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

[dadcepticon]

Krok takes in the story with a sort of numb detachment. Yes, he's hearing about his own surgery, but he was catatonic after someone shot him with Vos' face still boring into his head. It all might as well have happened to someone else entirely.

"…I see," he murmurs once Spinister finishes recounting the matter. On some level he knew Spinister was talented with a scalpel, but – well. Having it explained so matter-of-factly is different. "I – thank you." He reaches up to rest his hand on Spinister's shoulder and give him a light, friendly shake. "Thank you."

[triggerhappycopter]

The sincerity in Krok's voice makes Spinister hunch awkwardly and he endures the shaking somewhat stiffly. He's not... really used to being thanked for much of anything and he's not entirely sure what to do when Krok speaks at him with that tone.

"No problem," he mumbles haltingly.

[dadcepticon]

As if only just realising how awkward he's making the situation, Krok withdraws his hand and steps back a pace or two. After a second, he reboots his vocal processor and looks at the far wall to his left so Spinister can also recover some dignity.

"So what quarters were you assigned?" he asks. Change of topic. Innocuous one at that. Should put them both back on a proper footing.

[triggerhappycopter]

The distance comes almost as a relief. He's not... used to that. Whatever that had been. There's a strange fluttering ache somewhere in his chest, but nothing came up on his onboard diagnostic programs.

"Uhm," the heli utters, disconcerted and trying to regain his composure. He quickly re-reads the letter and supplies Krok with a muttered, "3-03 in building one."

[dadcepticon]

"That's right across the hall from mine," Krok says, blinking in surprise. He hadn't really expected to have a friend so nearby. It'll certainly make keeping a watchful eye on the big 'Con easier, and Krok dares a tentative smile. "At the risk of speaking too soon," he adds, "I think maybe someone up there is finally giving us a break."

[triggerhappycopter]

"...!" Spinister looks extremely alarmed and then whips his head upwards, gun following in short order.

[dadcepticon]

Krok scrambles to pull Spinister's gun arm and weapon both back down, an easier task than it used to be with their respective heights equalised.

"Spinister, it – calm down it was a figure of speech," he gasps. "There's no-one up there, Spinister." He'd forgotten what it was like, not being able to use metaphors or to speak in anything but the most literal of interpretations possible.

[triggerhappycopter]

"Hrmmm," Spinister obediently lets Krok pull his arm down, still eying the ceiling suspiciously. Everyone kept talking about some guy spying on them and then telling Spin he wasn't there when he tried to go hunt them down. This was getting extremely suspicious!

[dadcepticon]

"I didn't mean it literally," Krok repeats, maintaining his hold on Spinister's arm and trying to lock eyes with him. "Spinister. Spinister, it was a figure of speech. I just meant to reference Primus." Assuming he's even there, and assuming he cares about them at all.

Some of Crankcase's overpowering cynicism may have rubbed off.

"Spinister, you can't just do this here," he says, voice firm and level. Calm. Short, simple sentences. "No shooting like this."

[triggerhappycopter]

At least Krok and Crankcase could conceptualize a God. Spinister just keeps thinking there's a Primus or someone crawling in the ceilings and Flywheels had been buddies with them. This despite multiple, patient, attempts at explaining things to him from the poor red mech.

He finally tears his eyes away from the ceiling when Krok tries to face him and listens intently. When Krok finishes, he cocks his head and takes a moment to sort through the words.

"On-ship rules then?" he queries.

[dadcepticon]

Krok will take whatever blessings he can get. He sighs, some of the tension in his shoulders and arms easing, and is glad to feel his feet level on the floor again once Spinister finally lowers his weapon far enough.

"Yes," Krok says. "On-ship rules go for here, too." He doesn't want the Autobots to have any excuses for going after any of his crew.

[triggerhappycopter]

"Alright," he grumbles, reluctantly slipping his gun away. He still gives the ceiling one last suspicious look though. Just in case.

Now that his hand was free, he promptly takes a hold of Krok's shoulder. Just because it was there really.

"Any other rules?"

[dadcepticon]

This will be the tricky one. Krok reaches up with both hands to hold Spinister's head so he knows there's no getting distracted by something off to the side.

"Yes. Absolutely no shooting at Autobots."

[triggerhappycopter]

Spinister blinks owlishly upon having his head held. He glances at one of Krok's wrist and then back to his Captain's face when he starts talking again.

"What if they shoot at us?"

[dadcepticon]

"I know it's hard," Krok says, because the very thought is contrary to four million years of struggle. "But you can't. You can't, Spinister." Krok's voice takes on a slightly frantic edge and his hands tighten against Spinister's helmet. "If you shoot, they win."

[triggerhappycopter]

He slides his hand up Krok's arm to gently grasp at his wrist.

"What if they get you?"

[dadcepticon]

"They won't," is Krok's simple answer after he glances at the big hand wrapped around his wrist. They're nearly the same height now, the two of them, but Spinister still has hands that seem as big as Krok's head. Probably a trick of the eyes at this point. Krok looks up again, deadly serious. "They won't. Now." Tense but trying to find a better turn in the mood, Krok loosens his hold, free hand falling again to Spinister's shoulder. "Let's get you settled in," he suggests with a faint smile.

[triggerhappycopter]

Spinister takes a long moment to just peer at Krok's face before finally mumbling, "Okay. I won't shoot at things. Or Autobots." It's not... a promise exactly. But the helicopter will try.

"So I got my own room now?" he wonders.

[dadcepticon]

There's something in that simple question that makes Krok's spark ache. They've all been crowded in barracks, on troop ships, aboard the W.A.P. so much the idea of private space is a pipe dream.

"That's right!" he says to Spinister, and pats the copter's hand. "With more than enough space to stretch out."

[triggerhappycopter]

"Really?" That actually does make Spinister perk, eyes lighting up with curious wonder. Then it narrows again in suspicion. "And we're paying for this stuff making their electricity with touches? Weird."

[dadcepticon]

"A small price, I suppose," Krok murmurs. "At least for this sort of comfort and safety." He's never had anything of the sort, himself, and he's willing to trade off some personal space and comfort by touching organics in exchange. And he has his crew, now, too. At least he isn't alone among the Autobots any longer.

He sighs and lowers his voice.

"If it does prove untenable, we can always find a way out," he says. They're scavengers; they find their own way.

[triggerhappycopter]

"Yeah, we will," Spinister nods confidently with a gentle squeeze to Krok's forearm. This was hardly the worst any of them had been through and he has the utmost faith that Krok will know what to do. Or at least, if Krok was going to be knocked out again, then Misfire will come up with some zany plan for them to follow through with.

Speaking of... "Where's the rest of us?"

[dadcepticon]

At that question, Krok frowns thoughtfully, gaze turning unfocused at the middle distance. He doesn't really understand the mechanics of who gets here and how.

"I'm not sure," he says. "There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to who arrives, and they don't even all come from the same point in time. There's an Autobot here who comes from before the war." Well, Prowl isn't wearing his badge, but Prowl and Autobot are as synonymous in Krok's mind as war and hell. "They might show up, and they might not. I've been here almost half a year and I'm only now seeing any other Decepticons." He doesn't say it, but it's there in his tone: he's glad he has friends appearing and not, say, Tarn.

[triggerhappycopter]

It sloooowly clicks in Spin's head. He narrows his optics as his processors catch up with the information. Krok... was here before them? People could be pulled from different times?

"... That's a long time 'round Autobots."

[dadcepticon]

"Not that long, really," Krok says and waves off the matter. "I had a couple months to myself before I saw any of them." A couple of awkward but ultimately pleasant months.

If only his crew had arrived before them.

Ah, but that's in the past. He dismisses his thoughts on that line before they can turn dark and cocks his head at Spinister, smiling.

"Well? Come on, then, and we'll get a look at your quarters." He's fairly sure it'll be a long while before Spinister is satisfied with the light fixtures alone.