12th wave;

[learnedtosmile]

CHARACTERS: any and all
LOCATION: Gravity Couches and beyond
WARNINGS: maybe some swearing, or even some violence, and more than likely some implied (and possibly explicit) nakedness.
SUMMARY: Another month, another jump, another round of new faces.
NOTES: Keeping up with the tradition and copy pasted like always from the last one


You wake up in darkness.


There's a breathing tube jammed down your trachea, and you're suspended in a tube of clear blue fluid. Upon registering your level of consciousness, the gravity couch drains the fluid surrounding you and retracts the breathing apparatus; the doors in front of you open, and you're deposited on the floor of a stark, sterile medical bay.

You are not alone.


There are others who have come before you, others who are awakening beside you. Some may be familiar to you, perhaps even friends. Others have much less amiable plans. Some are merely alien and inexplicable, but there are always those who might mean you harm.

After you catch your breath and your vision returns, you notice a number on the inside of your forearm. Maybe it's a familiar number. Maybe it means something. Maybe it's just a number. But the number—completely unique to you—is a tattoo, and it does not come off.

If you enter the room adjacent to the medbay, you will find a small locker with your number on it, surrounded by rows upon rows of identical lockers. Inside, you will find a few of your personal items, a communications device, and a ship's uniform in your exact size. The comms device is fully powered and connects directly to the ship's network; it's your only means of communication beyond physical conversation. Upon turning the device on, a neutral, automated voice will say, "Please take the blue lift to the passenger quarters." Any other attempts at communicating with the rest of the network are met only with static.

This is your welcome party.

Comments

[talkstoengines]

No, but they probably would've been. I wanted more, really. Can't ever have too many cheery flowers.

[testgasm]

I mean, I could--I could argue that point, depending, but yeah, it looked nice. Friendly.

[talkstoengines]

Exactly! That's exactly what we need, and you're doin' a great job helpin' people out here.

[testgasm]

[Perhaps the most dangerous thing to tell Wheatley is that he's doing a good job.

He is positively beaming.]

You think so? I thought so. Might keep on doing it, actually. For...subsequent jumps.

[talkstoengines]

That's a great idea! You let me know if you want any help. I can make you a prettier sign than that. You should see the one I got on my door. [Unfortunately, Kaylee loves encouraging people.]

[testgasm]

Haven't seen it, no.

[The trouble with being an 001 and never venturing onto the higher-numbered decks.]

Got flowers, or something?

[talkstoengines]

It's got a few, yep! [She nods enthusiastically.] It's real pretty and welcoming, I think.

[testgasm]

Might take you up on it, later.

[It sounds thoughtful. He never really understood the human attraction to things like flowers, but pretty and welcoming are probably good things for a welcoming committee sign to be.]

Sorry, I--haven't introduced myself. Rude of me. It's Wheatley.

[talkstoengines]

Good! [She grins at him, and after a moment offers her hand to shake.] I'm Kaylee. It's nice to meet you, Wheatley!

[testgasm]

[This is the part where he staaaaares at her hand, as if it's going to bite him. The truth is, of course, that he has absolutely no idea what to do. Handshakes are human gestures that he doesn't quite understand.]

Right, well, um. It is. Good to meet you, Kaylee.

[talkstoengines]

[Kaylee gives him a strange look.] Don't you know how to shake hands? You from a planet that doesn't do that?

[testgasm]

[He looks from her hand to her face and back again, still apparently skeptical. It's not that he doesn't know what a handshake is, it's just that he doesn't quite know how to go about it, and also ew, touching.]

No, no, I'm--I'm from Earth, we've got...handshakes, there, I would imagine. I, um--

[talkstoengines]

Uh-huh. [He imagines? Kaylee looks a little skeptical, but then she just takes his wrist and fits his hand into hers, giving it a firm shake.] Like that!

[testgasm]

[This is the stiffest, weirdest, most pathetic handshake that ever did happen. Human greeting rituals are weird.]

Right, well. This is. Informative.

[talkstoengines]

You hardly even tried! You should loosen your arm up a little bit next time. It's less than nothin', really.

[testgasm]

Sorry, I'm not--I'm not really used to that kind of thing.

[Kaylee I didn't have arms.]

[talkstoengines]

That's all right, you'll get used to it quick. If you're gonna be a one-man welcoming committee, anyway!

[Wheatley you are going to meet so many people and shake so many hands. Kaylee is jealous!]

[testgasm]

[But human germs]

Educational. Thank you. I will...be sure to keep it in mind.

[talkstoengines]

No problem, Wheatley. And I'll help you design a friendlier sign for next jump, too.

[testgasm]

Yes! We could be a team, even. Welcoming…committee…team. Sounds sort of redundant, but that's okay.

[Next month there are going to be so many flowers…]

[talkstoengines]

That's a great idea! And I'll help you improve your handshake, too.

[Flowers, possibly teddy bears, yes indeed.]

[testgasm]

[But auuugh human germs.]

Let's uh--we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

[talkstoengines]

Whatever you say! [She's just shoving her hands in her pockets with a grin.] It was nice to meetcha, Wheatley. You just let me know when you want that sign for next jump.