15strangers

WELCOME ABOARD

[The first sensation you feel is a headache. It's brief, slicing, sharp. It passes soon after you wake up, but it is there nevertheless, and the pain is not easily forgotten. Perhaps your eyes also blur as if roused from a deep sleep; perhaps your tongue also feels off, like you swallowed a bug. It's not pleasant.

More unpleasant, though, is the second sensation that dawns on you all-this is not your bed. This, in fact, is unrecognizable. It is not anywhere you recall coming to, willingly or otherwise. It's a room with a bunk, and there is a strange smell in the air that is hard to ignore.

No, you are no longer home. Any possessions you may have had on you are gone, save your clothing and a strange watch you can't get off, no matter how hard you try. And when you run into the hallway, well-you might find yourself running into others who might be just as confused and scared as you are as the area around you slowly sways, up and down, left and right.

What is this place? Why are you here? Who are all these other people?

What is going on?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I guess that's true. But, for example...

[She turns and begins sorting through bottles, eventually setting several aside. Soporil β and Propofol.]

These are usually used as surgical anesthetics. Some of the drugs here seem like they'd be dangerous to use if there wasn't someone who knew what they were doing....

[Kaito's eyes dart over them, then he swallows.]

I hope someone didn't like, put them there to say 'that's the point', but...there's poison in the kitchen, too. Found that out with another guy 'round these parts.

[yeah, this is feeling more and more killing game-y]

There's what?? But... that could be dangerous!

Yeah. I think maybe the kidnappers want it to be.

[He admits, but then he realizes--]

...Not to worry, though. I'm a hero, so I'll make sure everything stays safe. I think Hubert is making sure all the poisons don't end up in the wrong hands, too.

I... I guess there are... people like that out there, aren't there?

[The thought of it seems to leave her utterly depressed, though a moment later determination flares.]

You're right, though. As long as everybody does their part and believes in each other, there's nothing we have to worry about, e-even if....

If. If that's what they want.

Unfortunately.

[He can't deny that. But...this girl has optimism and determination! He can't help but admire that!]

Yeah! We just have to believe in each other and work together, and as long as we do that, they can't do a thing against us!

I'm Kaito. Kaito Momota. A pleasure. And you, Miss?

Wait!

[She cuts him off in the middle of his introduction.]

Sorry, I just... Where I came from was... like this place. A lot like it. Before. Um.

Back... there, someone... someone said that it might not be smart to tell each other all our real information. They said the person who took us might be watching us, and they might not have all the information about us yet. I don't know if that's right, but... have you seen the cameras? They're...

[She turns and scans the room, then points out a couple.]

Maybe he was right? They're... watching us, anyway.

[And, saying that, she briefly shivers]

We... we made up code names to call each other there. Maybe it's smart to still do that? So, um...

[She glances down at herself, at the magenta numbers on her bracelet--well, one of them--at her dusky purple dress.]

Maybe you should call me Violet, at least for now.

[Oh. She cut him off mid-'I'm--', and Kaito glances at the camera.]

...I see. It'd be nice if they didn't have everyone's info, but...somehow, I feel like they might know everything already...

But alright, Violet. Nice to meet'cha, anyways. You can call me, uh...

[...Maybe 'Power' was a codename, too...]

Star Lord. 'Cause I know everything about astronomy!

[Hell yeah!]

You're probably right and they do. But, I mean... maybe it doesn't hurt to be a little careful, just in case. I... I haven't seen much else we can do to control anything so far.

[The code name makes her giggle a little.]

Okay! It's a pleasure to meet you, 'Star Lord'! I like astronomy too. It's a really fascinating science, and it's amazing to see how much it's influenced the course of history! Humans have always looked up to the stars, haven't they?

[...Well, she's a sweet girl, isn't she? Kaito can't help another genuine smile crossing his face.]

Point taken. Take whatever power you can get, and make sure they know at the end of the day, ya ain't their pawn for their dumb game!

[That's the spirit. Gets him pumped!]

...Finally, someone gets it! Back where I came from -- no one really truly got it, but you do! I'm supposed to be an astronaut right now, actually, and I still will be when I get out of this, but...that's the key to it all. Getting outta this.

That's amazing! It's really an accomplishment to be able to pass all the tests and training that sort of thing requires. There's still so much that people don't know about space.

Were they sending you to the ISS?

Yup. I was the youngest trainee to pass all the assessments. So I was on my way to the stars until, uh....until this.

[And the game before that, but he's not saying that, not yet.]

And what were you up to before this? Any dreams of yours?

I'm not really anything special. I'm just trying to find out what tomorrow holds, I guess. But one day... I would like to make a difference.

[There's some determination in her face when she says that.]

If nobody does anything, then who knows when it would be the end of the world? Maybe even just one person trying is enough to change something for the better.

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