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

[arnhaid]

The silence just about answered his question. He didn't press for more details than that, though. Primus, it was worse than trying to talk to Prowl on a bad day.

He squinted at the arm in question.

"Huh." It almost sounded impressed. "Didn't think anythin' organic could do that kinda thing."

[heismymission]

Hearing that wasn't surprising, with the little that he knew thanks to HYDRA and his observation of common people in the last two weeks. Most humans probably didn't think bionic arms as advanced as his were possible. He couldn't expect someone non-human to think it.

"I haven't seen any others," he remarks.

[arnhaid]

"Yeah, well... I ain't seen any organics at all before either, so..."

He waved one hand, a little awkwardly. As if that would somehow convey what he was trying to say better than words.

"You got a name or somethin'? Designation?"

[heismymission]

Did he? In his memory he had been called a name exactly three times: three slightly different names by a single person. He didn't know if the Smithsonian's label next to the picture of the face so much like his counted. He also didn't know if it truly belonged to him, or if he wanted to share something that felt so important with someone that had done nothing but interrupt his thinking with stupid questions.

The Cybertronian had at least not been hostile, so he allowed his gaze to roam as he thought before returning to watching him out of the corner of his eye.

"Not really," he finally said, and it wasn't entirely a lie, because he rarely had the capability.

[arnhaid]

Well, that... made things a little difficult. Sentient things had names where he came from -- hell, even nonsentient things did, sometimes. How in the world did one get by without one?

"Okay," he said, finally. "You uh... want one?"

Making peace with the organics. He totally had this. Totally.

"Like... Strongarm or somethin'?"

[heismymission]

The offer caught his attention because of how unexpected it was, and he turned his head to better examine the robot. Unfortunately he wasn't that great at deciphering Cybertronian body language yet, but even if he could, he probably wouldn't be able to discern the reason behind it. Maybe people other than HYDRA preferred to address him somehow because they weren't aware he'd be paying attention either way...?

It was strange, and he didn't know what to make of it. He jerked his nonmetal shoulder up like he'd half-forgotten how to shrug.

"It doesn't matter what you call me." That was about as close as he was going to get to saying it was fine.

[arnhaid]

"Strongarm it is, then."

Because it was either that or "Blackmask" or "Weird Optic Paint" or something like that. No one ever said Ironhide was the best with names. Besides, if he ended up needing to talk to the guy again, he couldn't really yell out 'hey organic' and hope the right guy spoke up.

"So... I'm guessin' you're new. Wherever we are."

[heismymission]

The nickname went onto the list of things he's been called in case he needed to be addressed later, though he couldn't think of any pressing reason he'd need to be by this... machine in particular. He'd remember it regardless.

"Yes," he replied, and the way the robot referred to 'this place' made it clear he was as well. "The city's called Saeng Seong." He nodded towards the windows, where the banner displaying the name could be seen outside.

[arnhaid]

"Never heard of anywhere like it."

The name definitely didn't sound Cybertronian. Which made sense, seeing as it didn't look Cybertronian at all. It was too soft. Too... well. Too new. Like war had never touched it.

"Have you?"

[heismymission]

"Don't think so," he replied. Considering how much he knew was missing, he couldn't say for certain, but he could tell it didn't ring any bells. He was fairly certain he would recall something like people living on different planets; it sounded like fiction to him.

"I've been a lot of places, but not on a different world."

Sure, he couldn't remember most of those places, but that was mostly irrelevant.

[arnhaid]

Well, that helped a little bit. Knowing it wasn't just the Cybertronians who were so displaced. If an organic didn't know where he was, then... it was weirdly comforting.

"You ain't missin' much," he said, finally. "Maybe it changed but... last time I saw where we come from, it's... I've seen better train wrecks."

[heismymission]

"Not interested either way," the soldier admitted. There was nothing for him on other planets, whether they had civilization or not. He hadn't been before, and unless HYDRA had somehow discovered other planets with life without telling anyone and set up base there, he wouldn't be in the future.

[arnhaid]

"Heh, not the travelin' type?"

He wasn't one to judge. Honestly, there were times when he wondered if he'd ever left his home city, if the war never broke out.

And if he was completely missing the implications, then, oh well.

"Fair 'nough, I guess."

[heismymission]

"Looking for something specific. 'M not about to find it on another world."

Something being his memory, but he didn't have to admit that. He looked back to the crowd to observe the newcomers and those who'd been there some time already; it was fairly obvious who fit into which group just by looking. It didn't appear that there were many there who were familiar with the place, and he had to wonder how many people had been brought here so far.

[arnhaid]

"Hn. Yeah, that's fair."

He really should have figured out what to say to people before he went off and started conversations with strangers. His weight shifted awkwardly back and forth.

"Guess we better start lookin' for a way out then."

[heismymission]

The soldier noticed the Cybertronian's body language, but it was irrelevant to him. He had no concept of what a conversation was supposed to be like, and he wasn't certain he cared.

But the suggestion brought his focus back, and he stood, his gaze returning to the desks briefly before moving to the exit.

"The woman at the desk said none can leave of our own volition," he said. "But she's only one person."

He intended to seek out others "in charge" to determine if it was true.

[arnhaid]

"At the-- Oh. Right."

He'd seen the desk when he came in, but hadn't really bothered to read the paperwork he'd been given. He probably should have, come to think of it. He rubbed at the back of his neck.

"She say why she told you that?"

[heismymission]

He might have thought it strange to discard potential information if he was aware Ironhide had ignored the letter; even untrustworthy words likely had some information hidden in them. But he didn't consider what others did with the packages they were given to be his business.

"Because of what's draining the power," he replied. "They can't leave the city or send us back."

[arnhaid]

"Drainin' power..."

He trailed off, squinting thoughtfully into the empty air. All right. That was an interesting tidbit. It didn't sound good, not by a long shot. He rubbed at his mouth.

"They happen to say what it was doin' the drainin'?"

[heismymission]

"She said they don't know."

The slight tilt of his head said he didn't entirely believe it. Even if she didn't in particular, someone must have known. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to devise an effective solution.

[arnhaid]

"Ain't that just perfect..."

It's less of a question than it is a grumbled complaint. He folds his arms over his chest, scowling across the assembled group of ... captives? Was that the right word?

"Guess we got some diggin' to do around here."

[heismymission]

The Cybertronian was right; there was a lot of information gathering to be done, and it wasn't likely they'd get much more of use here.

The soldier got to his feet after a moment, deciding he'd had enough time to process the situation so far, and that it was time to go. Of course, because he was such a gentleman, he absolutely made some sort of indication to Ironhide that he was leaving before turning to go, and didn't just start to walk away without saying a word. Totally.

[arnhaid]

It was probably inevitable. What else could happen when two people both clearly were not cut out for this whole conversation business? He glanced over, watching the human get up, and move off.

"Okay then."

On his own it was.