The night wouldn't be the same, there.

[no_dreams_for_you]

“…Before being kidnapped from your world,” Gaara finished in a cool tone. So Luke hadn’t left any unfinished business behind, in his home world. He was… very fortunate, in that regard. “There are certain individuals that refuse to change their ideals, despite all efforts to persuade them otherwise. If words have no effect, then force becomes a necessity.” Granted, not all shinobi bothered with talking out their conflicts. Some of them jumped straight to violence. “Your world is now safe. That is the most important factor, correct?”

He caught the way Luke was staring at his sand… and felt uncertain about how to interpret that look. He was accustomed to people fearing his powers, from his village, as well as within the facility. Their wariness was completely justified, considering what he had done to them, after losing control to the devilish sand demon. He couldn’t commit that heinous sin… yet again… in this new world.

“Why have you survived for so long, and not the others?” And then, another curious thought: “What is your current age?”

Gaara had other questions in mind as well, but when Luke looked away, his gaze followed. Night was falling… excellent. His eyes narrowed slightly with renewed interest, senses immediately heightening at the darkened setting. Shukaku was shifting more actively inside his mind, sharing that same fascination with the night. His reasons were seedy and perverse, but in the absence of a full moon, Gaara had the greater mental strength and willpower.

Regardless… enough information had been extracted, for the time being. He wanted to begin his search, very soon. Luke was useful helpful, and his kindness would be remembered.

Bearing that in mind, Gaara turned to him and bluntly offered, “Do you need protection?”

[headfons]

Well, Gaara was half right. Luke had actually come close to saying, 'before I vanished'. He didn't bother correcting Gaara; there was a reason he hadn't finished his sentence. He gave a nod at the question, after listening to the other redhead's words, quietly.

"It's...because Asch and I had matching fonon frequencies. The original and the replica don't normally match on that level," and then, with an awkward smile, "I've been alive for eight years."

That question had Luke blinking. In that moment, he was remember the time that his friends had attempted to put him in the center of the triangle with Ion. To protect him. Smiling faintly, he shook his head. Since that day, he'd vowed to be protected by others. He would fight until he couldn't fight, anymore. Even when he was scared, hurt, barely able to move...He'd fight until his body literally couldn't move, anymore.

"No." Also, "Do you still want me to show you how to use the Network?"

Tilting his head to the side, just a bit, he reached a hand to scratch at the back of his head. He wasn't going to push the matter. The Network wasn't actually difficult to figure out. Or maybe Gaara would want to wait until another time to learn. Though, the Network would be a useful tool in locating his friends. If any of them were there, maybe they'd be on there, somewhere.

[no_dreams_for_you]

Eight years… His appearance heavily suggested otherwise. His body was that of a developed teenager, a man, even. He was taller than Gaara, had broader shoulders, and by the look of his exposed abdomen, was more muscular. Luke must not have been created at the birth of his original, then. That would be Asch, presumably. He also mentioned that he didn’t know much about the outside world, and had only explored it for… approximately a year or so?

“You can take this opportunity to acquire more knowledge,” Gaara remarked quietly, turning to make a quick gesture toward the district behind them. “Books are extremely informative, as well as observing other individuals.”

He was similar to the other redhead in that regard, although, interestingly enough, Luke seemed to be better adjusted. How could he already appear so calm and relaxed, and this skilled with social interaction, given his past circumstances? That journey around his world must have taught him a great deal. A twinge of negative emotion pulled a frown over Gaara’s brows, but as usual, he said nothing to indicate his inner thoughts.

“Yes.”

And with that, he headed toward the entrance of the building, and waited for Luke to show him where the network was located. Or rather, the communication device that could utilize it.

[headfons]

Luke nodded, a smile resting on his face, "I was fortunate to have my friends help me. Not to mention, I was able to see nearly all of Auldrant, during our journey. I stopped in every library I could and...read as much as I could. There's still a lot I have to learn about, but that's okay. I...actually enjoy learning, a lot!"

He grinned just a bit with that last sentence. It was definitely the truth. Luke had thrived on having questions answered by everyone. They'd certainly all been quick to answer them- if they weren't busy picking on him or making fun of him for something. Sometimes those jokes did hurt a tiny bit more than he'd let on, but whatever. They were just joking; it didn't matter, anymore, anyway. It was all over and done with, and- well...a part of him would definitely do it all over, again. He missed them. His expression softened in curiosity at noticing the frown, "Something wrong?"

Following Gaara to the entrance, he began leading him over to the place where said communication devices were located. Gesturing towards the things that resembled...flatter versions of the television screens he'd seen at the hotel, he looked over at Gaara, "This is it."

[no_dreams_for_you]

His enthusiasm was… somewhat amusing. Luke reminded him of his friend Sora, back at the facility, who had always seemed eager to learn and try new activities. When presented with the option of ignorance or knowledge, Luke had chosen the latter. Like with the kunai, and not knowing how to wield it – he agreed to train, so he wouldn’t remain ignorant.

Suppressing the urge to smile faintly, Gaara inclined his head in a single nod of acknowledgement. “Then I trust you will acquire information about this world, as well. It might become beneficial, to your goal.” And that was, to leave this world and return home. “If you have questions, I would be willing to answer them as well.” Not specifically pertaining to Saeng Seong, because he didn’t know everything about it himself. At the very least, he wouldn’t exercise humor as a method of discouraging Luke.

“......”

Gaara quirked a brow, at his mood being discovered. He shook his head and replied, “No. I was simply reminded of certain deficiencies. One should always seek to improve himself.”

On that cryptic note, he stepped up to inspect the screens. Most of the functions resembled those of the communication device, used at the facility. How to post, and in what method – simple enough to understand. He decided to refrain from sending a message immediately; the physical search took higher priority.

He turned to Luke, and consciously made sure his expression wasn’t as stern as usual. “Your assistance is appreciated. I will need to depart now, and begin conducting my search.”

[headfons]

Luke nodded at those words, smiling at the offer. He genuinely appreciated all of Gaara's kindness- well, he saw it as kindness, even if Gaara didn't. The replica's head tilted to the side, just a bit, "Thanks, Gaara. I'll keep that in mind."

The words about improvement being something always sought had Luke's face softening. He definitely agreed with that. He'd spent all of the last year on Auldrant doing just that. All he'd wanted was to be...better. He wanted to say goodbye to the old him, and never let that part of him show, ever again. Really, more than anything, he'd wanted to stop being someone that people...should hate. He'd wanted to be someone that could be accepted- of course, then, he realized that he needed to change just for himself.

That was what he'd set his mind on, anyway, "You're right. There's no point in just settling, when there's something you could make better, about yourself. That's how people grow," his smile increased, "If you're not growing, you're pretty much giving yourself no purpose, in life."

Watching Gaara inspect the screens, he remained quiet. Honestly, Luke had held not even the faintest idea of how to use it, since he'd only had experience with the watches back in the hotel. Nodding at the words of appreciation, Luke reached up and scratched the back of his head with a smile.

"It was nothing," he nodded once more, "Good luck. I'm gonna continue mine."

[no_dreams_for_you]

With a light smirk, he remarked candidly, “I’ve yet to earn your gratitude.” As in, he hadn’t answered his questions, to date. He supposed Luke was thanking him for the offer, alone. Exchanging information was a concept of common sense, but not everyone would be so patient, or generous with their time.

“And without a purpose… there is no reason to exist.” His tone turned icy during that brief pause, before resuming its normal quiet volume. But when his gaze settled on Luke, it was absent of judgment. It was astonishing, to think he had only been alive for eight years, and already learned so much about life.

He observed Luke’s reaction as he was scrutinizing the monitor. The technology was not the absolute same as the computers at the facility, but fairly similar. If only Kite was here to hack into the database – he might have been able to extract useful information. Thinking of Kite reminded the Suna ninja to be grateful, for receiving all of those lessons in hacking computers. Was this… technology… also capable of applying privacy settings to the posts? He would realize that answer, through trial and error, at worst.

Gaara nodded in acknowledgment, and decided not to tell Luke that he didn’t base anything on “luck.” He had learned it was an expression people used on others, which essentially meant “good wishes.” Though, he was curious about something; “Are you familiar with this type of technology?”

[headfons]

He shook his head, "You've already done more for me than I deserve. For starters, you didn't have to give me a weapon. It's already more than I can repay, right now..."

Green eyes lowered. Luke certainly didn't disagree with him. In his opinion, Gaara was completely right. That was the reason he would never stop learning, never stop growing, never stop, period. He never stopped pushing himself, even at the hotel. He'd continued fighting to keep Takasu safe, even after letting him down, that first time. In fact, that was what had pushed him to fight, even harder. Returning the gaze, he managed a light smile.

"Hm?" Glancing over at the flat screens, Luke gave an almost exasperated smile. Yeah, about that...

"Only a little. Diarmuid showed me how it works," he started, then looked back over to Gaara, "Auldrant had things similar to this, but I never used them. Then, back at the hotel, we were given what was apparently called a 'watch'. It let us do things...similar to what this can do."

[no_dreams_for_you]

No, he didn’t. But there was something about Luke that had compelled him to try and assist. Perhaps it was because of lingering memories from the facility. A silent tribute to Tear, who had healed the Suna ninja a number of times, when they fought together as allies. More than simply that, Luke had known what it felt like, to be utterly helpless… and abhorred it. Gaara fully understood the sentiment… and so long as there was a desire to fight, he didn’t have a reason to refrain from helping. Luke seemed to be an earnest person.

His tone was cool and dismissive as he murmured softly, “I am not seeking repayment. I did it of my own volition.”

Luke’s world didn’t have watches? …Interesting. That wasn’t a very advanced piece of technology… well, no matter.

Nodding slightly, Gaara touched one of the screens and pulled up the network. “The appearance of this communication device is similar to that of a computer. It is primarily utilized for posting and sending messages.” He began to demonstrate how to post a message, showing Luke the video and voice functions. “However, it would be much more efficient if the device was portable…”