twenty-eighth 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: It could just be the standard sensation of air on wet skin, but if you bother to check, you might notice the steam rising from your body, barely there and gone within a minute. By the time you get to the showers, it will be clear that it's not just taking you time to adjust. The room is cold — colder than usual, but no worse than the last jump. While it's nothing dangerous, it's certainly motivation to hurry through the usual routine and get dressed quickly.



It's getting closer.




YOUR EYES ARE OPEN.

KEEP LOOKING.

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

[longestnose]

We all lose our clothing when we first arrive--but they will most likely be found in your locker. I can show you the way, at least.

[He gives a slight bow of his head.]

I do, lass. It's the ship Tranquility. And as strange as it sounds, it is traveling the heavens. It is not something that happens in my own world, either, but I assure you it is the truth. I have been here for many months.

[He shows her his own arm, which reveals a tattoo with "13" encoded.]

The tattoo states which month you arrived in.

[twicequeen]

Thank you. I would like to dress as soon as possible.

[It's beyond indecent for anyone to see her in such a state of undress but Elizabeth knows she's in no position to refuse aid. She's not sure what a locker is but she steps forward to follow him.]

Traveling the heavens? How is such a thing possible? [She looks at the number on his arm, remembering her own and it's difficult to resist the urge to try to scratch it off.] And is there no way to remove such a mark?

[longestnose]

We all usually do.

[He shakes his head.]

I am the wrong person to explain either--but as far as we can tell, no, there is no way to remove such things.

[He gestures for her to follow, moving towards the showers. His steps might be quite short, given his size, but he walks with confidence.]

My name is Fili. I am King Under the Mountain, but that matters little, here. But regardless, I am happy to be at your service.

[It feels good to say that again; to feel like himself a bit, once more.]

[twicequeen]

King Under the Mountain? I have not heard of your country but I am grateful for your service nonetheless, and I know my King and people would be as well.

[Elizabeth seems to trust him a little more then as she follows him, it seems she's not the only royal to be brought here.]

Is your Mountain far from England?

[Because it never occurs to her that he could be from an entirely other world.]

[longestnose]

Your King?

[He tilts his head, curious enough about what she is saying.]

Ah--it isn't in England, lass. You will find here, some people are not exactly from the same world as you might be--though I hear about England quite often. I am in Middle Earth--part of Aule. The Mountain is also known as Erebor, but I do not doubt that you know nothing of it.

[twicequeen]

You know England? [Elizabeth pauses, clutching her towel a little tighter to herself.] Then there are others from my country here?

[She looks thoughtful before shaking her head.] I have not heard of such a kingdom before. This is such a foreign place, only made even more so if there are those from other worlds.

[longestnose]

I know of England--though I have never been there.

And yes, it is my understanding that there are.

[He shrugs, giving a slight nod of his head as they continue towards the showers.]

Hopefully you will find your feet fast enough; most do--there will be those here who will be more than willing to help you, lass.

[twicequeen]

Please, call me Elizabeth. [She offers with a warm smile though holds the towel closer to her with a shiver. She'll be glad to find her clothes.

When they reach the showers, she looks around with confusion, hearing the sound of water but she's not sure what kind of place this is.]

[longestnose]

Of course, Elizabeth, then.

[He saw her reaction to the showers, moving into the room before her.]

They are called showers--it is like...a warm waterfall. We have nothing like it in my world, but they say it is called 'modern plumming'. I've come to truly enjoy it. I fear you will have to wash in the open with the others, though, at least for now. Most keep their eyes averted, at least.

[twicequeen]

We are to bath...in front of others? I cannot do that. [Such a thought is indecent for any woman of her time, even more so for the Queen of England.] And if another man should glimpse me while I bathed? That would be unfaithful to the vows I have given to my husband before God.

[longestnose]

...Then you will have to simply wait until you get to your room's area. There is nothing for it, Elizabeth.

[He would point out that he has already seen her naked, but does not wish to embarrass her.]

No one would think you unfaithful.

[twicequeen]

That would be best. [She's relieved there is an alternative to bathing in public. In front of her ladies is one thing, but this is entirely different.]

Could you assist me in finding my clothes? It is rather chill in here.

[longestnose]

[Fili moves them quickly through the shower area, then, and into the lockers.]

The number on your arm will correspond to one of the lockers--there should be some clothing in there for you. If not, I'll attempt to find something for you.

[twicequeen]

[She looks at the number on her arm once more as they reach the lockers.]

I had wondered what this number which seems to be of a strange ink was. It would not come off at my touch.

[longestnose]

It's called a tattoo. And it isn't something you can remove--others have tried; it simply comes back. So don't injure yourself in any attempt.

[twicequeen]

Who would have put such a thing on us? [She pauses in front of a locker which matches her number, not sure how to open this metal box.]

[longestnose]

We fully do not know, still. And I have been here a year.

[He moves and shows her, gently, how to use the coding on her arm to open the locker.]

[twicequeen]

[She gives him a smile in gratitude when he helps her open the metal door, reaching in to take out some of her clothes, nearly dropping her crown which tumbles out.]

It seems whomever has brought me here was at least kind enough to bring my garments as well.

[longestnose]

Well I am happy enough for that, lass. Unless you are needing anything else, I should try to see to my own kin. But please, if you need anything, feel free to call on me.

[Fili gives her a bit of a nod.]

[twicequeen]

Of course. You have been most helpful and kind, Fili, King Under the Mountain, and I will not forget it.

[She gives him a bow of her head in return, out of respect.]

[longestnose]

Take care, Elizabeth, Queen of England. I am sure I shall see you soon.

[With another quick nod and a smile, he is gone.]