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

[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.]