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

[toughtalk]

The way he smiles makes it almost impossible for her to bury hers back down. Seriously, where was this Ironhide back home? If this is what he was...he's clearly a shadow of his former self. It's...somewhat relieving. That he can come back to this.

"The shanix I'd give to see that."

But enough standing around. She switches the weight in her legs, looking around. "How about a walk? It's crowded here."

[arnhaid]

After all the recent events, just talking to someone about normal things is a relief. Making someone laugh -- a smile. It's better than being alone, or being stuck listening to Trion. So he smiles a little broader, and nods his head to her.

"Sure thing, next time I see 'im."

And another nod, following her gaze like a big dog. "Wouldn't mind it."

[toughtalk]

She's not going to waste this moment of a confident Ironhide. Really, what she'd give to have this back home. Grabbing his arm, she immediately struts out of the main area, to get some 'fresh air'. A good look at the place.

"I'm not a fan of crowds."

But once they're outside the bustling noise, she vents out some air, taking a seat to get a glance around.

[arnhaid]

He doesn't even have a second to really protest. He just lets her haul him off, not even trying to take his hand back from her. The audacity on her -- dragging a bigger bot around like it's nothing.

He approves. A lot.

"I get that."

He stops when she does, squinting up at the sky, and around them at all the new sights. Definitely not a dead husk of a planet, that's for sure.

[toughtalk]

Just having someone familiar around, even if they don't remember you, is miles above what she was feeling earlier. Her eyes even glow a shade brighter as she gets out into the open, taking in all the sights. A part of her just wants to transform and see how far this world goes--if she can escape that way.

Another part of her just thinks that had probably been tried.

"So...I guess you need some filling in on Cybertron."

Which was going to be a little tough, since she knows probably as much as he does.

[arnhaid]

He stands quietly next to her, hands on his hips. It does bother him -- the lack of memory. It bothers him a lot. But having someone around, someone who could laugh, and talk to him, means more than he really knew how to say. He'd fully expected to be on the planet with a half-crazy, wounded bot, forever.

"Yeah," he says, after a moment. "If you wanna put it all mild like."

Because he had nothing. Absolutely nothing.

[toughtalk]

When the quietness sets in, she notices how similar he acts to back home. Was it because of the memory loss that he'd turned this way? Possible, really. It's not like he can get excited about what he doesn't know.

"I know someone who can help with the details, but I can tell you what's going on back on Cybertron in my time."

A scoff.

"That good for nothing ruler of yours...."

[arnhaid]

His head snaps around to stare at her. As far as he knows, there isn't really a ruler on Cybertron. Not anymore. That doesn't bode well. If it were anyone, wouldn't it be Optimus?

"I... think you better." He shakes his head. "'Cause when you say 'ruler', I'm thinkin' of a good bot."

He really doesn't want to have a problem with this new bot. But if she has an issue with Optimus, it's going to be hard not to.

[toughtalk]

Her eyes match to his, and although she can understand his amnesia, that look he's giving her slightly fills her with apprehension.

"Hate to break the news to you, but he's not. Not from where I'm standing. And I think you'll agree--he's got a pretty bad reputation."

She huffs, looking out at the wide expanse of the area. She doesn't even need to explain, right? The name itself will do that.

"Starscream."

[arnhaid]

No. She really doesn't need to explain. The look on his face could not possibly be more stunned. Like she's just hit him in the chest with an electric prod. Shocked -- dismayed -- a little hurt.

"You... gotta be kidding me..."

But nothing in her manner even remotely suggests she is.

"What about Optimus? What happened to Prime?"

[toughtalk]

A sigh escapes her. Yeah, to be honest, she can see why that would be his expression on hearing the news. She probably wasn't there for his official election, but...well.

Look at who they're talking about.

"Wish I was, big guy."

Her wheels spin a little idly as she looks back at him, having to crane her neck up a little. "Prime? He went to Earth to find Alpha Trion. But apparently, Starscream was leader before he came back to Cybertron. Meaning he must of missed the election."

[arnhaid]

He looks as if he's going to be sick. You know, if it were possible for a Cybertronian to be sick. He shakes his head, dragging both hands down his face with an unhappy groan. It's ridiculous. Completely ridiculous. How could this...?

"I can't believe..."

And the sickened expression doesn't change when she speaks of Prime. If anything, it gets worse. Why would -- Optimus was gone? For Trion? But...

"I think I gotta... sit down."

[toughtalk]

The moment he says that, her hands immediately go out, trying to guide him to anything he can sit on without ineviteably crushing it.

"Easy big guy. Easy..."

But even when he sits down, those hands stay. Look at that, she's attempting comfort.

"If it helps, Starscream's in a position where if he does anything wrong, he's out."

[arnhaid]

He waves a hand. Hopefully it comes off as something more reassuring than dismissive. Because the hands on his arm help -- in a weird sort of way. It may as well have been a lifetime since anyone did that.

Once they're actually seated, he looks over at her, at where her hands rest.

"Only position Starscream should be in is on the ground," he grumbled, sourly. "With half his face beat in."

[toughtalk]

Don't worry, it's taken that way. A hand reaches out to move that arm down, to let the bot get his bearings.

"Believe me, I'm with you on that. I can't trust him as far as I can throw him. But it's not exactly easy going toe-to-toe with ruler of the planet."

...

"He's not the best leader, but he's slippery."

[arnhaid]

He huffs out a heavy vent of air, letting it cycle through. None of this really makes sense. It's like waking up from one dream into another. He'd have taken another day on devastated, empty Cybertron over getting all this dumped on him.

"You shouldn't," he says, flatly. "Shouldn't ever trust Starscream. That's just... "

Both hands scrub over his face, angry now.

"I can't believe this."