001 ✦ Video

[xenocide]

[ It had taken Ender a few days before he even checked the network, and a few more days before he decided to place himself upon it. When the video starts, it's the face of just another child -- but one that's exhausted. From his serious demeanor and lack of a smile, he seems much older than he is in all actuality. ]

Earth -- I'm not talking about the sector -- does the name hold any significance to you? I've been wondering how many people here come from a place called Earth and just how many Earths haven't had to face the Bugger Wars. From what I've seen of the guests, many appear human overall and some even with the same technological advancements and understanding that are prominent in my world. If we're trapped in this place between life, dreaming and death, then I suppose it wouldn't be impossible to dream of the existence of alternate Earths.

[ Ender forces a smile, but that's just what it is. Forced. He's really in no mood to showcase good cheer. ]

If it isn't asking too much, even if you don't come from some variation of Earth, I'd like to know about your world. Subsequently, I can tell you anything you wish to know about mine. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has noticed that we're being kept in the dark by the natives here. What they know and what they're planning doesn't concern me as much as our lack of understanding about the universes that surround us. I feel the better we understand one another, the more trust we can put in each other and the better equipped we become as a whole to any crisis that may arise. Sometimes, in a war, the most crippling blow can be dealt not by the enemy but by lies and mistrust.

That's all. Thank you for your time.

Comments

[Video]

[tactile_telekinesis]

[He did listen, well he heard it, not so much on the actual listening part. Kon switches it to a reply, the kid asked questions and it's not like there's anything else to do around here.]

Well, I come from Earth. Or a version of it any way. It's already something pretty widely accepted here. Can't say I know about this Buggers War thing though.

[He does like the part about being kept in the dark. There's so much increasing evidence to prove it as well. But he doubts it's ever going to change.]

I think there's less to worry from our own group than there is from the natives here if you go by what's recently been happening.

[Video]

[xenocide]

[ Well, there was one person from a version of Earth. It proved Ender's theory that there were several different ones. It also proved that this was a question that had been addressed before, so he doesn't press on the subject. It's probably more beneficial to find out about the Kedan right now. ]

That's what concerns me. I only just arrived, so I wasn't sure if the hostilities were recent or had been going on since we started showing up.

[ Might as well cut to the chase and find out just how violent is violent. ]

Have there been any deaths as a result?

[Video]

[tactile_telekinesis]

Pretty recent. I mean since we started showing up there's been a few who weren't happy about it, but then it kind of...died down I guess you could say. But since the rationing started things have just taken a massive nosedive and no one is happy. But it's our fault obviously. [Eye roll galore.

He does seem to pause.]

None that have been announced. I don't think there has been any way. I mean I went on the mainland but no one mentioned anything.

[notdreaming]

[ He talks a good deal, but his words sound... nice. He knows what he's talking about, and he's talking about trust. That's a quick way to put her at ease. ]

I was only on Earth for two weeks before I was brought here, but I have heard there were a lot of wars.

[ She tries a sympathetic smile. ]

I'm Kara.

[xenocide]

[ For a moment Ender's surprised by the blond hair and female face -- after all, isn't this what Valentine would look like just a little older? But he recovers. From what she says, she may very well be from his earth. This matter's so pressing he forgets his manners and introduction before diving right into the questions: ]

Where had you been before you were on Earth? Battle School?

[ He hadn't seen her. But it didn't mean she wasn't there at some point. ]

[notdreaming]

My home, Krypton. [ So that's a no. ]

I didn't know Earth had a Battle School. Is it very prestigious?

video -- I see that you couldn't hold out :3

[angermanaging]

[Bruce has something of a weak spot for children, though he's good at not showing it. It only comes out here in that he's slightly hesitant, and more considering of his words-- which, given his usual level of deliberation and caution, is saying something.]

I'm from Earth, [he says.] No... Bugger Wars. It was 2011 when I left. C.E.

That was the first thing I thought of when I got here, too. Not-- knowing about other people, but multiverse theory. It always seemed totally crazy to me before. I don't really have much to do with that end of physics.

video -- sob no. And I couldn't hold out on tagging you once before I go to bed either. :P

[xenocide]

2011... [ Ender repeats. So this guy is from the past. He doesn't muse on it for long, listening to what Bruce says before managing a weak laugh. ]

Really? At least you seemed to be thinking. I was convinced this was some sort of elaborate dream and I'd wind up naked in front of the whole city while forgetting the words to my presentation.

[ He scratches his cheek idly. ]

What end of physics do you normally deal with? I'll guess it's more the normal kind rather than the I'm-living-on-the-back-of-a-giant-turtle variety.

video -- hahaha story of my life. I always make bad bed time choices in order to do tags.

[angermanaging]

The dream would make more sense, [he says wryly, with less bite to it than he would when speaking to an adult. As much as he hates being condescending or patronizing, really hates it, he can't totally stop himself from modulating his responses a little.]

I wasn't thinking that clearly. More like a desperate grasp for some sort of rational perspective. Didn't work.

[There's a moment's pause, automatic, where Bruce would ordinarily refuse to give out any information, would dodge around answering. But there's no reason to, here; in fact he's already admitted this publicly.] Nuclear physics. I don't know if you could call that normal, but it's better than transdimensional turtles.

text; 65% encrypted

[imaginate]

[Kyle doesn't usually send text messages, but the other options are off the table since he's injured. He tries to manage a stronger encryption - oh what the heck. It's not like this is a huge secret.

The reply comes from Guy's suite.]

early 21st century

familiar with buggers we have a mutual [what was Bean? A friend? An ally? An adopted son?] person

know what happened. would you like to talk?

text; 65% encrypted

[xenocide]

[ Ender stares at the text message for a moment -- a paranoid fear racing through him by instinct. What is he paranoid of? Who even knew. Someone out to hurt him? Someone out to hurt Bean? That's who this guy has to be talking about as a mutual 'person.' But Ender decides to respond regardless. He'll take this unseen enemy on if Bean's safety is being called into question. ]

Talking about it won't bring back the dead, but it will revive the negative feelings associated with it; neither of which will do either of us any good. So I'd rather move forward, but thank you for your offer. Is this mutual "person" here at the present moment?

video; 95% batcrypted

[demon_brat]

[Stare. He can recognize what the other boy is doing, and is... torn, between trying to snatch leadership away and helping. Really torn. In the end, he decides on... gathering more information.]

Not a bad idea. Earth, no Bugger Wars... possibly earlier date, and other factors.

[Beat. He can also pick up on the state of exhaustion. And that, hmph. It wouldn't matter if it were an adult. A kid, however?]

Is something wrong, or are you not taking sufficient rest for some purpose?

video; 95% batcrypted

[xenocide]

[ Ender can't help but feel as though he's staring at another Battle School student. Is this kid trying to get him to show weakness by pointing out his weakness? What would happen if he did show weakness? Would he be called out on it? It's psychological warfare all over again, and Ender's just tired. ]

If this is all a dream, then we really don't need rest, do we?

[ It doesn't really answer the question and probably makes him seem crazy. But right now, crazy seems like the better option to depressed and weak. It at least gives him some semblance of dignity. And hell, he is crazy right now. ]

The Buggers are...were also formally known as Formics just in case you've heard them being referred to that way.

video.

[queenoftheseas]

[Oh no a child. A very well spoken child but a child nonetheless. That gets her attention]

I come from a version of Earth, though I've never heard of anything like "Bugger Wars". Obviously we're from different versions. And I don't live on land like most people you'll hear from. Does your world have legends or stories about Atlantis?

video.

[xenocide]

I'm not too surprised. I'm pretty sure no one besides a friend and I are from the same Earth. What is surprising is just how many different Earths I've seen referenced.

[ Ender nods after her question. Of course there are movies, cartoons and books that all explore an Atlantis theme. ]

Yeah, I've heard the name before. 'The Lost City of Atlantis.' A legendary city supposedly underwater...sometimes filled with merfolk, sometimes just an empty shell of a city. Is that your world?

[audio]

[gathersnomoss]

Honestly, most people back home just called it 'the world' or 'our world' or 'our plane', if you needed to distinguish between them.

It doesn't have as many machines as this place -- at least the Metal Sector -- does. And, while humans are the most numerous people on our world, they're not the only ones.

[audio]

[xenocide]

So it had no name?

[ Ender can hardly keep the interest from reaching his tone. ]

And what sort of other beings did you share your world with?

[bondsprofoundly]

[Cas is getting kind of good at this computer thing; he can even listen to other people's conversations before he puts in his own two cents.]

I can confirm the above theory concerning parallel universes. They're difficult to access, but not impossible.

[xenocide]

[ This surprises him. ]

You've been to some? Prior to arriving here?

video;

[chiot]

Eh, monsieur. [ It seems weird to refer to someone who looks the same age as he--maybe younger--as monsieur, but he seems far more adept at all of this--and the technology--and just about everything. Maybe he should meet him on even ground? Whatever. He still looks a little roughed up--a grown man punched him in the face after all, nevermind the scrapes and bruises ]

Tell ya everythin' you wanna know if it's not on' the video screens, huh? Let's go outside!

video;

[xenocide]

[ Ender raises his brow -- first at the way Gavroche addresses him. And it raises a little higher at the way the kid looks, and even moreso as he suddenly wants to meet him outside. Is this a threat? Something to worry about? Ender had faced bullies before and killed them, but he doesn't really get that vibe off of this kid. Of course, it's hard to get any vibes off of a video screen....and maybe that's what Gavroche is getting at. ]

Are you sure? You look like you've had your fair share of the outside, if those-- [ he gestures toward the bruises ] --are from the natives here. [ But of course, Ender has pride. He doesn't want to seem like he's scared or making excuses. ] I'll meet you, though. Name a place.

video;

[animalhats]

[ Here's someone your age, Ender, but clearly with less that's weighed on her through her life. ]

I'm from Earth, but probably not the same one as you, 'cause I've never heard of the Bugger Wars. What's a Bugger War, anyway?

video;

[xenocide]

[ Wow a girl! He only knows like....two of them. But Ender appears slightly amused after her question. ]

They're an alien species that posed a threat to my version of Earth. Not to be confused with booger wars which are just about the most despicable form of combat you can get involved in.

Action; the latest!

[justlittle]

[Bean is in the kitchen area of the suite, standing on a stepstool trying to cook eggs. It's simple, really. Break the shell over a hot pan, cook until everything's solid. Don't burn it. He's even learned to add a pinch of salt.

He's glad Ender is reaching out on the Net, but he doesn't want to crowd him so he waits until both the eggs and Ender's post are done to bring two plates over.]

Here, we're having breakfast for dinner.

Action; <33 HELLO

[xenocide]

[ Ender can smell the food before it reaches him, and it's only then that he realizes how hungry he is. He turns toward Bean, accepting the plate gratefully. ]

What did I do to deserve such royal treatment? As far as I'm concerned, breakfast can be every meal if it's warm and cooked. Do we have any bread?