TEST DRIVE #002

[reveriemod]

TEST DRIVE #002

( 0 0 1 ) » WAKE UP

Were you asleep or were you unconscious? It doesn't matter: when you come to, there's an odd taste in your mouth and there's a low-level mechanical hum in the air. Your head hurts and you feel nauseous. You aren't anywhere you know: everything around you is metal, from the floor you lie on all the way to the ceiling. You are dressed in a jumpsuit you definitely weren't wearing before.

"We tried to save the world. I think— I think we did the opposite."

The message repeats on a loop. If you look for its source, you find a comms device on the floor next to you. The logo on its wallpaper says REVERIE TERMINAL. Upon closer inspection, you find the same logo on your jumpsuit.

Welcome to your new home. What choice do you have but to explore your surroundings?

( 0 0 1 . 1 ) » WAKE UP WHERE?

When you wake up, you find that you're not alone. But more importantly, you find that you're in a closet. An empty closet, bar you and your new companion. It's small, cramped, and there is no door that you can see. The ceiling is low, there is barely any lights, only some coming from the tiny flashlight clipped to your suit's shoulder. You cannot be sure that there is any air coming in to the room.

Are these grooves in the wall supposed to mean something?

( 0 0 2 ) » OBSERVATION DECK

There were no windows in the corridor you woke up in and no windows in any of the crew quarters you might have checked for occupants — but there are plenty of windows on the uppermost level of the station, deck 1. In fact, there are windows from floor to ceiling all along the circumference of the station's circular deck, and it's possible to walk along it all. What it shows is a strange solar system you've never seen before and a planet that might resemble one you know, but certainly isn't the same.

You're in space. You don't know where you are. Neither does anyone else.

( 0 0 3 ) » BAR

On deck 3, you find the bar. Tucked away from the crew quarters, it's dimly lit, there are bar stools thrown down on the floor and what looks like some very old drink spills, crusty and dark against the bar top. But there is alcohol here, or at least, what you think is alcohol, in bottles with faded labels, most of them indecipherable. Take a drink, get drunk, start a fight, or start a party? You're stuck on this station, might as well make the most of it, right?

( 0 0 4 ) » SPACEQUAKES

One second, you are is walking. Magnetic boots are on, the ground feels solid enough, for a metal deck in a space station. Everything is perfectly fine, or at least as fine as it can be, given that you still don't know where you are or how you came to be here.

The next moment, it's like everything explodes around you. You're thrown against the wall as sparks erupts from electrical panels, as the whole station rumbles and shakes around you. You fall to the deck, earning yourself scratches from the grating. When you look up, it's like nothing has happened. No wires hanging from open panels, no flickering lights, no more shaking. Like an earthquake in space.

( 0 0 5 ) » NETWORK

The comms device you found next to you when waking up connects to a station-wide network, REVERIE NET. You have the option to post video, voice or text messages.

What will you share?

( 0 0 6 ) » WILDCARD

The station features a variety of locations, from sleeping quarters free for the claiming to a dirty swimming pool and a bar that still holds alcohol (though some of the bottles seem to have been opened a while ago).

Go wild, but don't wreck the place. It's your home for the foreseeable future, after all.

Comments

(Bel)Garion Irongrip | Belgariad/Malloreon

[why_me]

( 0 0 1 ) » WAKE UP

[ Garion's no stranger to waking up in unpleasant circumstances. This kind of headache (and queasiness) usually has something to do with a meeting of kings and the fortunate/unfortunate drinking that usually takes place afterwards. Maybe his head hurts from his own singing?

Garion is many things, but a good singer is not one of them.

But there is some noise prickling at his ears, a low level hum that's utterly unfamiliar to him. Much like this location is, as he opens his eyes and looks around at the... metal? room he appears to be in.

His first thought is to his wife, of course, and the arm that reaches out beside him is thrown with enough fearful force to nearly toss him off the bed. He recovers, but it's the first look he gets at the sleeve of the strange clothing he's wearing. The clothing with... words on it? Words that match the wall. And some sort of device on the floor?

He takes it, stuffing it into his pocket since he hardly knows what it is or what to do with it, but it bears examination.

There's a brief flash of relief (whatever has happened to him more than likely has left his wife and his children untouched) before he steels himself, gets to his feet, and starts walking. He has some exploring to do... ]

( 0 0 2 ) » OBSERVATION DECK

[ He's never seen the stars like this. Never imagined he would, as a matter of fact. The closest he's ever been has been when Zandramas...

Well, it wasn't exactly a pleasant mental image, for all that there'd been quite a lot of relief associated with it.

So he'll be paused there, on the observation deck, staring out into space for a few minutes. You might need to really try to get his attention. That is, if you want it. ]

( 0 0 3 ) » BAR

[ ...he's an Alorn, all right? For all that he's also a disciple of Aldur, his parents were Alorns. He was an Alorn king. Not to mention the fact that he'd grown up around one of the greatest information procurers in the known multiverse.

That's why he ends up in the bar. Not because he intends to drink anything, but because he wants to see if he can find out more about where he is, what's going on, how he got here, and how he can get back to where he belongs. After all, not only does he have a family to take care of, he has a country to run, for goodness sake. ]

( 0 0 6 ) » WILDCARD

[ Put him where you want. He'll end up there at some point... ]

002 slams into this finally

[tumang]

[ Amos doesn't mean to slam into the guy. To be fai he's not really looking where he's going, unspooling wire to connect one console to another in the observation deck in an attempt to develop Hank's reach throughout the station.

So, accidentally walking backwards into a wall. Not a wall. A human being. He's impressive, even for Amos. ]

I'd recommend you move, buddy. Kinda running an experiment, here, we'll be done in fifteen.

[why_me]

[ Garion opens his mouth because he wants to ask what any of this is about, then looks at the man in the middle of his business, closes his mouth, and steps aside. Because he's curious, he is. He's curious about this man, and what he's doing, and what that strange rope on the floor is. So what he's going to do is watch and listen and possibly follow him around a little, though he will make an effort to stay at a goodly distance so he doesn't also get in the way again. ]

[tumang]

[ If the guy wants to look at him, fine. Amos is used to looks - because he's bigger than most, because he's an Earther in the middle of Belters, because he carries guns as big as his arms sometimes - so he completely ignores it, continuing to unspool the wire until he gets to the wall and the console.

The guy is standing close, still looking. Like he's never seen anything like it before. Amos is used to people not knowing about space on this station, but this guy is taking the cake. Is he a bit slow? ]

You alright there, buddy?

[why_me]

Well, I've been kidnapped from my home, I have no idea where I am, I have no idea where my sword is, and I have no idea what you're doing... but my digestion seems in order and no one's actively trying to kill me so it could be worse.

[ Not slow in the least. Just a little confused. ]

[tumang]

[ Amos twines some wires together with the precision of someone who is used to the job, eyes moving between his work and the guy in front of him. Able to string sentences coherent together, at least. Okay. ]

Wouldn't be too sure about the 'no one's actively trying to kill me' part. Your sword might reappear. My shotgun did.

[ Amos sticks the wires into the side of the panel, connecting the console to the other one. ]

I'm just connecting two consoles together. See if we can increase processing power if we do it that way.

[why_me]

I don't see anyone with swords or spears, no giant rocks are flying at my head, and my wife isn't looking at me pondering another spending spree, then.

[ ...which is better than it could be, though the mention of Ce'Nedra makes something pang in his chest. Where is his little queen? Is she well? Their children? Anyone? ]

And if whoever-it-is took me, then I seriously doubt it. There's a lot I can do with that sword.

[ Or more precisely, the stone on the pommel of it.

But he looks at the rope, and then the man, and then at one of these 'consoles'. It takes him a moment but- ]

Each one has this processing power and by connecting them, you allow them to work together towards a single task?

[tumang]

No, but this place is apparently swallowing people up. The structural integrity of the station seems to be compromised sometimes. Unsure how, or why. t's like there's a constant laser targeting it making the metal's molecules unstable.

[ Which is ridiculous, even to Amos. ]

Even more reason to hope you get it back, then. Not that I think a sword has much use here. Depends on what you can do with it, really? Swing it real nice?

[ Okay. Definitely not slow, then. Amos nods. ]

It's the idea. We have a non-native AI in the system and we're trying to give him more power to get access to the ops systems. He might be able to find a backdoor.

[why_me]

[ Swallowing people. That's... not something he's familiar with, but it's something he'll keep an eye out for. He doesn't cast out his senses quite yet, unsure of what might be out there and how loud it might be, but he'll keep it in mind if something is particularly 'loud' back. ]

It's less the sword itself and more the stone in the pommel. And when it comes to that stone, the real question is what can't it do.

[ He'd had to convince it once that really, it was a terrible idea to rearrange the stars to spell out someone's name. And it was very clearly not a very difficult task, as far as it was concerned.

Some people might wonder why he's being so open with that information or why he'd be unconcerned, why he wouldn't worry that other people might try and steal it or take it or use it.

Not so much a concern with the Orb of Aldur. ]

You keep saying 'power' though. What kind of 'power' do you mean? What is it made of? How does it work?

[ He'd like to help, if he can. ]

002

[cheerleader]

[She's standing right at his side, only because he's the only other person on the deck besides her and she doesn't want to be alone when she's faced with the vast expanse of space. It's her first identity crisis where she feels insignificant and pathetically small, and she's only sixteen years old. It's a lot to handle on your first day in space.]

Do you think we'll crash into that?

[She reaches over to tug at his hand, trying to get his attention. He's been blankly staring out the glass and she really is looking for some kind of reassurance that they're not on a crash course straight toward the only planet they can see. So she points out toward it, walking away from him to edge in close to the glass. Her finger presses against it, right over where the planet aligns up in her vision.]

We can't be that far away from that planet.

[That planet that looks nothing like Earth.]

[why_me]

[ The pull at his hand certainly gets his attention and he turns to look at her, finally running over what she'd said in his head another time to actually take it in. Once he's gotten it-]

We won't hit the planet.

[ He's firmly dedicated to that idea. It might in fact be impossible for him to prevent, but to be fair, he's done impossible things before. ]

Also, hello.

[cheerleader]

Hello.

[She manages a smile somehow, and gives him a little wave of her fingers. Her eyes look his way just for a second, but then she's focusing back out on the planet that's within viewing range. She wants to believe him that they won't, but her luck is pretty crappy these days.]

This is the first time I've been kidnapped and put in space. I'm not really sure what to expect.

[why_me]

So being out among the stars is called 'space'. [ ...because he'd had no clue, really. He'd just thought of himself as 'amonst the stars'. But it fits nonetheless. ]

To be fair, this isn't my first time being kidnapped, but it is my first time being brought to space.

[cheerleader]

If we're being fair, this isn't my first time being kidnapped either. Just my first time being kidnapped and brought to space.

[The distinction feels important, because it gives them something in common. Not like it's the best thing, but it's something.]

Where are you from where you don't know what space is?

[why_me]

I'm from an island called Riva. And I know what the stars are, but I've never thought I'd be among them, so to speak.

At least not this kind of way.

[ When he'd fought Torak, it'd seemed like his head was practically in the heavens, but this is another thing entirely. ]

I don't suppose you'd know why we've been kidnapped?

[cheerleader]

[That questions earns a blank stare and a shake of her head. Blonde curls bounce, and she takes a second to smooth them down over her shoulder. It gives her just enough time to figure out how she wants to ask her nosy question.]

You don't do anything weird or special, do you? Like have special powers?

[why_me]

[ How does he answer that, exactly. He scratches at one ear. ]

It would be fair to say that I can do things most people can't.

3

[oorah]

[ frank is tending bar tonight, and seemingly... every night. well, sometimes it's frank and kat. there's a man maybe 6 foot with his magboots on, or a little more with nearly faded bruises on his face and throat and a healing burn up his right hand and wrist. but he's swift to put a glass in front of garion and lift an eyebrow, gesturing to the bottles behind him. they're mostly separated by color rather than what they are. amber and clear, and the varying states therein. he'll search for something specific if the man has a request, not that he says as much now.

he actually doesn't say much of anything, letting max do the talking for him. a big brown pit bull makes his way silently from behind the bar - standing back to get a good look at the man before approaching. he gives a low growl of worry, as if trying to assess if garion is dangerous. ]

Max, it's okay. [ frank addresses the mutt in a gruff voice. the dog immediately stops growling, but sits just out of arm's reach, intending to watch the man before deciding if he's safe enough to beg pets from. ]

[why_me]

Garion's never seen a dog in a bar before; an inn, sometimes, and plenty of hunting hounds at both, but nothing like the beast wandering around this place. He glances down at the dog and after a moment of consideration, addresses him in the language of wolves. He's had some luck at that with the occasional dog.

'Peace, this one means no harm. One only comes to drink.'

[ ...he has to bend one of his ears with his finger for a part of that, but thankfully just the once. ]

[oorah]

[ max turns his head to the side at the strange language, while frank wears an equally ??? expression. only he gets to talk to his dog like he's a person. except he's talking to him... like a dog?? it's freaky, whatever it is. ]

Did you want a drink? [ it's flat as frank pours himself a whiskey from a bottle stowed under the bartop instead of from the shelves, taking a drink before tuning in for a reply. max takes another wary step forward, staying standing but still not quite in garion's space yet. ] ...He was abused. He usually doesn't like men at first.

[ another thing the dog and frank have in common. ]

[why_me]

[ At the lack of response, Garion leaves his hand out for the dog to approach and sniff at his leisure. He knows a little something about patiently letting wary creatures come to you.

But he turns his attention to the man. ]

I wouldn't mind an ale if you have one of those.

[oorah]

[ max takes a few wary steps forward until he can sniff at garion's hand while frank just shrugs and pours garion some of his whiskey. ]

Sorry, bud, that's about as close as it gets out here.

[why_me]

[ He gives it a look before giving it a sniff and- all right. Well. Just... less of that, then. He gives it a sip before swallowing it down and flicking a smile at the barman. ]

I'm assuming our supplies are as strangely controlled as our surroundings?

[oorah]

[ he shrugs, a little helplessly. ]

Don't know what you want me to say, pal. We know basically nothing about this place.

[why_me]

I literally woke up around half an hour ago, so I thought perhaps you might know more than I do.

[ He doesn't sound frustrated or even all that tweaked. He's just... tired, honestly. ]