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

[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?

[xenocide]

[ That's a no. Well....maybe!! -- okay, no. It's unlikely Krypton was a Bugger Colony where some faction of Battle School graduates went. Ender does his best to mask his disappointment. ]

If it's any consolation, it probably doesn't have one anymore. There's no need since the threat was eliminated.

[ He's brisk and to the point with his words, glossing over it as though it's nothing when really it's everything. But more importantly -- ]

Krypton? I've never heard of it. Is it Earth-like?

[notdreaming]

[ She's not entirely sure why that would be a consolation but she'll go along with it. ] Oh, I see. That must be it. [ There are a dozen other explanations she could come up with, but whatever. ]

It's a little like Earth. [ Damn, present tense again. ] It orbited around a red sun, and the climate was very well controlled. And the gravity was much stronger, so we never really mastered space travel like you did on Earth.

[xenocide]

[ Consolation for her not knowing it existed. His people skills leave a little to be desired. But Ender is blissfully unaware as she accepts his response and then goes on to answer his question. He notices immediately the shift from present to past -- which could mean one of two things. One -- she's talking about it in past because she has since left. Or two -- it no longer exists. ]

It must have felt strange to go to Earth, then. I remember my first time in null gravity. [ He laughs a little. ] You feel a whole lot lighter, that's for sure.

[notdreaming]

It's hard to say. [ She shrugs. ]

When I woke up on Earth I had increased strength, hearing, sight, and all sorts of other strange new powers.

[xenocide]

Something caused just by going to Earth? Or was there another reason for your newfound abilities?

[notdreaming]

I was told it was a result of radiation from the yellow sun.

[xenocide]

Radiation? Makes you wonder how our bodies have adapted to it over time. Has anyone from Earth ever gone to Krypton? I wonder what the result of the red sun would be on them.

[notdreaming]

I'm... afraid that's impossible. We never had any contact with other planets before, and Krypton was destroyed.

I'm sure there are other planets that orbit red suns, though.

[xenocide]

[ His expression saddens. It hits close to home, a planet destroyed. ]

I'm sorry to hear that. Would it be too personal to ask how it was destroyed? I understand if you don't want to talk about it.

[notdreaming]

I don't really know the specifics. There was something wrong with the planet itself, something that my uncle never explained to me in any detail.

[xenocide]

[ He nods. ]

Again, I'm sorry.

[ And belatedly he realizes he never introduced himself. ]

Kara...you said your name was? I'm Ender. It's nice to meet you.

[notdreaming]

[ She just offers him a sad smile. She still doesn't really know what to say when people tell her they're sorry her planet was destroyed. It's a little too big to handle, really. ]

It's nice to meet you too, Ender.

[xenocide]

I hope we can get to be friends during our time together.

[ This whole friend thing is new and unusual. HOW DO YOU EVEN MAKE FRIENDS WITHOUT BEING FORCED TO BE ENEMIES FIRST?? But hey...he's still young. He can still learn, right? ]

[notdreaming]

I'm sure we will. [ Kara, on the other hand, is pretty good at socializing. She was a normal kid before her planet exploded. ]