eighteenth jump;

[mathematically]

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

[discretion]

Yes, the others were my clothes and so on. But this! This is... it's useless, and it is not something I would have asked to take with me anywhere!

[But Franz isn't telling all about the sword, clearly, because he is livid about this.]

I cannot be expected to believe nothing strange is going on!

[shoyu]

[ he takes a small step back at that, gaze flickering nervously from franz to the broken sword and back. a small, anxious clear of the throat before he responds, choosing his words carefully to keep from agitating franz and more. ]

Ah -- I'm sorry, I must admit I don't know the full details of the situation. But it seems the lockers periodically give their owners items with -- with sentimental value? [ those last two words come out more quietly because he's not sure what exactly that broken sword means to franz. ] Usefulness isn't always of the highest priority, when it comes to items that are given to people.

[discretion]

Sentimental? [Franz parrots, his eyes filled with something near panic.] It's not sentimental. It's not even mine. I d--

[He cuts off, finally able to regain some semblance of control over his emotions.]

I'm sorry. I've been shouting at you for something that clearly isn't your fault.

[shoyu]

[ oh dear. 'sentimental' was the wrong word, then. another nervous little half-step back, and soysauce bites his lip in worry when he realizes franz is panicked, rather than angry. ]

I -- well. It's understandable that you're upset, sir. These circumstances certainly aren't easy to come to grasps with, even without the presence of unexpected objects. So, ah --

[ he rubs a hand against his jaw, thinking for a moment before suggesting timidly, ]

-- perhaps you could leave that item in someone else's care? I take it that it's something you don't really wish to keep?

[discretion]

No. It's mine now, I guess.

[Part of his story, whether he likes it or not.]

Even if it's more or less useless as a weapon, it could still be dangerous in the wrong hands. I'd better look after it.

[Franz keeps swallowing, hoping his heart rate will calm to a normal level. And how weird is it that he has to worry about his heart?]

It still feels like a sick joke. This sword, of all things... [He shakes his head, and shuts the thing back up in his locker. Finally, he turns his full attention to the stranger.]

You seem to have at least some idea what's going on here. Please explain it to me.

[shoyu]

[ a small nod as franz comes to some decision on what to do with that blade. it's a reasonable choice to make, but soysauce still makes a note of it at the back of his mind -- just in case this information leads to something later that the security team might have to deal with. ]

Ah -- well. I've been here for a while now, but to explain everything would be ...

[ difficult.

still, he takes a deep breath before making an attempt. ]

Well, for starters, this -- [ a gesture towards the rest of the area, at the gravity couches ] -- occurs about once a month. More people appear in those capsules, in a matter similar to how you did. Brought aboard the vessel, supposedly to replace the old crew as I've said. Just about everyone you see here has been brought aboard the ship in that manner.

[discretion]

[Franz nods slowly, looking out over everyone stumbling about as they rise from the grav couches.]

--So are all of us dead? Did someone want to make a ship full of dead people?

[It's not exactly the most pleasant topic, but it's the first question that comes to mind.]

[shoyu]

Goodness, no! [ a slightly startled yelp at that question, and soysauce immediately shakes his head. giving an awkward sort of laugh as he rocks on his heels. ] Or at least, I certainly hope not. Last I remember of home, I was having a rather grand time and it would have to have been quite the sudden death!

But -- I do know that several people here believe that they died before arriving aboard the ship. There hasn't been any sort of general consensus as to how they're all alive here, but it's a good thing, isn't it?

[discretion]

Aside from the various ethical and possibly theological concerns about it, I suppose it is a good thing. [Franz smiles, more than a little sardonic.] Thank for your time, Monsieur...? [He trails off expectantly.]

[shoyu]

[ franz might be sardonic, but soysauce is only glad for the change of subject. not only because he doesn't know much about it, but also because it doesn't seem like a healthy topic to be discussing so soon after franz had seemed so distressed.

soysauce gives a small exhale before smiling as brightly as he possibly can, giving a deep, theatrical bow. ]

Ah, please call me Soysauce. [ a small bounce on his feet as he straightens up. ] Musician and jack-of-all-trades, at your service, sir!

[discretion]

A musician! [Franz parrots with raised eyebrows, echoing the bow in a somewhat less glamorous manner. Unless the ship runs by musical tones, it seems quite clear that the kidnapping really isn't centering on those who would make good crew members: Franz himself is an aristocrat, after all.]

It's a pleasure, Monsieur Soysauce. [He smiles kindly. Of course it seems like a strange name to him, but in the end that's not his business.] I'm Franz d'Epinay. [He offers a handshake.]