TDM 001. WELCOME TO THE CITY

[headandhand]

» 01. WELCOME WAGON

Wow, what a bunch of new faces! The city of Dualis hasn't seen anything like this in a long time, and they've seen some pretty crazy things. Chances are you're seeing some pretty crazy things, too, unless you're used to a lot of neon, robots, weird-ass technology, magic, and an omnipresent police force...and hey, if you are, congrats, you're gonna settle in juuuuust fine. But for the rest of you, the Head knows this has gotta be pretty overwhelming, right?

Well, since your quaint individual processing units are probably having a hard time, why not link up with another one? By which the Head means...

Hello, new citizens of Dualis, and welcome to your first monthly Network Adjacency Protocol~!

NAPs are a monthly community networking event similar to the Earth concept of speed dating! Two citizens (new arrivals and old hands alike) are placed at a table together with a handy cue card of queries to help break the proverbial ice. Ask queries and receive results, or ignore the card and yeet yourself straight into a brand new friendship! But don't be too shy, you've only got ten minutes together, and if you just sit in silence for the whole ten, then the Network Admins are likely to come supervise and try to repair the uplink through a mild shock to the ol' central nervous system. You might find yourself saying all sorts of unintended facts about yourself if that happens...probably better to just make friends, right?

» 02. A BUG IN THE CODE

Remember how the Head mentioned that whole plague thing? Well, don't worry, this isn't that.

It is, however, a really, really terrible flu circulating through the residents of Dualis. Symptoms include fever, chills, vomiting, hallucinations and even in some cases seizures. Bad news, all around. Luckily, this is something the Head knows how to deal with! Time for vaccinations, everyone~

The vaccination process is pretty straightforward: just head to your local clinic and get innoculated! You'll be in and out in less than ten minutes, MedDualis is pretty efficient that way. There isn't even a copay. The MedDroids will tell you, however, that there might be some minor side effects** to watch out for, including physical reactions and odd dreams, but don't worry--those will wear off within forty-eight hours. Nothing to concern yourself about! Of course, if that worries you, you could always run the risk of getting the flu--or passing it on to your loved ones...

**Possible side effects include: Gender or sex change, positive or negative size change, appearance alterations, shared dreams, and mild telepathic links, among others. Please contact your local MedDroid if these symptoms become too severe, or other side effects such as death occur.

» 03. TANSTAAFL

Well, you're settling in just fine, and the basic accommodations and amenities are okay, but maybe you've got a hankering to see that new VR Film: SHARKS IN SPACE 85: BLACK HOLE SHARK DO DO DO DO DO DO DO. Or maybe you want some sweet new duds to wear around town, or even just an actual slab of steak. Sorry, those cost extra, pal, which means it's time for...

JOB HUNTING.

Fortunately, Dualis makes this pretty easy! There's a job fair on this week, down at the Central Hub! Plug your certifications and skills into any of the EmployMe terminals in the Dualis Central Hub, and the computer will auto-generate a currently open job that it feels you'd be best suited for. No resume writing or lengthy application process required! Of course, whether or not this job sounds like the right job for you is another matter...but hey, how could an AI with millions of years of learning be wrong? Time to get started, or try and switch waivers with another unhappy new employee--but be warned, some unforeseen consequences may occur if you try swapping identities with someone else...

Comments

[chaosvessel]

From another...Planet.

[Space travel was a virgin, and mostly abandoned, science on Gaia. The only true alien he'd ever "met" was a world-devouring entity bent on consuming their planet and riding it through the cosmos to find another and to do the same. It had never occurred to Vincent there were other sentient species out there, on other worlds, much like them. Were there currents beneath the crust of this Kahje from which life springs and to which it returns upon a body's death? Did all planets function the same?

The questions were numerous, and many of them beyond him.]

...what is...Kahje like?

[wickedprayers]

[An easy subject for Thane to discuss. A question he has answered numerous times before, as well. Familiarity was good at the moment.]

Kahje's surface is submerged by the ocean, its original inhabitants refer to it as "The Encompassing". What little land there is make up small islands, the occasional ancient ruin dotted throughout the planet. Mostly submerged. Its climate is perfect for life, however the humid air is too much for my people. We live in climate controlled, domed cities in order to survive. Still, it is a good life, and very few of us ever leave.

[This, of course, sparks his own curiosity immediately after his explanation is done. Not necessarily to cut off further questioning — he's honestly just curious.]

You're not familiar with space travel. Where are you from?

[chaosvessel]

[He averts his gaze for a moment, eyes distant, attempting to picture the planet as Thane describes it.]

It sounds...beautiful...and very different from my own world.

[And he looks back to the other man, nodding once, in confirmation.]

We have only recently left our atmosphere. Gaia. The atmosphere of Gaia. Long ago, it was inhabited by a race of people known as the Cetra, or the Ancients. They were thought to have died out centuries ago. They were said to have been able to speak with the planet, to hear Her voice and to feel Her pulse. I...had the honor of knowing the last of their bloodline.

[wickedprayers]

[Funnily enough, 'Gaia' rings a bell, but not overly so. He's heard it mentioned in some of earth's mythologies. However, that's as far as his familiarity reaches. It was interesting to see small threads still connecting one place to another, no matter how far out they seemed from each other.]

They were very in tune with their home world, then. A rare thing in this day and age. [At least to the extent being described to him.] How did you come to meet the last of their bloodline? If you don't find the question too invasive, of course.

[chaosvessel]

She was, yes. [He nods. Aerith...had been in tune with a great many things, their hearts chief among them. It had seemed she'd known them better than any of them had known themselves, and in the end, she was still there, gone but not lost to the currents of the Lifestream, still watching them, and caring for them.

The corner of his lip twitches in something that might have been a smile, an expression it's clear he doesn't make often.]

It's a long story. I think it would exhaust our time limit.

[wickedprayers]

[Thane certainly got the impression that this man wasn't big on smiling. But old friends sometimes just did that whether it was habit or not. Sometimes, while staring out the windows of Huerta Memorial Hospital, Thane would think of Shepard or the old crew and simply smile to himself. A single, tiny, twitch of a muscle could speak volumes.

But, yes, the arbitrary time limit. While one could learn a lot from another in such a short amount of time he still finds it an odd choice. Thane's two sets of lids blink a few times before he speaks again, having fallen into a moment of contemplation.]

Perhaps when we are unburdened by a time limit you could share the story with me. I would like to hear it.

[chaosvessel]

[A time when he woke up in the morning, went to work, went home, and awoke the next day to an alarm and a cup of coffee seemed to be another life, so far away and the idea of arranging a time to meet with this Thane on friendly terms just to talk seemed almost alien and something he didn't deserve...not anymore. Not after everything he'd caused.

And yet he found himself looking forward to the idea.]

We'll be around. [He nodded.] I've...never told it before. Not...completely.

[wickedprayers]

[Thane is also taking a small comfort in the normalcy of the situation. Of meeting with someone outside of a hospital to chat about something that isn't his fate, or the galaxy's fate, or the fate of his comrades.]

Then I would be honored as well.

[But there is one last thing he should probably know, seeing as they've already spoken a considerable amount about where they come from in such a short time.]

My name is Tannor Nuara.

[It's not. But it's the name he's giving for now, until he knows more about his situation. He admits he feels a touch guilty lying about his name to someone whose company he's enjoying quite well, but it's hard to un-train years of meticulous precautions.]

[chaosvessel]

[A former Turk, focused on security and defense, Vincent is familiar with the need to share false names. Vincent Valentine, though, is officially dead, and since his awakening, he's seen little need for secrecy. Besides, whoever these people are, it seems to him unlikely they don't know who they are.

Does he suspect Thane has given him a false name? Not really, but it isn't out of the question. If he cared enough, Vincent would too. He inclines his head slightly in greeting.]

Vincent Valentine.