recolle | [Closed] Wake Me Up...

[When Shinji slips into the dream the first thing he'll notice is that it's dark. A gloomy room made of cold metal containing only a computer console with a blinking green cursor to illuminate anything at all. Shadows writhe and move along the floor, tenebrous tendrils of something urging Shinji to head towards the computer with a gradually increasing pressure to do just that.

When he does go to the computer, he'll find the flashing cursor is hovering over a command prompt line.]

Terminate Isolation Protocol. Y/N?

[With the only options seeming to be that or staying alone with the shadows, what will he do?]

Edited 2018-08-18 23:20 (UTC)

[Shinji hates the dark, especially shadows moving like they're not supposed to. Compared to that, of course the computer seems more familiar, and he doesn't need much encouragement to head that way.

But he's not sure he wants to mess around with things he doesn't know about. An isolation protocol could be a good or bad thing... depends what's being isolated.

He selects 'N'.]

[N it is. The screen flashes with an affirmative message and the shadows seem to lessen, a few lights flicking on in the corners of the room. Not too different from movie theater floor lights, they illuminate a 10 by 10 room, but no visible door just yet.]

Run Full System Restore? Y/N

[Probably a good decision on his part. So if not terminating things was the good decision, then full system restore is probably a good idea too?

At least it won't break things more.

He selects 'Y'.]

[In theory, yes.

The lights and the computer die completely, and there's the sound of whirring and clicking, and about 30 seconds later the computer reboots completely. The lights in the room slowly come back on, a few seconds apart, making plenty of time for his eyes to adjust.

There's a door with a command console on it, looking very sci-fi. The computer blinks one more time and more text appears.]

System Restore Complete.

Greetings, Shinji.

Welcome to the Winds of Fate. Autopilot engaged.

Automated Docking Procedures will commence in 10:00 minutes.

Please exit living quarters and report to main airlock on level 2.

[A small tablet slides out of the computer tower, the screen blinking with a map and the same text. Clearly it's integrated. A small black node at the top of it flashes briefly to life and a small hologram of a man appears, in full color, outlined in blue.]

Penelope needs your assistance.

My name is Reddas, and I will assist you.

[The man is familiar - he was in Penelope's memory. Shinji doesn't have a reason to distrust him.]

How do I get to the airlock - and how do I help Penelope?

[Also, how many exits are in this room, because if there's just one then he's gonna get going.]

[The pirate, and he looks the party quite well, flashes a grim smile and gestures out the door.]

Straight down that hallway, then a left as it forks, and then a right.

And you can help the lass by getting her out of the space station we're about to dock at. She's being held there, in the prisoner processing facility.

Got it.

[And he's out, following the pirate's directions. If there are any 'no running in the spaceship halls' signs around he sure isn't obeying them.]

[Lol no. There are no signs, and nothing stopping him.

So, he'll definitely get there with a full five minutes to spare.]

Good job, overachiever.

Yeah, yeah. [Don't judge him, he's just worried. Good thing there wasn't a wet floor or something...] When are we docking?

Five Minutes.

Are you prepared? I do not foresee violence, but the storm we're riding into is not necessarily a placid one.

[Shinji pauses. He doesn't know how to fight; he doesn't have any weird powers. The closest he's gotten to a major change from Retrospec was his hair color.

But he's not going to cower and hide, either. Not when his friend's in danger.]

...Ready as I'll ever be.

Excellent. I'll be able to help you, if you get in over your head.

[Which hopefully won't happen.

Five minutes passes quickly enough, and the ship docks with the station, a hissing sound and a release of gas steaming up the air. Moments later, the airlock slides open to admit Shinji into the station.

An electronic voice chirps:]

Greetings and welcome to Pleasant Station. We hope you enjoy your stay.

[And Reddas's image points towards a corridor.]

That way to the prison. There's a console at the end of that hallway you're going to have to put some commands into. Only it make take some guesswork.

Don't worry, I've got this.

[He took programming in school and learned stuff on his own time! A console is easy!

Which means he's headed in that direction right away.]

Who names their prison 'Pleasant Station'?

A man with a twisted sense of humor.

[As he heads down the hall, he'll hear the sounds of voices. Strange, mostly feminine voices saying some rather nasty things...]

Did you hear Penelope dropped out?

I can't believe she's even trying that YouTube nonsense. Gawd! she has no personality!

How does she think she's gonna even make it?

[Shinji doesn't have time to waste yelling at voices, even incredibly wrong ones...

...but he does flip the bird in that general direction as he continues down the hallway. Rude.]

Fuck that kid she hangs out with online too. Seriously, does anyone not know she's working with like a 3 year old?

[As he nears the console, it blinks to life with the help of a motion sensor. The screen smiles, a cartoonish happy face.]

Welcome to Pleasant Station, User: Matou, Shinji.

How can we help you today?

I'm their age!

[Ughhh, they're lucky he's busy rescuing someone.]

I want an overview of the cells.

That information is restricted.

Enter Password?

[Password, password, password... This would be a great time to have remembered how to hack instead of just that he was a hacker.

Passwords he might be able to guess: does he know Penelope's girlfriend's name from her streams?]

[Absolutely. It's Freya.

And if he tries it, that does work. Click.

The system calls up a dozen holding cells, but only 3 are occupied. None have names. And with the same password he'll easily be able to unlock the doorway to them!]

[Knew it. Hacker he is not, but he gets the job done.

Shinji unlocks all three cells. Hopefully none of them are people who, you know, actually deserve to be in prison.]

[No, not really. Three different Pen's step out.

The first is Penelope wearing a soldier's uniform. Crisp, tight, with a tiny golden rank insignia.

The second is Penelope wearing shorts and a T-Shirt that says 'Gotta Nab 'Em All'.

And the last one is Penelope dressed in a fantasy outfit.

All three blink at one another and march towards the door.]

So. Which one is the real one, lad?

[Three Penelopes. Her girlfriend would be so happy.]

...Is this the puzzle where one of them always lies, one of them always tells the truth, and one alternates between lies and truth? Because I hate that stupid puzzle.

[Would she really?]

Nay. You'll need to guess which one is the real one.

[Well she should.]

That's not that much better... Okay, Penelopes, what do you have to say for yourselves?

[All three of them, in unison:]

I want to get out of here. Away from the other two mes.

[It's not much to go on, but they do continue individually.]

It's dangerous and we should get moving before trouble comes. [The nerdy one says.]

I feel naked without my weapons. [The soldier says.]

And I don't like it here. It's...really cold. [Says the LARPer.]

Those are all pretty reasonable answers...

[It's cold, it's dangerous, and he'd like to have his tank.]

What happens if I guess wrong?

You take the wrong one home.

[The real question is: which one is most likely to do live streams?

All three of them stand there, looking at him.]

You know. he's right, but...it's okay, Shinji. [The soldier.]

Yeah, getting lost in the matrix or something can't be too bad? One of us is coming home. But you should probably pick me, black knight. [The nerd.]

Anywhere but here is improvement. [This from the larper, the one who's obviously Penelope from her memories.]

[Okay, well, it could be worse. Shinji has to think for a second.]

...Aren't you all aspects of the real one?

...

[All three turn to him...like they've just realized something incredibly obvious

and start clapping!]

Yes!

[Slowly but surely, they seem to pull together. Sucked into one another, pulled by some unseen bond, and after a moment they merge completely into...one Penelope Raban. Wearing a nerdy shirt, camo pants, and with the Ivalician one's boots.]

I...okay...weird but I guess that was it.

What isn't weird these days...

[He says it like he's complaining, but there's relief that he didn't screw things up. And more importantly-]

I'm glad you're okay.

[The mishmash steps forward and gives him a little hug.]

I'm glad you are too. Thanks for coming to get me.

[The station begins to fade out as the dream comes to a close, but she has time for one last thing.]

I owe you a drink, when you're old enough.

[The corner of the dream that Leo will find himself in after starting his Dive is bright. Violently so, for anyone not used to the desert. Ruddy red sand spreads out as far as the eye can see, broken only by the shade of several large mesas, and in the distance a city. Short, squat buildings that wouldn't look out of place in Medieval Persia dot the outskirts along high white walls, while several massive and familiar looking buildings from downtown Recolle poke out over the top.

The momentary silence and stillness of the moment is broken by a cartoonish 'splat' sound and a puff of sand several yards ahead of him. The soft, annoyed, and perhaps familiar voice of Tons is audible over the settling dust.]

...ow...

[The dream that Sakura steps into is an almost alien sight. It's frigid, like stepping into a walk-in freezer, with massive walls of hoarfrost coated obsidian creating an omnipresent shade. She's at the end of one not all that unlike a cul-de-sac, facing the only exit. High above, the sun strains to push light into this black canyon, but thankfully Sakura's not alone.

A chilly hand brushes along her spine, a teasing finger that's there yet not tracing up each vertebrae and settling on her shoulder. A heartbeat later, a female form just shy of 6 feet tall shimmers into being, casually resting long, frozen fingertips on the girl's shoulder.]

Well now...you seem to have stumbled into a gloomy little place. Would you like me to guide you, or would you prefer to go it alone?

[There are no right or wrong answers, but aside from forward which way to go?]

[She was so cold already, but the frozen fingers on her shoulder cause Sakura to flinch a little, turning her gaze upward in concern. There might not be any wrong answers, yet she's going to freeze like a deer in headlights before working herself into a reply.]

I... um.

[Shivering a little. She turns back to the exit]

No, I'd rather be with someone, please.

That's a good answer.

[The spirit swirls around Sakura, legs slowly phasing into existence in a cloud of ice crystals and snow. she leans close, lips as blue as frozen berries, and pecks the girl on the nose. Sakura will immediately feel the chill retreat, pulling away thanks to whatever teh spirit did.]

I am Shiva, child. And I'll keep you safe and warm. If you agree to help me do something to fix my poor Penelope. Will you do that for me?

Edited 2018-08-19 07:54 (UTC)

-- Penelope.

[A name that has Sakura standing straighter once she hears it, as she rubs at her nose and notes how the chill has disappeared. A little embarrassed but thankful to be warm, Sakura will smile at the spirit]

Yes, of course. We don't know each other very well, but Penelope-san has been kind to me in the past.

How can I help her?

[Shiva hums to herself and gestures down the canyon towards the fork.]

...She's lost. And she's fighting alone. She needs to have support. We're going to need to be there for her.

Somewhere ahead, I can feel her struggling.

Okay. I don't know what I can do, but...

[Glancing down at her open hand, Sakura cuts herself off. No, she knows exactly what she can do.

The better question is to wonder if it will be enough. Or even help at all.]

We should hurry then, yes?

[She's going to start moving regardless, though glancing to make sure Shiva accompanies her. She meant what she said before; she'd appreciate company]

Yes.

[The spirit flits on along the icy canyon. Focused intently ahead, the trip to the fork passes quickly. From one side there's the sound of fighting, struggle and strife. The rapid, ratcheting sound of a gun firing.

And to the left is the sound of something digital. The electronic boops and bleeps of Galaga or some other old school video game.]

I...think you've got to pick which way we go.

[The path of combat, or the path of entertainment? Which sounds most like Penelope?]

[Closed] Wake Me Up...

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For Leo

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