twenty-sixth jump;

[ataraxites]

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: Your average, run-of-the-mill jump—except some characters don't seem to be waking up from stasis like they should.



Don't worry.




THEY NEEDED THE REST.

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

[inspirited]

[chuck is just walking past the lockers after finishing up with her usual post jump routine and although she is just on her way back to her room, that doesn't stop her from being friendly and striking up conversation with people she does pass by. when she sees belle, she looks almost curiously in her direction before approaching her] Is that something you found in your locker?

[braverys]

[ she's nodding as she turns, eyes bright and fingers tracing the ridges on the cup, the golden lining and the small, blue symbol on the side. ] Yes, I didn't - when I woke up here I didn't think it would be here with me.

[inspirited]

It seems like it's very important to you— so maybe that's why it was there. [it's just a teacup and a broken at that too but hey, even the smallest things can hold some significance] Was it always broken like that?

[braverys]

They gift us with things that are special? I wonder why. [ She smiles softly even as she goes and places it down gently. ] No, I dropped it a long time ago and chipped it.

[inspirited]

Not all the time but it's possible— it varies with people.

[she smiles back, though maybe she is still a bit curious] Oh— is that part of why it's important to you? Or is there another reason behind it?

[braverys]

It is - it's something special. A... A memory, I think, something that ties us together.

[ She doesn't know that she should probably explain who the 'us' is - she's paying more attention to putting the cup somewhere safe. ]

[inspirited]

—Us? Someone you care about? [that is what chuck assumes at least but either way she just smiles] Well I'm glad it's something you have with you here too then.

[braverys]

Yes! Rumple - my Rumple. [ Her entire expression softens at the whisper of his name and she smiles even brighter. ] I'm glad it's here too. It's very powerful.

[inspirited]

[she just nods, almost in understanding when she see the look on belle's face just mention the name] It sounds like it would be especially if it's connected to someone you care about.

Did you just get here this jump then?

[braverys]

He's - he's my true love.

[ And then - confusion. ]

Jump?

[inspirited]

I have someone like that too— [she smiles but her expression soon changes when she hears the question]

Oh! Sorry that's what these arrival periods are referred to as on the ship.

[braverys]

Arrival periods... So when we all awaken here, on this ship? That is a jump?

[ She nods her head, relishing the information. ]

[inspirited]

Yes, that's right— they occur at least once a month.

[braverys]

Is that why everyone is in those strange tubes? Because of the jumps?

[inspirited]

Yeah, it is— even for those of us already here.

[braverys]

What're they for? Are they magic or is that new science too?

[inspirited]

To keep the ship moving— not entirely sure how it works but people think it could be either.

[braverys]

It must be something I can read about. [ She nods. ] There's always a good book on a subject.

[inspirited]

Oh! Yeah, maybe there is— there is a media library here, so there could be something in here.

[braverys]

Then maybe I will do some research. [ She looks a little happier, at least. ] I have always loved books.

[inspirited]

[she just smiles back, more so at the mention of her love of books] You have? It's the same for me too— I guess that's one thing we have in common.

[braverys]

Yes! At home I recently became the librarian in my town. It's amazing, there are so many books to read, so much to learn.

[inspirited]

A librarian— oh that's sounds wonderful!

I've always felt the same way about books, being stuck at home a lot— reading all these stories about people and learning different things was my favourite thing to do.

[braverys]

It was - it is. There are so many books to read and so much to learn, I was a little worried I wouldn't have enough time for them all.

[ She brightens; someone sharing her passion for books was always a good thing. ]

Do you have any favourites? Anything I should read?