genessia | [001] Beyond the Edge of Space

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[001] Beyond the Edge of Space

Who: Rendain and... whoever decides to bother him, really!
Where: The Bay & Genessia City.
When: Early afternoon.
What: A recently-defeated alien commander comes into the city and is very, very confused.
Rating: E for Everyone right now, but I’ll warn as necessary!

[ You would think that, after being sucked into a portal leading into darkness normally inhabited by unknowable Eldritch creatures, the first reaction anyone would have upon regaining consciousness is "panic". ]

[ Not this guy. ]

[ Lothar Rendain is not a man that's prone to letting things get the better of him, even if he is suddenly in a place that looks abysmally low-tech compared to anywhere in the Solus system and listening to a hologram of a woman that was barely chest high. ]

[ He isn't exactly a fan of these circumstances, but considering the other outcome is "uncertain death(?) within the eternal void of Varelsi space", it is much better, in his opinion, to take the lesser of two evils. ... Would it have hurt these mysterious benefactors to have given him something a little newer than a cell phone, though? Really, if people were going to snatch him from the event horizon of a whirling portal, they can at least provide him with current technology... or a last-century Communications HUD, at the very least. ]

[ Those are small gripes, he realises, and to be completely honest, he was surprised to get anything at all. So he's going to count his blessings and... follow his newly acquired paper map (ugh) to the nearest bit of civilisation. ]

[ His trek into the City proper is filled with staring. A lot of staring. Not that he blames them, of course; it's (probably) not every day that these folks see someone that's quite as out there as Rendain, with his looming stature and considerably large amount of cybernetic replacements. A lot of them are actively trying to avoid him, actually. ]

[ That would certainly make information hard to come by. Hmm... ]

Ah... I beg your pardon, but, [ he (finally) manages to catch someone's eye, so may as well make the most of it, ] may I have a bit of your time? I'm... [ a pause, because he really doesn't like admitting this even if it's true, ] a little new here.

[ Many, many questions later, and after more than his share of people leering at him, Rendain settles into a cafe somewhere far, far away from any main streets, and after finally managing to wrangle his phone into submission, there's a live audio feed soon after. ]

So, a question. Has everyone here been snatched from the fabric of space-time against their will? Not that I personally mind, of course, since it's rather pleasant to be wrenched away from what would have been a very messy affair, but... I'm willing to assume that not everyone feels the same.

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[With plans in place to get the hell out of Genessia City, today was more like a final run of sorts. Normally, Mordecai would not have made it a habit to be out at peak traffic.

This would have been the same at home, considering his less than stellar opinion of literally everyone around him, but it was doubly more so now.

Some people had issues keeping their hands to themselves around a cat, even if the cat was five foot nine and armed.

Shopping list in hand, he'd normally have walked past, if not bodily pushed his way through everyone if it was a particularly crappy day.

But this time someone was actually talking to him. His social ability was just barely passable enough to make him stop, and look. And then look up.... aaaand then up a little more.

... He'd never really thought he'd ever meet someone taller than Viktor. The cat squinted, and then adjusted his glasses, as if personally offended that he had to crane his neck]

Did you speak with the hologram at the bay?

[ He's seen sentient birds (quite a few, actually), but a cat? That's new. Give him a moment to kneel, because he's not going to be rude enough to have you strain your neck, Mordecai. ]

I did, yes. I suppose you could call this a bit of... [ He taps one large metal finger to his chin, trying to find the right way to describe things. ] Culture shock. It's rather strange to be the head of a spacefaring imperium one moment, and a newcomer to a completely different world the next.

[ In plain terms: "I'm used to being the head honcho and now I'm completely without direction, what the heck do I do." ]

You wouldn't happen to know where someone with substantial military expertise would be most needed, would you?

Well. At least you're polite enough not to throw a fit about it on the network.

[No really, he really is thankful for that, it's what he's used to now, he's taken to muting his communicator when he's aware there's a new influx of people.

He's also grateful for the equalization of heights here, much obliged.]

Nova City-

[A glance given to the mans cybernetic parts]

Is usually hiring people with military training. You might find the atmosphere there more welcoming for you as well.

The technology, from what I have seen, might be more on par with what you are used to.

I've seen him on the network a few times, try contacting one General Grievous. I think he would be far more helpful than anyone you could possibly find here.

[Sound a little sour? Yes he does, everyone in Genessia City is a moron, clearly.

[Radec is holding his hands behind his back]

You are looking for others with military experience? My name back home is Colonel Mael Radec, leader of the Helghast.

He wont have to wander far to get this little youkai's attention. She knew a new person when she saw one. And she made a beeline for this new space-person. He'd never know what hit him...

Fortunately, not literally. But there was now a little green thing following him, flitting around the edges of his vision and examining him. It would be more than a little unnerving if he managed to catch glimpses of her...

Eventually it would lead into his sleeve getting tugged. Quite firmly, actually. "Hey there Mister! Are you new here? Hey! Can you see me? Can you hear me?" She was floating just under eye height so he wouldn't have to go far to see her. "I'm over here!

Not everyone. The people without pendants were apparently born here.

People here do seem to be unusually calm for a mass kidnapping situation. [ Pot meet kettle, really. ]

There's nothing to be gained from throwing fits on open air. [ Any individual with a lick of common sense would think the sane, but then again, there's no helping some people... ]

General Grievous, in Nova City... I'll have to keep that all in mind. Thank you for the information, Mister... [ ... Wait, there were no names exchanged. How awkward. ]

[ Well, let him fix that. ] ... Actually, I don't recall giving you a proper introduction.

My apologies, I just got so carried away; my name is Lothar Rendain. [ And here he offers his left hand to shake, because the last thing he needs is to crush this poor soul's limb in the massive prosthetic that makes up his right arm. ] And you are?

I am Lothar Rendain, Lord Commander of the Jennerit Imperium. [ Rendain snaps his hand up in a salute in response, as practised and as natural as can be. ] Very nice to meet you, Colonel.

At present, I'm just trying to make sense of my surroundings here; having been taken from the middle of a war has left me feeling wrong, in a sense. Unnerved, I guess you could say.

I'm hoping that finding individuals of similar disposition would give me some direction.

[ At first, Rendain chalks up the flashes of green to his eyes playing tricks on him. This is a whole new world, and there's every reason to think that he'd be disoriented, right? ]

[ But when there's a distinct tug on his arm, and that flash of green is a whole head of green hair, that's when he takes a step back, looking quite surprised. ]

H...ello there. [ Koishi, pls. ] Be careful when you're trying to get someone's attention, they might walk into you.

[ Wait. Are you... floating????? ] ... How did a young one like you manage to get the technology for a gravity manipulator? Isn't that age-regulated?

I did seem to notice a number of people without. I suppose that would make sense, really.

Well, maybe some of them have gotten used to captivity. Or perhaps their situations back on... wherever they came from are much worse. [ He doesn't have experience with that, no, not at all. What are you talking about. ]

[Radec salutes back]

"It's a pleasure to meet you Lord Commander Rendain."

"I am just one of many militaristic folks who had made their homes here, often reluctantly."

"You were taken from the middle of war? That is a very difficult situation for anyone even me. I was taken from trying to lead my people against the ISA."

"What's a gravity manipulator?" So, no. "And people walk into me all the time. It's no big deal. I'm kind of unseen." She did a little twirl in the air. "All youkai like me can fly. It's no big deal."

She drifted forward a bit more in his face now, smiling hugely. Her third eye was bobbing merrily from side to side. "I like you Mister. You're funny. Are you new here? You seem new."

That's probably true. From the sound of the hologram, some of them have been here long enough to get houses and jobs, and establish businesses. [ And research centers. ]

It's possible that whoever these spirits are, they only take people who would prefer this place to their fate back home. [ Whereas Robert totally has experience with that and doesn't hesitate to imply as much. ]

Edited 2018-03-30 22:39 (UTC)

If anyone arrived here willingly, I would be curious to know how. Not that I doubt it's possible, but at least we could try to reverse-engineer that method for getting home.

... I'm in the "wants to go home," camp.

I figured that would be the case for a lot of people. [ He does wonder, of course, if there's a small percentage of people that are in situations similar to his. ]

A follow-up question, if I may: how do you deal with.. well, being here? I get the distinct feeling that not many people would be okay with starting a second life while their first is in... whatever state it's in at the time of their departure.

I've encountered a few individuals that have given me accounts to the contrary, interestingly enough.

It does beg the question of how these people get here. Is there some measure of worthiness? A board of councilmen?

Unseen? Youkai? [ He doesn't understand any of this. What the heck. ] I'm sorry, this is all a bit much for me to take in at once.

I am new, [ comes the follow up reply, with a quirked brow. ] Have you been here a while?

Ah, truly unfortunate. I pray that things back in your homeland are proceeding smoothly, at the least.

Tell me, Colonel, what do you to to keep yourself sharp here? Are there shooting ranges? Simulation decks?

Mmm. Since that's true, I can't think of anything we could all have in common other than our abductors.

I'm considering going to the Research Foundation Ms. Schnee mentioned. They might be able to tell us something.

"Oh I've been here for years now!" A pause. "Actually that sounds about right. Four years. I think? Maybe? I lose track of time sometimes." She did a little loop in the air. "Either way, welcome!"

[Radec nods]

The situation I have no idea on how my troops are handling it so far.

[Radec stands straight up, hands behind his back]

I've kept sharp using the shooting range, Holodeck area and even I took Winter Schee's Royal guard training classes which were interesting in themselves.

At least for me, a few detours from home has been quite normal. It's a pain, but if I have to get a job and masquerade as a productive member of society then I'll do it.

By no means do I intend to actually settle. But I'll pull my weight without complaint.

I've never been one for firearms, but I suppose I'll have the time to learn a new skill here and there.

[ Oh, so this place did have advanced tech options. A Holodeck, huh... ]

Interesting in what way? Perhaps I should give them a shot, myself.

Why, thank... you... [ The slow trailing of his speech is accompanied by the most incredulous of expressions. Excuse him while he makes sense of this— ] Four years?!

[ He had to admit, though, she was taking captivity awfully well. ... Perhaps this place wouldn't be so bad. ]

Actually, don't answer that. Let's back up a bit. [ Because he needs to know: ] What exactly is a youkai, and how are you floating without the aid of jets or anti-gravity devices??? Is this some sort of weird Eldrid magic?

Which begs the question: what would they gain by bringing us here? It certainly isn't anything that warrants immediate attention, considering how long some of these people have been around.

Do keep me informed of whatever you're able to learn. It'll be interesting to see what they say about all of this.

I don't blame you for that sentiment. Settling would mean accepting this place as inescapable, and I'm sure that sort of thinking isn't exactly comforting.

In any case, I do appreciate having a veteran opinion. I was worried that I'd be in the midst of throngs of people in the same situation, honestly.

"Ohh." She turned sideways in the air, still smiling hugely. "Youkai are a type of spirit creature. And floating is something I'm very good at." A laugh like it was no big deal. "I'm a satori specifically. But you don't have to be scared. I can't read minds anymore."

She seemed friendly at least?

What's your situation, then? It seems we're surrounded by a multitude of different attitudes and home situations. I've met a number of people who believe they would be dead if not for Genessia, or that they have found a second shot at life.

I can say with the utmost confidence that I would have been dead were it not for this... timely intervention, as it were.

The middle of an inter-galactic war isn't exactly the most friendly of spaces. So I'm rather glad that I ended up here, and not in the middle of space.

Oh, I see. That's very interesting. [ You know what, he'll take a friendly spirit over an actual Eldrid. Last thing he needed was an angry mushroom or a walking stump getting wind that he was here. ]

Wait... Any more? Do they take your powers away here? [ Is he... going to somehow lose his Sustainment? Because aging nearly 20,000 years at once is not an appealing idea at all. ]

Not immediate attention, but if they're spirits they might plan in a different time scale.

You could always visit them yourself.

I'm not only saying this because I don't normally help people. I don't particularly mind sharing information, at least once. But you might ask different questions than I would and learn different things.

"Hehe. Of course they don't. I haven't been able to read minds for over a century. I didn't want that power anymore so I got rid of it. Now I can manpiulate the subconscious!" She was absolutely beaming. "I like that power a lot better."

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[001] Beyond the Edge of Space

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